The last months of the European Year of Skills represented a great opportunity to make a contribution to the personal and professional path of Erasmus students through the 2024 edition of The Plus of Erasmus, created by the garagErasmus Foundation and financed by the National Agency for Erasmus+ INDIRE. The initiative, which aims to enhance the Erasmus mobility experience, was as always structured around three sub-projects: online lessons of Italian language and culture (The Accelerator), webinars on job-hunting tips and tricks (The Learning Garage) and blind job interviews with recruiters valuing international experiences (Talents Match).
The Accelerator of Italian Language and Culture
From February to April 2024, The Accelerator of Italian Language and Culture offered nine online sessions, each lasting three hours. In collaboration with the Dante Alighieri – Campus L’Infinito School of Recanati, this project provided Erasmus students with a comprehensive understanding of Italian language and culture. Topics ranged from Italian design and architecture to grammar, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.
The Accelerator boasted record participation numbers, with over 900 registered individuals, 70% were women and 77% of whom were Erasmus students in Italy coming from more than 100 different countries, while each session saw an average of 275 participants.
On average, 70% of participants rated the sessions 10/10, while the rest rated it above 6/10. One participant, Valentin, 22, from Spain, commented on the experience, stating, “The Accelerator has helped me have more confidence speaking and conveying my ideas and thoughts in Italian. Moreover, it considerably improved my Erasmus+ experience, providing me with the right tools to live in Italy.”
Luca, 23, from Germany also shared his positive experience: “I started studying on my own in September when I arrived in Milan for an Erasmus experience. My Italian was not very good and I was afraid my level was too low for The Accelerator, but I was surprised that it was possible for me to follow all courses. I definitely learned a lot.”
Learning Garage
Taking place from April to May, The Learning Garage offered five interactive training sessions with six professionals, focusing on job-hunting and self-branding skills. This project aimed to equip young people with the necessary and modern tools to navigate the current job market successfully after their mobility experience, such as the use of AI for draft job applications and useful tips to carry out online job interviews.
The Learning Garage 2024 attracted a record of 714 registrants from more than 50 countries, with 167 participants on average per session, 91% of which were under 30 years old and more than 65% were women. The Learning Garage was overall rated positive, with 90% rating it above 8 out of 10.
“The Learning Garage has been an opportunity to learn new aspects about the job market but also to revise and deepen some basic aspects that I already knew but might be taken for granted when they actually make a difference.” said Carlotta, 21, Italian.
“Enlightening experience with great people, full of enthusiasm and positivity! Keep up the good work!” adds Eleftheria, from Greece.
Talents Match
The Talents Match was a unique speed dating event between companies and international talents held in May 2024. Candidates had ten minutes to impress recruiters and secure a callback for a full job interview. This session provided a dynamic platform for participants to showcase the skills they acquired during their mobility, in a different and fresh way.
90% of candidates were Erasmus students with a balanced participation between men and women. garagErasmus Foundation selected 35 participants out of more than 200 candidates based on their skills, past experiences and their compliance with the 13 open positions offered by the partnered companies.
A record of 6 companies participated in the Talents Match, 4 of which invited back participants for full interviews, resulting in already one position offered only 1 month after. This demonstrates the effectiveness of this innovative approach in connecting international talent with opportunity.
Olenka, a Peruvian in Italy, says of the experience: “I found this event very innovative and I think it is an excellent way to introduce ourselves to recruiters in an easier and more informal environment. I hope to be contacted for another activity of this type!”
Conclusion
The Plus of Erasmus project has been a resounding success, offering Erasmus students and young professionals enriching experiences that went beyond formal education. By blending cultural immersion with professional development and direct engagement with employers, the project has set a high standard for future initiatives. The positive feedback from participants highlights the significant impact of the project, both in personal and professional growth, underlining the value of projects enhancing the Erasmus experience.
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