Studying and living in Denmark

"One really great thing for me was the teachers … You could read about their projects and see what they were involved in, and you could actually get inspired by them. It is obvious that through this school, you can work in different domains and I think that's the most fantastic thing."
- Bristena

Why did you choose to come to RSLIS?

Sara: It was a field that I was interested in. It was hard to find work in Berlin and I didn't feel like I had a specific translatable skill, so I started thinking about going back to school. I researched some programs and what was possible and then I found this school. I felt like it was exactly what I had been looking for. The fact that it was in Denmark only made it easier, because my husband is Danish. The living costs in Denmark are high but compared to what I would have to pay for a master's degree in the US, I could never have this opportunity otherwise.

Bristena: I came here for two weeks in 2009 and I just loved it. Then I saved up money for two years - it's a really expensive country - and I came here. I wanted to do something in information management or anything in information but without the economic part and I've had some great classes in the time that I've been here. There was also a financial reason, seeing as in Denmark and Sweden education is free (for EU countries). It is a big advantage.

Which courses have you taken and what did you like most about them?

Bristena: I took "Systems and User Evaluation". I learned how to test systems and users. That has been really great because I work with webpages and I do surveys. I also took "Unlocking Culture Heritage", which I think is not as specific as the title. You learn about informative systems and how you can drill for information, how you organize that information and make library systems, which you will need in any company you'll ever work with, so that's really good to know.
   This semester, I took "Knowledge Management", which was great. It helps me with my work and it's about dealing with knowledge and structuring it. Also, I chose "Urban Culture - Place, Space and Relations" out of personal interest. They were really excellent courses where you can learn to build while taking the user into consideration. For me, every course was outstanding and I could really use it in my working life.

Sara: I've just had two courses. One was "Knowledge Management". At first, I had a hard time figuring out what the focus was, because it encompasses so many aspects. But then I realized that all these different aspects were the focus. Since I started working on my project, it's been really interesting. I'm writing about a film distribution project. It focuses on a Danish band that made a film, and on the film screenings as a way of distributing it. Since I was working as the screenings administrator, I found some parallels to the theories we were discussing, so it was interesting to see the relevance. It became a lot easier to grasp once I was able to make the connection to my own life.
   My other course is "Information Use in Context". It was tough to figure out what "context" is exactly. We were forced into getting our context solidified, finding out what exactly we were trying to study and why it was relevant. So that course has been very good at developing some real skills. I created a survey that I'm now using for my project. I had never done a survey before, so that was very interesting. We all had to bring them in and critique each other, give each other advice and take the survey, and it was helpful. I felt like that was a skill I gained with regard to communication.

What about the amount of group work we do here? Is that special to you?

Bristena: Yes, for the courses that were more technical, we had laboratories and workshops which were focused only on group work. It was really inspiring. We also had this with "Systems and User Evaluation". We are inclined to choose to work with focus groups and in groups. When you get a job you also have to work in groups and I think that's one point of knowledge management - good communication between people and it's desirable to learn that in school. If you finish your MA and you have no idea how to work with people or talk to them, it will be a burden when you apply to an actual company. I think it's important to be able to communicate and work with people.

What's the best thing about being a student at RSLIS?

Sara: One good thing is the freedom that you have here. The courses don't meet so often, so you can plan on your own time, but of course that means you have to keep up on the work. It's very easy to create your own life in Copenhagen.

Bristena: One really great thing for me was the teachers. My first teachers were Birger Larsen and Toine Bogers who also worked on the LARM-project. I was proud of having them as my teachers. You could read about their projects and see what they were involved in, and you could actually get inspired by them. It is obvious that through this school, you can work in different domains and I think that's the most fantastic thing. You don't necessarily have to be a librarian. You can do research work, you can work in companies, business related knowledge management and internet or you can be a consultant.

Sara: That's a good point about the teachers. They are very kind and very open and I feel like I can go to them. I've never had that before in my previous studies, where I feel that if I'm totally confused, I can just go in and talk to them and they'll make it clear.

Bristena: And they are not only teachers - they are involved in all sorts of projects. They have all this information online. You can check them out and see the different projects they work on. If you're a little bit lost, you can find your direction just by studying what your teachers do.

What about the social aspect? Have you made friends here?

Bristena: I don't have a lot of Danish friends, but I'm not such a social person. I think it depends on your personality and not on the country. It's about an effort on both parts, and it takes a while. I'm taking Danish classes, so I can understand and read now which is perfect for me. I can understand a discussion at the table or at work and know what they're talking about. And it's a great thing because the Danes are so polite. For example - if I understand the conversation and I ask a question in English, the discussion automatically switches to English and that's so nice. It's a very welcoming environment.

Sara: I think I have a big advantage because my husband is from here. I sort of have this built-in network. It's small but I have a few good close friends. The orientation day we had was helpful. There was a lot of information and you could tell that everything was coming from a very caring standpoint of wanting us to feel welcome and to fit in. And I did feel very welcome.

Is there something in particular you like about Denmark?

Bristena: I like that people respect one another. That's the thing I like the most. They respect your private life, your individuality and the effort you put into your work. They don't take it for granted. The teachers, for example, respect your opinion and your private problems if you have them. They make time for you.

Sara: You generally sense that people care about other people. It seems that everyone's got an eye out for the bigger picture and the greater good. That feeling is much stronger here than in the US. When people fall down, they are helped back up, figuratively speaking.

Bristena: There's also a great consideration for the future. People don't just think about themselves. You develop systems and solutions here that can work for many years for many people and not just for yourself here and now. And I like the trust between people. You trust your colleagues to do the best thing. I trust all my colleagues, the students, the teachers and the doctors for example. I just generally trust the services here and the Danish people.

What advice would you give to a new international student coming to RSLIS?

Sara: Just be proactive, I suppose. I think everyone is really kind and welcoming, but you have to find your own way. So get in there and do it, ask questions and make a fool of yourself.

Bristena: There's a lot of information coming from everywhere and you have so many resources - you just have to know how to pick the best and how to focus to not end up going in too many directions as there are so many opportunities here.


By Bodil Christensen and Helle Saabye