What are the Sustainable Development Goals and how do they relate to the life of Christian students in their professional training? From Monday 17 until Friday 21 April around 30 students from different countries gathered at Partium Christian University in Oradea, Romania, to think about these questions.
Coming from universities from the INCHE-Europe-network (International Network for Christian Higher Education) the students got to know each other, learned from each other and discussed their lifestyles together with lecturers from Romania and the Netherlands.
In addition to students from Viia and CHE, four students from Driestar travelled together with Peter van Olst, coordinator of internationalisation at Driestar Christian University for Teacher Education. They found it particularly interesting to meet students from mainly Eastern-European context.
Their cultural backgrounds were very different, but their Christian convictions were clear and pronounced. “That makes you think about your own convictions and traditions”, one of the Driestar students observed.
The conference started formally on Tuesday with a devotion by the student pastor of Partium University. Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise. A clear focus on SDGs will not bring back paradise on earth. Christians await a total renewal of things through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Later in the week, a special talk was dedicated to Christ’s Lordship and how His kingdom is coming and will once fill the earth when heaven descends on it with Christ’s second coming.
This, however, does not mean that in the meantime we should be ignorant about social justice, climate change and humanitarian crises. In a session with Partium-lecturer Levente Székedi, the the student group did a test that revealed their own personal footprints – and discussed how responsible lifestyles should or should not affect the planet.
With CHE-lecturer Jelle Terpstra the students went outside to practice several games that gave inside in how cooperating in networks affects communities living together on the planet.
“Travelling home and looking back at the experiences, we realized that our lives matter,” said one of the students. “Not only did we learn what stewardship means, and that we are called to live like priests of creation, but also we got insights into what it means to live as Christian students in today’s world.”
The Blended Intensive Program engaged 31 students from 5 countries from 7 INCHE Europe members and proved to be a success!
The INCHE Europe Student Programme (IESP) has the desire to connect young professionals in Europe through student leadership training to equip them to make an impact as Christians in society.
