On 15th October ERF participated for the first time in Erasmus Days, an event held every year for a week during October to celebrate worldwide the success of the Erasmus+ programme and its impact on individuals and organizations. This initiative by the European Commission aims to strengthen the quality of education, training, and lifelong learning. With this event, ERF joined numerous organizations across Croatia and Europe that presented their experiences and activities within the Erasmus program.
Organized by the Office for Research and International Cooperation, the first ERF Erasmus Day hosted around 80 ERF students and staff. Students and academic staff who participated in Erasmus mobility shared their experiences, while some project coordinators presented their Erasmus+ projects.
Following an introductory presentation on international cooperation at ERF and numerous international activities held by Vesna Čavić, Head of the Office for Research and International Cooperation, it was time for the students to share their mobility experiences. Speech and Language Pathology student Petra Kolić described her exchange semester spent in Portugal at the Polytechnic University of Setúbal. Social Pedagogy student Lucija Šimleša took us to Krakow, describing not only academic life but also the numerous extracurricular activities she participated in.
Professors also shared their experiences with the Erasmus program. Professor Ana Leko and Assistant Ana Došen from the Department of Speech and Language Pathology gave a presentation on two Erasmus stays for teaching and training purposes in Portugal and Finland.
Professor Martina Ferić from the Department of Behavioural Disorders presented the Erasmus project 'Higher Education Institutions for Prevention Science and Quality of Life Enhancement (HIPE)', while Professor Jasmina Stošić from the Department of Inclusive Education and Rehabilitation presented the project 'Building Relationships for Inclusive Digital Growth and Engagement (BRIDGE)'.
From the very beginning of the Erasmus program implementation in Croatia, ERF has been participating through numerous activities: Erasmus+ projects, outgoing and incoming student mobilities, teaching and non-teaching staff mobilities, Erasmus traineeships, BIP programs, and more. Mobility participants always return with rewarding outcomes, and students describe their Erasmus mobility as a life-changing experience, which aligns with the motto of the Erasmus program: Erasmus – changing lives, opening minds.
