Erasmus+ mobility is not just an opportunity for work or an internship abroad. It is an experience that connects academic knowledge with practice, encourages personal development and enables students to test their competences in different cultural and professional environments. Four stories from DOBA students show that spending a few months abroad can have a significant impact on their confidence, career direction and view of the world.
Erasmus+ mobilities are designed to help students develop professional knowledge, language and digital competences, intercultural understanding and greater independence in an international environment.
Erasmus+ in numbersAs part of the presented Erasmus+ experiences, four students of DOBA University of Applied Sciences enhanced their knowledge through practical training abroad.
4 students
4 Erasmus+ mobilities
3 host countries
4 different professional fields
Students gained their experiences in:
Germany
Spain
Italy
Mobilities enabled students to work in various fields:
Gligorić Amadei: when digital knowledge connects with creativity
Gligorić Amadei completed his Erasmus+ internship in Germany, where he worked at MeiCla and Shurari. His work combined digital design, marketing, app development and user experience. At MeiCla, he participated in creating visual content, the company’s digital presentation and developing an interactive card for communication between children (young patients) and doctors. At Shurari, which develops a mathematical application, he participated in research projects, app design and UX design. The main impacts of the mobility:
A special part of the experience was also personal development. Living independently abroad encouraged him to develop greater confidence, adaptability and readiness for new challenges.
Erna Grgić: sustainable fashion, digital marketing and personal growth
Erna Grgić completed her Erasmus+ internship at Fairnica GmbH in Herne, Germany, a company operating in the field of sustainable fashion. She was involved in various activities – from event organisation and marketing to digital business. She participated in organising the Clothing Swap Party, aimed at raising awareness of sustainable fashion, as well as preparing a fashion show in cooperation with GLS Bank. An important part of her work was related to digital competences. She gained experience working with Wix and Twice, participated in website content optimisation, product page preparation, digital marketing and social media campaigns. Erasmus+ also brought her an important personal transformation. Living independently abroad, working in a new environment and collaborating with different people helped her develop greater confidence, independence and courage to overcome personal obstacles.
Katja Trček: Erasmus+ opened the door to further career opportunities
Katja Trček completed her internship at H10 Tindaya Hotel in Fuerteventura, Spain, where she worked in public relations. Her tasks included communication with guests, processing their feedback, responding to comments on online platforms, working with email and participating in the organisation of hotel activities. Over time, she also took on more demanding tasks, including preparing social media content and contributing to documentation for the renewal of the Biosphere certification related to sustainable tourism. She highlights the following key competences gained:
A special achievement of the mobility is that after completing the Erasmus period, she decided to extend her internship for another three months and remained at the hotel after the initial mobility ended.
Marko Primc: psychology, empathy and work towards a more inclusive society
Marko Primc completed his Erasmus+ experience in southern Italy, in San Giorgio Albanese in the province of Cosenza, where he worked at the organisation Liberamente as part of the SAI project for the reception and integration of asylum seekers. His internship was connected with working with children from migrant families and learning about psychological support for adult migrants. He contributed to creating a safe environment for children, helped with learning Italian, homework and developing social skills. He was also present during psychological interviews with adult migrants, where he learned about their life stories and challenges. The mobility enabled him to develop:
An important part of the experience was also green mobility, as he travelled by train and bus.
A common feature of all four stories is that Erasmus+ was not only about enjoyable experiences, but also about facing new challenges. Students had to adapt to:
These challenges were an important part of their development. They learned greater independence, adaptability, confidence and the ability to solve unexpected situations.
Erasmus+ mobility creates long-term impacts on several levels. For students, it means gaining professional knowledge, greater employability, developing personal competences and better understanding different cultures.
For the academic community, the stories of mobile students represent an important source of inspiration. Their experiences bring new perspectives, examples of good practice and encouragement for other students to consider international opportunities within the DOBA University of Applied Sciences environment.
For DOBA University of Applied Sciences, Erasmus+ mobilities mean strengthening international orientation, connecting with organisations abroad and demonstrating that students are prepared to operate in a complex and globally connected environment. Erasmus+ activities also have a wider impact on participating institutions by strengthening international cooperation, the transfer of good practices and the development of higher-quality educational environments. Each mobility therefore becomes more than an individual story; it becomes part of the development of the DOBA community.
Four stories from DOBA students prove that Erasmus+ is not just a period abroad. It is a process of learning, personal growth and discovering new opportunities. The knowledge, competences, friendships and confidence gained abroad return with students and enrich the entire academic community.
Erasmus+ opens doors to the world. It gives students the opportunity to confidently find their place in it.
“An internship abroad through the Erasmus programme does not only provide professional experience, but also invaluable personal lessons. You have the opportunity to live in another country, discover a new culture, expand your social and language skills and, above all, grow as a person.”
(Gligorić Amadei)
“The whole experience made me a stronger and more courageous person. I learned to trust myself, make decisions and put them into practice.”
(Erna Grgić)
“Although the experience was sometimes challenging and full of adjustments, I gained a lot from it – both professionally and personally. The internship abroad equipped me with knowledge and confidence that I did not have before.”
(Katja Trček)
“I would recommend the Erasmus programme to every student. Being present in a new environment, with a different culture, language and way of life, opens up new horizons of thinking and action.”
(Marko Primc)
