![\"Gargi](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/europeanforestry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2020\/05\/Gargi-Tariyal.jpg\")
<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<\/h1>\n\n\n\nGargi Tariyal is a second-year student in the Erasmus Mundus MSc programme in European Forestry (MSc EF). Due to the mobile nature of the programme, she is now finalising her studies in Vienna \u2013 and looking forward to gaining more work experience in mountain ecology.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinking back to the start of the programme and her times at UEF in Joensuu, Finland, she recalls the interesting courses, numerous field trips and cultural learnings from her peers. Equally well she remembers the feeling that in Finland students are appreciated a lot \u2013 that you really felt welcome and supported when facing new challenges in a new country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enjoying nature has always been \u2013 well, natural \u2013 for India-native Gargi Tariyal. She grew up in a small and remote village in the Himalayas, which is not the most typical living environment in India with its crowded cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013However, when I was younger, I didn\u2019t really think whether I was going to get a \u2018real\u2019 job on this field. I just wanted to spend time in the nature \u2013 but now when I look at it, this dream has actually gotten me really far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before applying to the EF programme, Gargi completed a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Forestry and a Master\u2019s degree in Environmental Studies and Natural Resource Management in India. After graduation, she worked in the Eastern Himalayas in a research project, studying high altitude flora and fauna. She was also very interested in learning the local ways: the Nepalese language and the community traditions there. Since then, mountain areas and the multiple used of forests have been close to her heart \u2013 and as an adventurous person, she wanted to go and explore the world and learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 I wanted to learn from the best, so I applied to the UEF because I appreciate the long tradition of forestry research and resource management in Finland. In India, these things are lagging behind. I searched for alternatives as well, but most programmes were focused on subtropical forestry, whereas I\u2019m more interested in temperate and high-altitude forests. The European Forestry programme met my requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the decision was made, the practical arrangements of applying and moving to Joensuu, Finland, were easy to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013The application process was very convenient and the communication with the UEF staff was quick. Especially I would like to thank Marjoriitta, the coordinator of the EF programme at UEF, for being always ready to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The studies started with a highly practical focus, right from the beginning. The group went to many field trips to local companies in Joensuu, for example to see how biofuel is burnt to energy or how massive forestry machines are built, gaining a lot of business contacts for potential internships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was clear right from the start that the learning happens in the class \u2013 but even more outside of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013We were a group of 23 students of 19 different nationalities, so we were not only learning from notes, but also from each other, all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Gargi, the best part of studies was the one-month European forestry field camp to the five other universities in the EF consortium in Romania, Austria, Germany, France and Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013It was amazing, as the whole group was travelling together and learning on site. We stayed in mountain huts, saw bears and vultures… you name it. Of course, it was not a holiday, but we wrote reports and completed other assignments during and after the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the time of the interview, Gargi has already moved to Vienna, as according to the mobility plan of the EF programme, each student can choose from the universities in the consortium where they will spend second semester. But when looking back to the times in Joensuu and Finland, the memories are warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013Finland truly is a paradise for students. Now I see it even more clearly, maybe because you value a place the most when you lose it, Gargi laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013The library was the best, really, with modern computers and rooms that you can book for group work and such. In addition, the professors are very easy to approach, as they are down to earth and you can always ask them anything you have in mind. Oh, and the delicious and healthy student meals at the canteen\u2026 You never have to cook and they are so considerate there as they have vegan, gluten free and other special options as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While in Joensuu, Gargi had no problem finding something to do on her free time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013I love hiking, so the best thing about Joensuu was all the hiking trips I did as a member of Joensuun Latu, an outdoor sport association that you can join. Every weekend I went on hikes in remote peatlands or snowshoeing trips, and I even stayed overnight in a lean-to in \u201318 degrees! I made really good friends there, of different ages. I heartily thank Liisa Oura, Marjut and Merja for warm hospitality as they invited me to their houses and I really got to know real Finnish life that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gargi\u2019s vision of her future is clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013I want to continue focusing on mountain areas and on high altitude timber management and avalanche protection, for instance. I would like to get work experience from Austria or South America that I can really make use of when I go back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cultural and spiritual aspects of forests are also something that Gargi wants to promote \u2013 while also enabling the economic uses of forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013In my region in the Himalayas, the forests are only for conservation. They are owned by the government and belong to the people. Therefore, they have a lot of spiritual value for the numerous tribes on the area. From Finland we can gain knowledge on how to balance the economic interests and conservation in this kind of setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comparing India and Finland is not that far-fetched, because Gargi has learnt that in the end \u2013 we are all the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013When I\u2019ve studied high altitude people, they are all the same \u2013 in Canada, Finland, India. It\u2019s only us who divide people according to countries. I think we can learn a lot from for instance Sami people in Finland and how to deal with cultural issues related to forest management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though Finland as a study destination had not been advertised so much in India, Gargi is very happy she ended up studying here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013When I started my studies, I realised that Finland really is a \u201cdream country\u201d in terms of forestry. Here you can do everything from wood \u2013 building supplies, milk cartons, even folk medicinal products. It\u2019s the perfect environment for learning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gargi Tariyal is a second-year student in the Erasmus Mundus MSc programme in European Forestry (MSc EF). Due to the mobile nature of the programme, she is now finalising her studies in Vienna \u2013 and looking forward to gaining more work experience in mountain ecology. Thinking back to the start of the programme and her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-452","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCALL OF THE MOUNTAIN AREAS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FIELD TRIPS, AFFORDABLE STUDENT MEALS AND EXTREME SPORTS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
WE ARE ALL THE SAME<\/h2>\n\n\n\n