Meet Irene Salom

Why Denmark?

I chose to study abroad because I’ve always thought that it was a great experience; getting to know people from all around the world, getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing “real life”. I had heard wonderful things about the Danish educational system and even though my expectations were high, they were not let down.

What surprised you the most about studying at VIA and in Denmark?

The warmth I’ve felt from every lecturer I’ve had at VIA. They are always willing to help you with anything and will always try to have time for you. And as they always say: “There are no stupid questions”. 
I was also surprised in the way they test your knowledge. Even in the exams, the task is to solve real-life problems. In Spain, even for engineering courses, the exams are focused on memorizing everything, rather than putting the knowledge to use.

My greatest challenge

The biggest challenge I faced was going from being a “careless teenager” to an adult from one day to the other. At first, I had to learn a lot of day-to-day things, such as paying bills or just remembering to wash my bed sheets. It might sound simple, but it was something I had never had to do before, so I really didn’t know, how it was done.

Plans for the future

I would like to work with textile production in continents like Africa or Asia, where most of the fabrics are produced. The fashion industry is known for being the second most polluting industry in the world and that is why I would like to help implement a more sustainable approach to textile production.

My advice

My best advice to someone considering studying in Denmark: go for it! I know that it can be difficult to make the decision of moving to another country, but it is incredibly worth it. Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world (despite of the not so sunny weather) and there is a reason for it!