HEROES travel green – making the journey a part of the exchange adventure

In spring and summer 2026, some SEAMK students chose green travel options to attend an intensive programme at one of SEAMK’s partner institutions in the HEROES European University Alliance.

Support for greener travel

The Erasmus+ programme supports green mobility through increased travel grant and the option of additional travel days covered by the grant. The aim is to make environmentally friendly modes of transport more accessible to students. Students travelling abroad by lower-emission modes of transport, such as trains, buses or carpooling, may receive additional green travel support for their exchange.

SEAMK students are informed about the availability of additional green travel support during information sessions related to mobility opportunities, and in grant information emails sent before their mobility period. Links and tips for planning a greener exchange are also available on SEAMK’s intranet.

Discovering the Baltics on the way to Lithuania

Two International Business students, Odgerel Batdelger and Izaz Mahmud, chose to travel more green way to a Blended Intensive Programme organised by Vilniaus Kolegija Higher Education Institution (VIKO) in Lithuania in May 2026. Based on their experience, booking online was straightforward, and their route ran by train from Seinäjoki to Helsinki, by ferry to Estonia and by bus through Latvia to Lithuania.

For Odgerel, saving money was the main motivation: flying would have used around 30% of the travel budget, leaving less for experiencing new countries. Odgerel found the journey better than expected: the Baltic landscapes were beautiful, time passed quickly, and the busy buses showed how popular the route was. Having travelled with a friend, Batdelger’s advice to other students is simple: bring company and enjoy the ride.

For Izaz, reducing environmental impact and experiencing more sustainable travel were the main reasons for choosing this option. Additional green travel funding helped with the extra time and planning, while the route offered opportunities to discover cities, landscapes and architecture across Finland, Estonia and Latvia. The sea views and onboard facilities made the crossing a highlight, while the bus journey revealed green landscapes, towns and historic buildings, with refreshing breaks in Pärnu and Riga.

Although green travel required more planning than flying, Izaz found the journey smooth, enjoyable and rewarding—a chance to see much more along the way.

A greener adventure to Czechia

Bolortuul Batsuren, who is also studying International Business, chose green travel for a Blended Intensive Programme at Mendel University in Czechia in June 2026.

For Bolortuul, travel time was the biggest concern: the journey took roughly 33 hours with several transfers, compared with a two-hour flight followed by around two hours by bus or train. Having experienced journeys lasting two or three days with flight layovers, Bolortuul saw this first long-distance bus trip as a chance to make a more sustainable choice.

Additional Erasmus+ green travel funding helped, and the route through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Czechia made the journey feel more adventurous than flying. Although short stops limited sightseeing, Bolortuul enjoyed watching the scenery and atmosphere change across borders.

With time to watch Netflix, snack and enjoy the views, Bolortuul found the experience fun and memorable—and would choose green travel again without hesitation.

Despite some initial concerns, everyone found traveling green to be a wonderful experience and would be willing to do it again.