Anne-Roos: “I was curious to see how I would manage in a new environment”

Going on exchange? That’s not for me, Anne-Roos Albers always thought. “When students from higher years who had studied abroad came to our class to talk about their experiences, I only half listened. I wasn’t planning to study abroad anyway,” she says. “A few years ago, I chose to study Animation Design at ArtEZ because illustration suits me, I love the medium of film, and I wanted to further develop my storytelling skills. And I felt I could still grow a lot in those areas in Zwolle. So why would I go abroad?”

Still, Anne-Roos changed her mind. “Part of me was curious to see what it would be like to find my way in a new environment for a while. So I started talking to the head of the programme about the exchange opportunities. I also went back to other students to ask for their advice.”

Anne-Roos then started the application process for an exchange at one of ArtEZ’s partner institutions abroad. “You can choose up to three institutions abroad. ArtEZ nominates you for one or more of them, after which you can apply. You send the institutions a portfolio with examples of your work. Then you find out whether you’ve been accepted.”

Anne-Roos wanted to go to Belgium or Ireland, mainly because of the language and because she felt they would be safe places to live. “Luckily, I was accepted to IADT, the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dublin,” she says. “Then came the challenge of finding a room. That wasn’t easy, as Ireland is also experiencing a housing crisis. But through word of mouth, I eventually found a room in the home of an older couple.”

Anne-Roos joined the second year of the Animation programme at IADT. “It was a good time to join, because the students had just started a group project that ran throughout the semester,” she says. “I worked with four others on an assignment to create a two-minute animation for an external client.”

The format of the assignment was similar to what Anne-Roos was used to in the Netherlands, she says. “But the way we worked on it was different. At ArtEZ, we regularly have feedback sessions. At IADT, these were less frequent. That was probably because there were forty students in the class, so the tutors couldn’t give everyone extensive feedback. We mainly had production and theory classes. And once a week, we presented our progress to a tutor.”

It was also new for Anne-Roos to write an essay reflecting on how her group carried out the research for the project. “We had to follow all kinds of academic guidelines that I wasn’t familiar with yet. So that was a really valuable learning experience too.”

Anne-Roos also took an elective in comics. “And I had life drawing classes.”

Anne-Roos didn’t find the culture in Dublin all that different from that of large Dutch cities. “But the supermarkets were! They’re huge. It might sound strange, but I absolutely loved doing my grocery shopping there, haha!”

In her free time, Anne-Roos also enjoyed visiting the Howth peninsula. “It’s a wonderful place with nature, water and seals.” She also fondly remembers a trip to Edinburgh with some of her fellow students. “That’s when we really became friends. I’m sure we’ll stay in touch.”

What else has Anne-Roos gained from her time abroad? “I now know that I can work well with people I’ve never met before. I’ve also learned how to work with clients professionally. And I’ve experienced that I can find my way around a much larger institution in an unfamiliar environment,” she says. “The group project also made me realise that I particularly enjoy putting the finishing touches to a project.”

In her final year at ArtEZ, Anne-Roos will make a film from start to finish. “After that, I might want to further develop my skills in post-production. Who knows, maybe I could turn it into a career one day.”

Dit verhaal is onderdeel van een serie verhalen over studeren in het buitenland. Lees ook de verhalen van Freek Domburg, Messa Mouha en Tijl Schutz. Wil jij ook op uitwisseling? Alle stappen vind je hier.