Dewan Nafisa Azad, a second-year undergraduate student of Environmental Science and Management at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), began her Erasmus+ semester-long exchange at the University of Maribor, Slovenia, on October 5, 2025. The program provides academic exposure, cultural engagement, and international networking through five courses and participation in campus and local activities.

At Maribor, Nafisa is enrolled in Biological Risk, Rural Sociology, Microbiology, Tourism and Organic Farming, and Agri-environmental Chemistry courses, which combine theoretical and practical learning and allow her to experience teaching approaches different from those at IUB.

She arrived in Slovenia on September 30, 2025, after traveling from Dhaka via Istanbul. During the first week, Nafisa participated in orientation activities organized by the University of Maribor’s International Office and the Erasmus Student Network, including a welcome session, faculty meetings, and a campus tour covering lecture halls, laboratories, conference rooms, and the auditorium. These sessions helped her familiarize herself with academic structures, rules, and procedures.

Beyond academics, Nafisa explored Maribor and nearby cities such as Ljubljana and Piran, and took a weekend trip to Croatia, visiting Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik. She attended an international dinner ceremony representing Bangladesh and joined student-led activities organized by the Erasmus Student Network, including volunteering, hiking, and yoga.

She noted challenges in adjusting to the language, local transportation, and administrative procedures but reported support from faculty and peers. “This program provides an opportunity to gain international academic experience, develop communication and cross-cultural skills, and represent my country in global academic platforms,” she said.

The exchange program is expected to strengthen Dewan Nafisa Azad’s academic competence, expand her global network, and provide practical insight into environmental solutions and cross-cultural collaboration.

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