12 June 2019
Thomas Moore college was not like the colleges we are accustom to. The modern build of the university was appealing and beautiful. The college was centered on real life and specific degrees. The college is open to international students and offers classes in English & Dutch. For international or exchange students you can take 1 semester of classes which would be 10 classes and 30 units. That is a massive difference to the universities in the United States and the requirements of each semester. I could never imagine taking 10 classes or 30 unites while also balancing a social life.
We had the chance to walk around the university and talk to Jan who is the departmental director of the sports department. We had the opportunity to walk around the facilities and listen to Jan talk about each room as well as the college. As I stated before, this college is not similar to those in the states and there who many differences I witnessed. The classrooms in comparison to the University of Arizona were massively different, especially the chairs and desk sizes. Jan emphasized the area of the college he was most familiar and equip to show us which was the sports areas. Jan also explained to us the difference of costs of the college. To compare a instate tuition for a semester at the University of Arizona is 6,000-8,000 dollars, at the Thomas Moore college it is 1,000 euros. Thomas Moore college applies for research programs and projects and this is how they are able to afford equipment and the necessities for there students and faculty.
Jan still teaches 1 class at the university and told us how much he misses teaching instead of being in charge of the facility. I thought that was interesting because in the United States, it’s very exciting to be moved up on the ladder of success and Jan told us how although he liked the accomplishment he wishes to go back to teaching. Another interesting fact Jan told us was how the men of the college weren’t responding well to a class called “yoga” because it wasn’t masculine enough. In order to get more people interested in the yoga class they changed the name to “body, mind & soul” and this helped more men take the class.
The Thomas Moore College was an amazing tour and listening to Jan talk was something else! I think it was interesting to see and hear the differences of universities in the United States and Europe. I truly wish we were able to have more time to go throughout the college and tour more classrooms but in the time allotted we were able to see so much!
- Tori Siegler
Public Health Abroad! 