1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and describe your role at the University of Salerno?
I am a lecturer in English Language in the degree programmes of the Teaching Council for Social Work Sciences and Sport and Society at the Department of Political and Social Studies, my home department, as well as in the degree programmes of the Teaching Council for International Relations at the Department of Business Sciences – Management & Innovation Systems.
For over 20 years, I have been involved in internationalisation, with a particular focus on Erasmus mobility. This work has enabled me over the years to develop and strengthen numerous collaborations with universities and colleagues from different European countries.
I consider this a particularly important area, as it provides both students and faculty members with valuable opportunities for exchange, personal and academic growth, and greater openness to other academic and cultural environments.
2. What motivated you to take part in this mobility experience?
I was contacted by colleagues from the University of Nicosia not only because they are our partners within the NEOLAiA Alliance, but also on the basis of a collaboration that dates back to a previous Erasmus experience. In fact, several years ago, I took part in a mobility programme at their university, and some of their colleagues subsequently visited our University.
For this reason, I was very enthusiastic about the opportunity to take part in a BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) from 24 to 28 March 2025. The topics addressed were particularly timely and engaging and, above all, closely connected to my students’ interests and educational backgrounds.
I therefore saw this experience not only as an opportunity for my own mobility, but also as a chance to create new learning and exchange opportunities for the students involved
3. What did you find most enriching about the experience, both professionally and personally?
From a professional perspective, the mobility experience was a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships between the partner institutions while also broadening my teaching experience through the exchange of ideas with colleagues from different academic backgrounds. Thanks to its international and interdisciplinary nature, the BIP provided a particularly stimulating environment for sharing ideas, approaches and teaching practices.
From a personal perspective, however, the most enriching aspect was undoubtedly the wonderful relationship that developed with the group of students and with the colleague who accompanied me. In my view, the human dimension is one of the most valuable aspects of international mobility experiences: beyond academic activities, they create relationships and opportunities for meaningful encounters that stay with us over time.
4.How do you think you will be able to apply what you learned during the mobility experience to your work, whether in teaching, research or other activities?
I strongly believe that teaching is a reciprocal learning journey: I have always learned a great deal from my students, and this experience provided further confirmation of that. The unique form of interaction made possible by the BIP allowed me to engage not only with students from the University of Salerno, but also with students from the partner universities, creating a truly international and shared learning environment.
I also learned a great deal from the colleagues involved in the programme, of course. I had the opportunity to observe and experience valuable teaching methods and best practices, which I have since incorporated into my own classes at the University of Salerno.
I also believe that experiences like this contribute to a broader culture of internationalisation, going beyond individual teaching activities.
5. Would you advise your colleagues to take part in a mobility programme at NEOLAiA universities? If so, why?
Absolutely. The NEOLAiA environment is stimulating, dynamic and engaging, and offers real opportunities for exchange on both a professional and a personal level. The chance to connect with colleagues and students from different universities and countries represents extraordinary added value, as it allows you to view your own work from new perspectives and to build relationships that can develop even beyond the individual mobility experience. I can confirm this not only on the basis of this experience, but also thanks to a more recent mobility placement at another NEOLAiA partner university, the University of Ostrava, in the Czech Republic. In that instance too, I found an extremely stimulating environment and a strong willingness to engage in dialogue and collaboration. I therefore believe that mobility within NEOLAiA represents one of the most tangible expressions of the idea of a European university: an experience that allows us to share knowledge, practices and perspectives, but above all to build a truly international academic community.
