Sarah-Lena Böning at University of Coimbra

Univ. of Coimbra (PT)

In March 2015 I made my first experience as a lecturer abroad and I enjoyed it immensely. Just when spring began, I spent two weeks at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. Here I had the pleasure to get to know Portuguese hospitality and culture. Not only were the students and the lecturers very friendly and welcoming, but Coimbra and its citizens are also worth a visit. Coimbra is a beautiful and interesting small town offering a wide range of opportunities for activities and train connections to the near cities Lisbon and Porto.

Being the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe, the University of Coimbra is the main attraction in Coimbra. The Faculty of Economics in turn is younger and so is the building, which is located a little bit outside the city center in a very nice area. Here I had the opportunity to offer several lectures for master students in the field of economics as well as health management & health economics. I found it extremely positive to meet with such interested and open-minded students.

For sure, we had time not only to discuss the contents of the classes, but also to talk about differences between Portugal and Germany regarding health services and cultural aspects and to analyze potential political and historical reasons. The exchange with those students and their lecturers was an enrichment for me – hopefully for them as well!