Sail course for students 2-16 September 2017, Szczecin, Poland – Visby, Sweden – Edinburgh, Scotland

The SAIL (Sustainability Applied in International Learning) course is an undergraduate Baltic University Programme course conducted at sea on-board the tall ship Fryderyk Chopin. The SAIL course is based on the participating teachers’ areas of competences and experiences. This means that each year the SAIL course is different with focus on different thematic areas of sustainability, such as: Environment; Energy; Climate; Technology; Economy; Social science; Education, etc. The course will be prepared and run on board by an international group of teachers. Students participating in this course will NOT receive any ECTS credits.

In addition to 8 teachers, we have 30 place available for students onboard.

Students interested in the topic and coming from our members’ or/and participating’ universities are welcome to apply for participation in the course. Students from the BUP´s members' universities will, however, be given priority. Please notice that all students applying should have a recommendation from their teacher.

The final group of participants of the SAIL course will be chosen based on their motivation's letter.

Students should keep as well in mind that if they will be selected to participate, they will be asked to get their health statement confirmed by a doctor.

Please notice that students participating in this course will NOT receive any ECTS credits.

Please be aware and consider the special nature of the course - you should be aware that sailing a tall ship is physically demanding. Our experience is that you will be physically exhausted, deprived of sleep, and definitively out from your normal comfort zone. You will be living very close to many new people in a very restricted space. We should also mention that you may experience seasickness, which can be a rather unpleasant experience.

On board the sailing vessel all students (and teachers) will act as a working crew. You will be divided into one of three watches that will be assigned 4 hours rotating duties (navigation, deck, and kitchen) - around-the clock! Please keep in mind that in spite of the weather conditions, and in spite of your condition, you should participate in your watch duties. You should also be aware that sailing a tall ship means pulling lines, climbing masts to set and haul sails in the old-day fashion. Fryderyk Chopin is a brigg-rigged tall ship with two 38 m high masts, which need to be climbed! Students and teachers are expected to work together in the watches to fulfil their sailing duties, which in our experience is an excellent tool for team building and to create a dynamic learning environment. Moreover, as crew member you must also do other duties on-board, in addition to your sailing and course duties. This includes cleaning, cooking meals, washing dishes, and maintenance work. All this you are expected to do in addition to your course duties that come as a priority number one! To your help there will be 8 professional crew members on board so you can feel safe!

Please keep in mind that you are expected to work hard with the course requirements and to fulfill all duties on board.

Despite these words of “warnings”, or perhaps because of them, we can promise you extraordinary new experiences filled with feelings of togetherness and teamwork, meeting with new friends, being close to nature, and in the hands of the powerful forces of nature, and exploring places you never been to before. You will be part of a team creating and experiencing a unique course, and feel the joy of being part of a truly stimulating learning environment with hopefully enthusiastic students. And not the least: you will explore yourself and push your limits to new levels.

Please keep in mind that the course is very popular - each year the number of applying students exceeds by far the number of available places so make sure that your application will impress on us :)

Important - all students are obliged to fulfill all the course steps – starting from the preparation process, followed by active participation on board, and ending with the final paper that will be checked by the teachers.

*Baltic University Programme diploma for the course

*special certificate confirming their sailing skills issued by the Captain of the “Fryderyk Chopin” sailing boat

and a memory for life, new friends from many countries in the Baltic region, incredible adventure, and hopefully more confidence and self-knowledge.

The SAILing course is free of charge for students from the BUP's Members' Universities and for them all costs of accommodation and food onboard will be covered by the Baltic University Programme coordinating secretariat. A course fee of 1300 Euro per person applies for all other students. All students must however cover all travel costs to and from the boat themselves (travel to Szczecin and back from Edinburgh). For those who need visas (multiplied Schengen visa will be needed for this trip): invitations will be issued by the BUP secretariat in Uppsala.

* application to the SAIL course and cruise is binding – cancellation in the last minute without any important and documented reason will be reported to authorities of student's university and department