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He cycled 988 km and now he is counting numbers at UiA

The exchange student cycled from Germany to Norway, and now he is here studying business administration at UiA.

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Photo of Jasper Hawkridge and his bike
A snapshot of his travels: from Dortmund to Kristiansand (Source: private)

Text: Alisha Jane Mahtani-Williams

The idea of biking from Germany to Norway, for many, could be seen as bizarre. So the idea of biking from Germany to Norway carrying all your stuff for university with you could be seen as even more bizarre. For exchange student Jasper Hawkridge, however, this became a personal goal.

From Dortmund to Kristiansand 

Jasper is a 25-year-old student at the International School of Management in Dortmund, Germany. He was about to take an exchange semester abroad and after reviewing all the options decided on the city of Kristiansand in Norway. Jasper was attracted by its proximity to nature, by the bike lanes that circle around the city, by the possibilities to travel that Kristiansand provides, and most importantly, by the education that University of Agder offers. 

At UiA, he continues his studies in the field of Business Administration, whilst allowing him to specialise in International Management. He is currently studying for his final exams at UiA, and is looking forward to the Christmas holidays.  

"The whole bicycle project popped up quite spontaneously, whilst my friends and I were chatting one summer evening. I decided to do it, so I elaborated a plan as well as a list of travel gear items I needed’, Jasper says. 

Jasper is happy to have spent a semester at UiA. (Photo: Alisha Jane Mahtani-Williams)

Changes in travel plan

All prepared, Jasper began his journey at the train station in Bielefeld. He set off during a hot morning in August. The aim was to complete 100 km each day. Initially, he was able to stick with this plan, but as the days progressed, his knees became so painful from cycling that he had to adjust his calculations, reduce his speed, and for some days began to cycle 40 km a day instead.

"I slept in some shelters along the way. I also tried to make the most of nature’s resources by bathing or cooling myself down in nearby rivers –  I felt that the sun was beating down on my skin at all times!", Jasper exclaims, laughing.

A warm welcome 

After cycling for a mind-blowing 988 km, he had made it to his first goal: Hirtshals. There, he got the ferry to Kristiansand, arriving at 2 AM in the city. He then headed straight to the university.

"I was kindly welcomed to the university by ESN, they showed me around and then some of the students invited me over for some drinks. I think I was the first student to arrive.  I was very excited to start my studies at the School of Business and Law at UiA as I could really see that there is a big sense of community here at the university", Jasper says. 

ESN (Erasmus Student Network) is a non-profit international student organisation. The network represents the international student body, and has multiple goals: to entertain the student community, to help them with any queries, and introduce them to Norwegian culture.

Eleven days biking

It had taken him twelve days of traveling - eleven days of cycling - and a lot of hard work and energy but he had made it! And now that he has the cycling bug, he is already planning other trips around Norway, and he frequently bikes into Kristiansand and around the local area. 

Jasper has settled in well, and is enjoying his semester here. The Master's degree is taught in English, and it focuses on how to handle business challenges efficiently when they take place on a global scale. This course admits both Norwegian students and international students, thereby helping the students to develop their cultural understanding and knowledge of international markets.

Jasper’s story immediately became popular and inspirational within the student community here at the University of Agder as Jasper continues to encourage people to take up challenges of this type, and to try them out with friends. Not all of us would contemplate setting off for university by bike but Jasper’s example of how it is possible to reduce your carbon footprint, be eco-friendly, and see unique parts of the world is a motivation to us all.