The Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO) has organized an activity to celebrate the Erasmus Days, an initiative that celebrates European mobility and the successes of the Erasmus+ program, which this year took place between October 9 and 14.
The activity, carried out in collaboration with the Oficina de Relaciones Internacionales (International Relations Office, ORI) of the university, has been channeled through the creation of a mural that has given a voice to different profiles of the university that actively collaborate in Erasmus Plus initiatives: from international students to teachers participating in research projects of the institution.
The mural also made it possible to showcase the work of different university teams, such as the Language Support Service (SAPLI) and the Web Presence team. “It has been an emotional and rewarding journey, and we are proud of what we have accomplished together as a team. We shall continue working on it,” said the members of the team in charge of developing the Erasmus Plus project websites.
At present, the university is leading the DigitalTA project, which aims to improve the practical education of teacher training students and young teachers in European Union countries, curtailing professional attrition when transitioning between learning to teach and teaching to learn. At the moment, the partners are developing the digital platform that will enable active and trainee teachers to share their challenges, reflect on their teaching practices, access tutorials, explore case studies, and participate in a vibrant learning community.
In addition, UNEATLANTICO coordinates the E+DIETing_LAB project (2022-2025), which aims to raise practical training in dietetic education and promote a community service-learning approach to nutrition and healthy habits as a social responsibility of the university. The project partners are about to pilot test the first result, a virtual patient where the student has to guess the patient’s pathology and dietary-nutritional problems. The same tool will be useful for dietitians who want to improve their skills.
Participating in research stays within the framework of an Erasmus program has proven to be a deeply enriching experience for teachers. Paula Quijano Peña, academic coordinator of the Translation and Interpretation and Applied Languages degrees at UNEATLANTICO went to Poland this year to teach classes at the Jan Kochanowski University (UJK) in Kielce: “I love teaching and translating, and being able to combine them even in another country is a very rewarding experience.”
This dedication to internationalization not only benefits the university but also enriches the education of students around the world, as knowledge is shared across borders and cultures.
The aim of the Erasmus Days is to highlight Europe’s rich cultural diversity and the many learning opportunities it offers. They also provide a unique opportunity to organize events, share personal Erasmus experiences, and promote projects related to this program.