A Different Perspective - Expanding your Research through Experiences Abroad

Having research experiences abroad provide opportunities to learn from other researchers, to gain new perspectives of research methods and approaches and to expand one’s own personal creativity with research.  Research abroad promotes the building of an international network, the strengthening of language skills, the development of a better understanding of different cultural approaches and the generation of new research ideas and projects. 

How would you know if you don’t experience it? Two of Høgskolen’s PhD students, Vivian Nystrøm and Minela Kvakic have either taken that opportunity or will be doing just that by traveling abroad in the near future. 

Vivian Nystrøm has recently returned from Canada, where she was participating in a research collaboration project with the University of Alberta, School of Public Health.  Minela Kvakic will be traveling this August to University of California Berkeley for a research experience at the School of Social Work.  To read more about Vivian’s research and her experiences, please read the researcher profile about her this week.  Minela’s researcher profile will be posted on the blogg when she returns from her research experience abroad. 

So how do I start?

While the thought of having a research opportunity sounds exciting, some may think, «But how feasible is it to have such an experience?» Frankly, the thought of either obtaining a visa or funding in order to embark on such an adventure could feel downright overwhelming. 

So what is the first step?  How do you get started?  The first steps are to receive the support from your leader and then the Vice Dean of Research. 

For PhD students, the two main requirements for having an international research opportunity include: 1)  the experience must be academically relevant to the PhD’s project; and 2) the PhD student must remain within the project network with which the research group had established the collaboration.  And together with your leader and Vice Dean of Research, funding support options can be discussed. One funding option is Erasmus + stipend when traveling abroad for a research experience in an EU country. The minimum length of time with Erasmus funding support is 2 months.  To learn more about Eramus funding please click on Erasmus + stipend - Høgskolen i Østfold (hiof.no).  Also, Research Administration is here to support you with your research endeavors and any research questions you may have. 

So don’t let your research opportunity pass you by, your adventure awaits!