The desire to travel and discover new horizons has always been within me. But until almost the end of my studies, I never had the chance to experience a study exchange abroad. My priority was to find a good university in a nearby country where the costs are not too high. A good opportunity arose at the international program in Villach and soon I was on my way.
Carinthia University of Applied Sciences is located on the outskirts of the town of Villach, near the Drava River. It is not an old European university that we might be used to from other capitals, but a new school in a modern building that is remote from the more traditional city centre. In addition to the campus, there are many businesses in the area that contribute to landscape development.
The area is strongly internationally developed, which is a big achievement for a small town. There are many programmes in English at the school, including an emphasis on international management and intercultural integration. Companies in the area employ different profiles and adapt to foreigners who have not yet learned German. As a result, there is a lot of diversity among students on campus and many opportunities to connect with other cultures.
The city and the region as a whole are working hard to contribute to sustainability. In addition to the percentage of waste recycling, which is very high in Austria (63%), there is very good infrastructure and public transport in the region. Trains and buses are neat, fast, punctual and frequent. It is worth buying the so-called Klima Ticket, which allows cheap use of public transport. I also liked the solution in the toilets on campus: instead of paper towels or hand dryers, there was a washable towel that rotated so that you could always wipe your hands in the clean part. Many buildings have solar panels and nature is generally well-preserved.
Villach is a small, transit Austrian town known for its charming centre and beautiful natural surroundings. Near the city, you can walk around Silbersee and Weissensee lakes. The largest lake in the region is Wörthesee, or Lake Wörth, which stretches from Villach to Klagenfurt. The train ride between these two towns alone offers a beautiful view of the whole natural attraction and landscape. The experience is not as nice if you want to take a walk around the lake. I was used to lakes in Slovenia, which mostly have access to water and you can walk around freely. Much of the area around the lakes near Villach is inaccessible to the general public, and houses and estates are built right next to the lake, so the water is not easily visible, let alone easy to get to. Summer bathing areas are also limited. The best view of Wörthersee is possible from the Pyramidenkogel Tower, one of the tallest wooden towers, which is worth a visit, especially since you can treat yourself to a germknödel dumpling in the restaurant below.
The centre of Villach itself is small and sleepy, as most of the population is older. Most of the evening's events can be found at the McMullen’s Irish Pub which hosts a pub quiz and karaoke for students. There are also some internal parties in student dormitories, which are very limited. With this in mind, Villach may not be a dream destination for exchange students, but of course this depends on the preferences of the individual and what the priority is in such an experience.
As I spent the winter semester in Villach, there was naturally a lot of focus on activities suitable for this time of year. There was no shortage of snow, and the start of winter was marked by the famous Krampuslauf parade, a well-known and internationally-visited event in the area. On the day of the event, 50,000 people were expected in Klagenfurt, and the experience is truly unforgettable. Shortly before the St. Nicholas' Day, there was also the opening of the Christmas market. During the winter, I had the opportunity to skate on the frozen Weisensee Lake, which is huge, but more suitable for experienced skaters, as there is no support fence. The Goldeck ski resort is very popular, where you can ski or snowshoe on the top of the plateau.
My experience of the study exchange in Villach has enriched me in many ways. I made new friends, broadened my horizons, and learned many new skills. This experience will remain in my memory as an invaluable end to my student life.
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