Erasmus+ Staff Mobility for Teaching Program at Technical University of Varna
by Tuğçe Gürer & Gamze Bozkurt
Between 2-6 June 2025, my colleague Gamze Bozkurt and I participated in the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility for Teaching Program at the Technical University of Varna in Bulgaria. This mobility opportunity allowed us to share our workshop series originally developed for undergraduate students preparing to become primary school teachers.
Our workshop emphasizes creativity and engagement in teaching young learners, with a special focus on integrating generative AI tools into educational practices. Over the past few years, we have had the opportunity to deliver this series in six different countries—including Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, and Jordan—where we worked with a diverse range of students. Each experience has been enriching, offering us the chance to exchange perspectives across cultures and refine our approach based on valuable feedback, which has consistently been very positive.
At the Technical University of Varna, we were invited to adapt our sessions for a new audience: elementary school teachers. Their enthusiasm and active participation made the workshops particularly dynamic and insightful. Engaging with fellow educators from different backgrounds contributed to a meaningful exchange of ideas and provided new perspectives on our teaching experience.
Beyond the academic collaboration, the visit fostered strong intercultural connections and strengthened institutional ties between our universities. Culturally, it provided a valuable opportunity to better understand the Bulgarian education system and heritage, while also sharing aspects of our own academic and cultural context. This mutual exchange of knowledge and experience has laid the foundation for continued cooperation and dialogue between our institutions.
We are grateful to the Technical University of Varna and the Erasmus+ Program for this rewarding experience, which continues to expand our professional horizons and strengthen international academic collaboration.