Reasons to Participate in a Short-Term Erasmus+ Project

The Erasmus+ student exchange program offers the opportunity to visit foreign countries for a short period of time to gain new experience and integrate into an international environment. These projects, which usually last from seven till twenty days, are centered around specific topics and engage participants from different nations working, learning and growing together. This is why you should think about taking part in a short-term Erasmus project, and we are here to analyze how it will help you develop new skills and perspectives but also some challenges you may face, so you can be prepared.

First of all, some good reasons and motivation to participate in an Erasmus+ project can be:

• The Non-Formal Learning. And what do we mean with that? Short projects have busy schedules full of activities, workshops, and sessions that provide learners with compacted knowledge. They offer detailed knowledge on specific themes or subjects within a short but meaningful timeframe.

• The Cultural Immersion. Since they allow people from different parts of the world to come together thus enabling them to appreciate other customs and practices as well as their own. Consequently; cultural immersion leads to respect between individuals.

• Socializing. They are giving you the opportunity to cooperate with young people from Europe and beyond during these exchanges. These associations could be everlasting friendships or useful professional networks.

• Skills Gained. Through Erasmus+, young people acquire practical skills such as teamwork, soft skills like communication, leadership abilities among others will have been developed through these types of projects for personal growth which helps one both in career development.

• Stepping out of your comfort zone. Participating in an international project enhances your self-assuredness, self-reliance and adaptability that will help you discover new strengths and abilities you never knew existed.

Now that we gave you some reasons and hope that we motivated you enough, let’s see a list of some challenges you may face and some tips of how to overcome them:

• Cultural Adjustment: Given a short time span to fit into a new culture can prove to be difficult. Accept each other’s individualities, broaden your mind and respect various ways of doing things.

• Intensive Schedule: The nature of short term projects has resulted in busy days full of workshops, programs and activities for participants. It is important therefore for you to know how to manage your time well, stay organized and ensure that you are not tired all the way through.

• Language Barriers: If one cannot speak the language being used as a medium of communication in the project then it becomes hard to communicate with others well . Use this chance to practice on improving your linguistic skills while asking questions when you are in doubt or need assistance from someone.

• Homesickness: Even during a short stay, homesickness may still set in at some point. You should maintain contact with them throughout the program period plus engage actively in the project so as to make good use of this opportunity.

• Group Dynamics: In working closely with diverse groups, misunderstandings or conflicts may arise sometimes because they come from dissimilar backgrounds. Try to approach every interaction coming up with empathy and concentrating on creating robust relationships which result into an effective teamwork.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the whole point of a short-term Erasmus+ project: How it helps you grow and learn new things, not only for the world but for yourself too.

• Enhanced Cultural Awareness: Being engaged in a multicultural environment, therefore, enhances your knowledge and respect for diverse cultures hence making you ready for worldwide interactions.

• Improved Communication Skills: Participating with different language groups will improve your capacity to communicate effectively and clearly.

• Stronger Problem-Solving Abilities: This increases your critical thinking and problem-solving skills when faced with these challenges in a dynamic environment.

• Greater Self-Confidence: Engaging successfully in an international project improves self-esteem by gaining confidence in your competence.

• Broadened Perspectives: Your perspective becomes broader as ideas and practices differ which helps foster inclusive thinking and innovation as well.

In conclusion, Erasmus+ short-term projects are powerful learning, growth and cultural exchange platforms. Even though the experience may not be that easy (especially if you are an introvert), the advantages of this far outstrip them, giving you a chance to broaden your horizons and acquire valuable competences that cannot be found elsewhere. So take up this challenge as it comes, you never know what you might find or who you might meet along the way. If you are interested in taking part in an Erasmus+ project you can check our opportunities or you can contact us for further information through social media.