From October 13 to 17, all faculties of Masaryk University participated in the traditional Erasmus Days. During a week full of lectures, workshops, and discussions, students and staff had the opportunity to learn more about how and where they can go abroad for study stays or professional internships.
The week kicked off with a Monday livestream hosted by the Centre for International Cooperation, which presented current mobility opportunities for the upcoming semesters. “In addition to the Erasmus+ programme, we also highlighted Partner Universities, ISEP, Erasmus+ ICM, Freemovers, and activities of the EDUC alliance. A new feature this year is the possibility to go on an Erasmus+ internship outside of Europe,” says Gabriela Složilová, coordinator for international programmes. Coordinators also provided guidance on how to choose a university, how to apply, and what to watch out for.
In the following days, the programme moved to the individual faculties. During workshops, presentations, and information booths, students learned more about deadlines, application procedures, and scholarship conditions. Presentations by students who had previously participated in Erasmus were also included. They shared not only their experiences but also practical advice regarding studies, course recognition, and life in specific destinations.
At the Faculty of Education, two talk shows were organized – one for Czech students and one for international degree students. “At both events, we welcomed 30 students who could not only get information about mobility opportunities but, most importantly, hear the experiences and firsthand stories of Czech and international students from the Faculty of Education who had already gone abroad. Both events attracted significant interest, and even after they ended, groups of listeners continued to gather around the presenters,” describes Radek Pospíšil, assistant for international relations at the Faculty of Education.
At the Faculty of Sports Studies, in addition to a lecture for students, an information session focused on staff mobility also took place. Here too, personal experiences of mobility participants were the highlight. As František Hurt from FSpS notes: “In both cases, I see the greatest benefit in sharing practical experiences with peers rather than in the lecture itself. The administrative process is not a barrier for our staff or students (and if it is, they know whom to contact); they are mostly looking for inspiration about where to go, which I believe our colleagues successfully provided.”
If you missed Erasmus Days but still want to go abroad, don’t worry. You can contact your faculty coordinators or check the Centre for International Cooperation’s website for more information.