In‑Between Ritual: Designing a Ritual to Support Exchange and International Students in Navigating Their Experiences and Well‑Being Throughout Their In‑Between Time

Author:
Ramitar Burasai
Supervisor:
Daniel Kotsjuba
University:
EKA

This thesis investigates the well-being of exchange and international students during their temporary stay in Rovaniemi, Finland. Research reveals that well-being tends to be highest at the beginning of the semester and declines dramatically through the middle and end. In response, the project developed the In-Between ritual, a grassroots, peer-driven system where students pass on their lived experiences across cohorts through a shared physical artifact, the In-Between Kit, designed to sustain the sense of exploration and peer connection throughout the full in-between journey.

Link to full thesis