In April this year, six younger adult participants in non-formal education programmes at Žalec AEC took part in an Erasmus+ learning mobility in Spain. It was an opportunity for them to gain new knowledge, grow personally and develop their confidence, language skills and intercultural competences. Mihaela Anclin and I accompanied the participants and were delighted to see their progress. Experiences like these confirm the important role of adult education in empowering individuals and encouraging lifelong learning.
Learning without borders
We spent the first two days in Barcelona, where we visited the adult school Comunitat d’Aprenentatge La Verneda-Sant Martí. There, we experienced an inclusive learning environment based on volunteering, mutual support and cooperation between people of different nationalities. As we explored Barcelona and the architectural heritage of Antoni Gaudí, we also developed our intercultural competences and learned more about the local environment and culture.
New knowledge and new confidence
The second part of the mobility took place in Reus with our partner organisation DomSpain. Through creative activities, participants explored their learning journeys, personal values and goals, created their own personal ikigai posters, took part in a knowledge exchange and used artificial intelligence to produce a podcast. The mobility was further enriched by attending the Sant Jordi celebrations, where we experienced a wealth of cultural activities and saw Catalonia’s famous human towers – castells.
During our Erasmus+ learning mobility in Spain, we explored the concept of ikigai, reflected on our life experiences, values and goals and discovered how we might use our abilities in the future. Writing a letter to our future selves was particularly memorable. It encouraged us to reflect on our personal growth, dreams and plans for the future. Alongside the learning activities, we also enjoyed the beauty of Spain – its rich cultural heritage, wonderful architecture, picturesque streets and pleasant Mediterranean atmosphere, all of which made our Erasmus+ experience even more memorable.
We returned home not only with wonderful memories, but also with new knowledge, friendships and valuable experiences. The participants gained confidence, became more open to new challenges and found additional motivation to continue engaging in lifelong learning. This is precisely the greatest value of international learning mobility – it helps individuals discover their own potential and broaden their view of the world.
Biserka Neuholt Hlastec (biserka.neuholt@upi.si), Žalec AEC