- Name
- Pia Drechsel
- Faculty/Department
- Research assistant and doctoral student
- Purpose
- Summer School/Research
- Host Institution
- LUT (opens in a new window) and University of Oulu
- Location
- Lappeenranta/Oulu, Finland
- Period
- August 2025
Funding
BayWISS - Bayerisches Wissenschaftsforum
What was your main motivation to go abroad?
My main motivation was to further develop my research on consumer acceptance of sustainable packaging solutions in the retail food sector while gaining international perspectives. I was particularly interested in how sustainability is implemented in the Finnish food trade – a country known for its innovation and strong environmental awareness. What packaging innovations are available on the market? How are they perceived by consumers, and how do they find their way into everyday life? Another important part of my stay was participating in a Summer School at LUT University, one of Finland’s most modern and sustainable universities. There, I gained insights into international teaching and research approaches and was able to exchange ideas with researchers from various countries. Afterwards, I also visited the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio) and the University of Oulu, where I held discussions with researchers on topics such as circular economy, consumer acceptance, and sustainable packaging design. The combination of the Summer School and research visits offered an ideal opportunity to further develop my work both academically and methodologically, while also building new international contacts.
Did you have any concerns?
My main concerns were less about the stay itself – I had been looking forward to this opportunity from the very beginning, especially since it was not my first extended stay abroad. The greater challenge was rather reconciling family life with the research stay. As a researcher and mother of two children, the initial question was how to organise and manage a multi-week stay abroad both logistically and within the family. In the end, we consciously decided as a family to experience it together. For me, it was a special opportunity to show my children why learning and scientific work are worthwhile, to introduce them to other cultures, and to experience how languages and international collaboration can open doors. Balancing research and family was not always easy. In retrospect, however, this decision was incredibly rewarding and showed me that research, family, and international experiences can indeed be combined. Moreover, in Finland I had the impression that family-friendly frameworks and a more natural division of responsibilities make such a balance easier.
The combination of the Summer School and research visits offered an ideal opportunity to further develop my work both academically and methodologically, while also building new international contacts.
Would you recommend going abroad? Why?
Yes, absolutely. A stay abroad broadens not only your professional but also your personal horizons. During my time in Finland, I experienced how naturally innovation and sustainability are intertwined there. Research is often approached in a very practical way, and collaborations between universities, industry, and society are firmly established. At the same time, international experiences often leave long-lasting personal impressions: you gain new perspectives, question your own habits, and take many new ideas home with you.
Fun Fact
In Lapland, there are actually more reindeer than people – and sometimes they seem very aware of it. At the first sight of reindeer, we enthusiastically stopped to take photos. A few days later, however, a particularly stoic specimen was standing right in the middle of the road and remained completely unfazed. By the time we almost ran one over, our initial fascination had given way to a new kind of respect.
What did you learn form your stay abroad?
From a professional perspective, I have taken away many new impulses for my research. Particularly enriching was the exchange with colleagues in Oulu, who approach sustainable packaging from a systemic perspective – an approach that meaningfully complements my own research. Insights into the Finnish retail landscape were also fascinating, such as innovative logistics solutions like delivery robots or new sustainable packaging materials, for example, packaging made from wood fibres. On a personal level, I learned how valuable it can be to consciously broaden one’s own perspective. In Finland, the closeness to nature is very present, even in cities. The vastness of the country, the tranquility of the landscape, and the many lakes shape not only the environment but also the way people live. One moment that particularly stayed with me was an evening at a Finnish Mökki (typical holiday cottage) by the lake. While sitting by the shore and working on my dissertation, I realised how inspiring new surroundings can be for scientific work.
Were your expectations met?
Yes – and in many ways even exceeded my expectations. I had primarily hoped for professional impulses and new contacts. Beyond that, however, the stay also brought many inspiring conversations and new perspectives on sustainability and research. I was also impressed by the diversity of the universities I was able to visit. LUT University, with its modern campus strongly focused on sustainability directly on Lake Saimaa, stands for innovation and forward-thinking. In contrast, the University of Oulu, one of the oldest universities in Finland, conveys a long scientific tradition. The country itself also made a strong impression on me – so Lapland and the Northern Lights are once again on my personal travel list. My special thanks go to the International Startup League (ISUL) and BayWiss for supporting and funding this research stay.
Is there anything you would like to highlight about your experience abroad?
I was particularly impressed by the nature of Finland – the vastness of the landscape, the tranquility, and the numerous lakes. The further north one travels, the more pristine the surroundings become. This closeness to nature also shapes the mentality of many people: calm, focused, and at the same time very open and friendly. For me, it became clear that in Finland, sustainability is not seen as a short-term trend, but as a natural part of everyday life and research, aimed at preserving the quality of both one’s own life and the environment.
Impressions of Finland
