Hello again, it’s Rachael with another check-in from my semester abroad at Queen’s University Belfast. With November about halfway over, we’re really entering crunch time for assignments. This prompts me to reflect on some of the differences I’ve noticed between the school system here and the one back home. While I mostly take science classes at Pitt for my major, here I’m taking humanities classes for my gen-eds. Even with this in mind, the grading here seems to be much more focused on fewer, larger assignments. I’ve definitely noticed some pros and cons to this. On the one hand, this method definitely develops your research skills and prepares you for the kind of publications you’ll be writing in various career paths. On the other hand, it lets students focus heavily on the readings and research required for their two essays and miss out on the rest of the class content.
Another aspect of Queen’s that’s very different from Pitt is that students only take classes in their major here, and there are no gen-eds. Since I’m a science major taking humanities gen-eds here, this has caused quite a bit of amusing surprise in my classmates and professors. Queen’s students also typically finish their degree in three years, thanks to this major-only focus, as well as having already decided their course of study in high school and taking specialized classes then. On the one hand, this is again great preparation for their future careers. They get to specialize in what they want to study, and there are no English Lit majors suffering through their Natural Science gen-eds. On the other hand, this system includes less of the “well-rounded” interdisciplinary education that schools like Pitt provide. Having a broader knowledge base is also important in the professional world, as it helps you make connections and succeed in a changing world. I’ve been thinking a lot about these various pros and cons to the two school systems, and there’s of course no answer to which is “better.” However, this experience has definitely led me to question the stereotype of European educations being universally “better” than those provided by the American school system.
One more aspect of Queen’s that I’ve been thinking about in comparison to Pitt is its sustainability plan. Their sustainability initiatives include achieving net zero emissions by 2040 and adhering to the UN Accord for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals for universities. Queen’s and Pitt obviously operate under different regulatory systems, but they are both city schools that can be seen to face the same challenges when approaching sustainability. The zero-emission vehicles that Queen’s has are very prevalent around campus, and Pitt has electric vehicles as well. But one area Queen’s might excel in more than Pitt does is food waste. There are no dining halls on Queen’s campus, and instead, the dorms come with shared kitchens for each floor. There are designated containers that are clearly marked to receive all food waste from the kitchens, separate from trash and recycling. This is just one aspect of sustainability I’ve noticed from my personal experience, and it’s one of the many things composing the widened perspective that I’ll be bringing back with me to Pitt.
As the end of the semester feels closer and closer, I’m trying to be even more mindful and appreciative of every day that I get to experience here. While hours can disappear in the library as essay deadlines approach, I make sure to carve out time to experience the Belfast attractions and continue travelling further afield. This month, a highlight was a residence life trip to Cave Hill Country Park, which is a beautiful reserve overlooking the city of Belfast. I’m also looking forward to a weekend getaway to London and then a few day tours around Ireland after all my assignments have been turned in. With just 26 days remaining before my flight to Philly, I’m making every day count!
