Faith Ilesanmi: “I want to be a part of the future”

Faith Ilesamni decided to change her academic focus after receiving her Bachelor's degree in philosophy from Obafemi Awolowo University lle-lfe in Nigeria. She switched to education and went for a Master's degree in International Education from Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom, and since then her ambition in education has only grown.

“After my degree, I really wanted to start on my doctoral studies. However, I felt that most research was done on established concepts and I wanted to be a part of the future. So, I thought that I should apply for a programme in education technology or learning science - but I had no background in technology”, Ilesanmi says.

Ilesanmi went online, as one does, to find study opportunities in academia. During her time in Birmingham City University, she had seen comparisons between different education systems and so she was already familiar with the Finnish education system. Then she came across the University of Oulu's Learning, Education and Technology Master's programme, which seemed to check all the boxes for her.

Ilesanmi arrived in Oulu in September, and even if she was familiar with the education system, her new environment still provided some surprise to her.

“I was in the city centre, and coming from Birmingham, I thought that this is too quiet, something must have happened”, she says with a laugh. “But I grew used to the peace very quickly. I really like the quiet and it suits me very well.”

Her studies were more collaborative than what she was used to before, which she found very interesting.

“We get to work with people from different backgrounds and this is a great way to learn how to communicate and how to relate to different kinds of people. Aside from knowledge, you are also gaining understanding into human relationships. We are working on collaborative learning and this is really the future, to share ideas and expand knowledge.”

Ilesanmi is one of the Finland Scholarship recipients for 2022 and she says the grant is really useful when you are coming to a new place and you need to settle in.

After spending her first semester in Oulu, she has a good idea of what she'd say to her past self when contemplating about coming to Oulu. “I would say go for it, you won't regret it. The programme has everything you need for your future studies. It's challenging but rewarding. If I was talking to my old self, I'd say yeah, you're going”, Ilesanmi says.

Text and photos by Janne-Pekka Manninen

Next application period for international programmes will take place on 3-17 January 2024 for studies starting in autumn 2024.

Applications are made online at studyinfo.fi . Please indicate your willingness to apply for the Finland Scholarship when you fill in the online application form.