Universidad de Montevideo’s participation in the Erasmus+ mobility program makes it possible for professors and staff from European universities to take part in teaching and training at the UM. These visits are always of great value to both the foreigners and Uruguayans alike.

Thanks to this program, four individuals from European educational institutes visited the UM this semester: two professors from Spain, a dean from Romania, and a staff member from a Portuguese university. They had the opportunity to teach classes, participate in activities, meet with colleagues, and deepen their understanding of the culture of the university and Uruguay. All of the visitors gave positive feedback, recommending the UM to colleagues back home.

In April, two professors arrived to Uruguay and were met by members from the Faculty of Humanities and Education. These two professors were Francisco Ortega Zamorano, professor of the department of Language and Computer Science from the Universidad de Málaga in Spain, and Dejan Duric, professor of Literature from the University of Rijeka, Croatia. Ortega Zamorano taught a class about the application of artificial intelligence to Translation Studies (for students of this degree) and another about deep learning in artificial intelligence for staff and students of the Faculty of Engineering. Duric met with Nicolás Manfredi, Cristina Chiusano, and other professors from the areas of Translation Studies and Literature. He also attended the first class of Culture of the Southern Cone, where students learned about mate, and shown how to prepare it.

Both were pleased with UM staff, the planning process, and the richness of the exchange. “I would recommend this experience to any colleague who gets the opportunity. The process is simple, well-organized, and worth the effort. For those with doubts, I encourage you to take the opportunity: it’s easier than it looks and without a doubt is worth it. I enjoyed my work with the students the most”, said the Spanish professor.

“Beneficial to both sides”

The Croatian, for his part, commented that “exchanging experience and expertise with Uruguayan colelagues is beneficial to both sides”. He added that he had already recommended the experience to other colleagues, believing that “it would be beneficial for them to learn about how this university works and functions”; “I believe that colleagues’ politeness and accessibility are also key factors in an Erasmus exchanges, since you do not feel like a burden (…), but rather welcome. While I was on campus, I saw a lovely mood, the students were comfortable and content with their surroundings, and teachers and students had a cordial relationship”.

He worked with members of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, and especially valued their organizational and curricular design approaches, particularly in the field of Literature. He left the country with a greater understanding of modernization strategies in teaching, organization, and scientific research at Universidad de Montevideo. He also learned about improving teaching methods, institutional organization, and curriculum design skills. He was also able to share his knowledge, ideas, and experiences with colleagues in Montevideo.

Professional and Personal Growth

The Dean of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi School of Business and Economics met with the Dean and coordinators of the UM’s respective faculty, as well as professors Claudio Ruibal to discuss infrastructure and Pablo Sartor to discuss quality assurance. Her husband, Marcel Roman, a professor at the Gherghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, participated in these meetings and commented on two positive outcomes. Firstly, he valued them for supporting the development of his career (through “access to an international network, interaction with international professors, student and specialists opened up new opportunities for collaboration”). He also highlighted how the experience contributed to personal growth: “Such an experience can provide a new perspective on priorities and values and help you make more informed decisions about the future”, he commented to this respect.

Finally, Alexandre Matos Rocha, an employee at the Documentation and Library Archives of the Portuguese Universidade de Minho and PhD candidate in Communication of Science came to visit in May. He met with Natalia Olascoaga, Alexander Castleton, Enrique Etchevarren, Victoria Gómez, Patricia Schroeder, and Silvia Lamela.

He described the encounters he had as “extremely valuable” and noted a “strong commitment to internationalization by the institution, including from its upper leadership.” He also added: “I would definitely recommend this experience to other colleagues interested in undertaking an exchange in Uruguay.”.