From 11 to 15 May, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria hosted a new edition of International Staff Week, organised as part of the Erasmus+ programme and run in collaboration with ERUA.
The event brought together 54 members of teaching, research and administrative staff from European and African universities in Gran Canaria, including institutions belonging to the ERUA alliance. The initiative established itself as a forum for professional and intercultural exchange aimed at strengthening collaboration between higher education institutions and fostering new opportunities for international cooperation.
Under the slogan “Enhancing minds, empowering staff: a week of intercultural and professional growth”, the programme combined specialist workshops, institutional visits and cultural activities focused on internationalisation, Erasmus+ project management, inclusion and intercultural skills.
During the event, the local ERUA team at the ULPGC presented to participants how the alliance operates, its main areas of work, and the opportunities for collaboration, mobility and participation it offers to both students and university staff. Staff Week helped to strengthen links between universities and create new opportunities for joint work among professionals from different academic and cultural backgrounds.In addition to the training sessions, participants had the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of various initiatives and facilities at the ULPGC, such as research centres, faculties and projects linked to innovation and sustainability.
The programme also included activities designed to introduce international participants to the culture and environment of Gran Canaria. Visits to the Spanish Seaweed Bank, the Canary Islands Oceanic Platform (PLOCAN) and the Maspalomas Dunes provided an opportunity to share the islands’ natural, scientific and cultural heritage, whilst also fostering informal exchange and networking among attendees.
The programme also featured sessions on language, inclusion and diversity, as well as activities related to intercultural learning and Spanish as a second language, in line with the values promoted by ERUA regarding inclusion, multilingualism and international cooperation.
International Staff Week also served to highlight the role of European university alliances as spaces for connecting institutions, sharing best practices and fostering future academic and professional collaborations. For many attendees, the experience also marked their first encounter with ERUA and the work the alliance carries out in areas such as internationalisation, sustainability and university engagement.
