INTERFOB 2024 in Zvolen, Slovakia – Student report

We met up with our vehicles in Feldkirch to load them onto the car train and started our journey eastwards with the night train. While not everyone had an easy time with the light rocking motions, we reached the final station in Vienna feeling more or less rested. Once off the train, we headed straight to the motorway towards Bratislava, where we stopped for lunch. After we’d been well fed, we first took the motorway through the Danubian Lowland, but then opted for a side route through the Slovak Central Mountains with a stop at a small swimming lake. Finally, we arrived in Zvolen and moved into our rooms in the university’s student dormitory. After a brief introduction to the venues, it was time for dinner and a welcome drink.

On Monday, all the guests first introduced themselves. Teams from eleven universities from eight different countries were in attendance. We then listened to the welcome speech by the rector of the hosting Technical University of Zvolen. After lunch, we were given an insight into the university, its technology park and current research projects. Then it was time to get ready for the international dinner. Each team prepared local dishes from their home country before presenting them to the other participants. The BFH team tried to beat the competition with a selection of Kambly biscuits, absinthe and fondue. In actual fact, in an unplanned turn of events, snuff became the secret star – and despite plenty of supplies, our stocks were running low by the end of the week.

On Tuesday and Thursday, excursions were planned to various companies of the regional timber industry. In several groups, we visited the local branch of Kronospan, a window manufacturer, a timber merchant, several sawmills, a forestry machinery manufacturer and a research institute working in the field of forestry and wood processing. It was also interesting to see the interplay of modern infrastructure and old Soviet technology. On Tuesday evening, a ‘Time Travellers’ themed party was held, featuring a live rock band.

On Wednesday, we got to know the other students better during the ‘Team-building Event’. As part of mixed groups, we first had to put our sports abilities and skills to the test. In the afternoon, a construction contest was held. Each group had to build a catapult with time and material specifications, and in the end it was evaluated based on range and accuracy. The contest continued into the evening, when we explored the city’s bars in the ‘Tour de Bar’, completed tasks and quenched our thirst.

After another excursion day, we went to the more official part of INTERFOB on Thursday evening. We got dressed up and headed halfway across the city to an event venue where students, sponsors and prominent individuals from the university and the city had gathered for the gala evening. After a lavish reception, the organising committee was thanked and the next INTERFOB was announced. After dinner, the students exchanged lots of presents and finally, we took to the dance floor until we were thrown out.

We had to leave our rooms early on Friday morning. After one last relaxed Slovak breakfast, everyone said goodbye to each other and headed home. Although we had originally planned two nights for the return journey, due to the heavy rainfall and risk of flooding we drove straight home and had just one overnight stay in Upper Austria.

Despite signing up at short notice and not really knowing what to expect, we were met with a highly organised and eventful week. Along with an exciting insight into the Slovak wood and forestry industry, it was equally interesting to hear the opinions and views of the other students.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the STE, schaerholzbau ag and Global Engagement BFH-AHB for their generous and, above all, spontaneous support. Without it, our journey would have made much more of a dent in the student budget. We now hope to be able to persuade motivated students from the lower semesters to participate next year. Next year, the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna are inviting visitors to Austria.

Author

For the Swiss delegation

Andrin Nietlispach, BSc Wood Engineering, 5th semester