Staff exchange – Karolinska Institutet

Staff member: Anurupa Nagchowdhury, Education Administrator, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics.

From May 19 – 23, 2025, the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) opened its doors to 44 international guests from 34 universities across 22 countries for its 5th International Staff Week. This vibrant event, part of the Erasmus+ program, was a celebration of collaboration, cultural exchange, and academic innovation. Both UMH and KI are members of the NeurotechEU alliance.

Photo 1: First day group photo, inside the Palmeral of Elche

🤝 A Warm Welcome and a Taste of Spain: We were warmly welcomed by UMH Vice Rector for Internationalization and Cooperation, Vicente Micol, along with the Director of Service of International Relations and Cooperation, Inma Blaya. After a brief tour of the Elche Campus, we concluded our day with an amazing cooking session featuring local gastronomy given by Bon Menjar Catering.

🌐 Building Bridges Through Collaboration: Day two was more focused on networking and wellness. The networking session organized by the Service of International Relations and Cooperation was followed by a healthy break that was led by the Office for Healthy Campuses and Sports. UMH’s COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) projects, showcasing innovative approaches to global education. The day concluded with a guided walking tour of Elche’s historic city center—famous for its lush palm trees and rich heritage.

🎙️ Sharing Stories on Global UMH Radio: One of the highlights was the opportunity to speak on UMH’s radio station about the value of Erasmus+ mobilities and the impact of international staff weeks. We discussed Karolinska Institutet’s approach to student exchange and shared insights about Sweden. You can listen to the podcast here:

🌿 Nature, Culture, and Connection: The day was concluded by an amazing trip to the Clot de Galvany, one of the most important natural parks in the Valencian Community. The meetings with university services continued, which was followed by a tasting of local food and drink, which included local tomatoes, dates, and fondillón wine, at the Orihuela Desamparados Campus followed by an engaging hands-on flamenco cajón workshop at the Plaça de Baix venue delighted the foreign guests, showcasing a unique aspect of Spanish culture.

Photo 2: Last day inside UMH campus

🎉 A Joyful Farewell: Finally, the week wrapped up with another networking session, where participants from countries like Hungary, Rwanda, Poland, and Costa Rica, among many others deepened their connections. UMH’s own tuna singing group also performed for the guests, and their songs inspired spontaneous dancing by nearly everybody present.

International Staff Week at UMH was more than just a professional exchange—it was a celebration of shared values, cultural richness, and the power of international collaboration. I would like to thank Erasmus+ program for offering this staff week program.