An Erasmus+ Journey at the University of Graz: Academic and Personal Highlights

I have been participating in the Erasmus+ academic mobility program for the past seven years, and I can say that my experience at the University of Graz has been the best ever. First off, the online application system went smoothly (and I even received the grant a couple of days before my departure). The first person to greet me was Mediha Ohranovic from the International Relations Office (IRO) at the University, who coordinated my Graz journey perfectly. The IRO is the go-to place if you have any questions. There, I got my “Graz starter pack” with info sheets on POI in the city.

My academic journey continued at the Department of English Studies. There, I met Prof. Dr. Hermine Penz, who was a wonderful host (I even had the chance to practice my German with her as we sat in her office discussing common problems and joys of the academic world). Prof. Penz hosted three of my classes. I also met Prof. Johannes Scherling, who hosted me in one of his classes. Both professors attended my lectures and showed real interest in the lessons I taught. That was extremely motivational. The feedback I received from the students was exceptional. They would ask questions, participate in discussions, give examples, and some of them even wanted to read my papers (how amazing is that!).

Of course, I also got around the city of Graz. Erasmus+ isn’t just about teaching. Prof. Penz took another colleague and me for lunch at a quaint Italian restaurant. Precious. What I like about Graz is that you can reach everything very easily. Equipped with mobile data and the “GrazMobil” app (my personal traveler’s tip), I easily navigated through the city and all its gems. My favorite site was the Kunsthaus, an art museum at its finest. The museum building is a real eye-catcher in the city’s landscape. Next time I go to Graz, I will seriously consider renting a bike because the bike-riding culture is very pronounced in the city. The whole campus is full of bikes. And, needless to say, the infrastructure in the city enables you to reach each point by bike.

All in all, visiting the University of Graz, I felt that Erasmus+ academic exchange programs really ought to be like this one – both academically pleasing and personally fulfilling.