Erasmus+ Part of ISU’s Strategy
Erasmus+ is an important part of the International Slavic University’s internationalization strategy and its integration into the European Higher Education Area. Since the implementation of its first Erasmus+ project in 2019, international mobility has gradually become a regular part of the University’s academic and institutional activities. Today, the programme enables student mobility for studies and traineeships, as well as teaching and administrative staff mobility for teaching and training.
Participation in Erasmus+ contributes to the development of the academic, professional, linguistic, digital, and intercultural competencies of students and staff. At the same time, the experiences gained at partner institutions are incorporated into teaching, administrative processes, and the University’s further development.
Mobility Support at Every Stage
The International Relations Office coordinates the entire process—from publishing calls and ensuring the transparent selection of candidates to preparing Learning Agreements and Mobility Agreements, communicating with partner institutions, and providing support throughout the mobility period. Particular attention is given to selecting appropriate courses, ensuring the academic recognition of achieved learning outcomes, providing linguistic and intercultural preparation, and offering logistical support related to travel and accommodation.
Upon completing their mobility, participants are encouraged to share their experiences and acquired knowledge with colleagues and students through events, presentations, teaching activities, and the University’s communication channels. In this way, the benefits of mobility are not limited to the individual participant but become part of ISU’s broader internationalization process.
European Programmes Available to Our Students and Staff
The opportunities that Erasmus+ provides to our students and teaching and administrative staff are of particular importance to ISU.
Students participate in mobility activities for studies and traineeships, which allow them to study in a different academic environment, improve their linguistic and intercultural competencies, become more independent, and develop practical skills relevant to their future careers. Through teaching and training mobility activities, teaching and administrative staff exchange experiences with European colleagues, establish new professional contacts, and become familiar with modern teaching methods, digital tools, and practices in higher education management.
Feedback also shows that 100% of the surveyed students and staff members believe they gained tangible benefits from their Erasmus+ experience—not only in terms of academic and professional development but also regarding their personal and intercultural competencies.
A Positive Experience For Our Guests
One of the most significant indicators of the quality of ISU’s Erasmus+ activities is the feedback received from students and staff hosted by the University. In the 2022 project cycle, 100% of the surveyed incoming students participating in study and traineeship mobility, as well as all 46 surveyed incoming staff members, expressed satisfaction with their overall Erasmus+ experience.
This positive trend continued in the following cycle. According to the 2023 project report, 100% of the surveyed incoming students were satisfied with their mobility experience, while all 30 surveyed incoming staff members were satisfied with the support they received at ISU. Key contributors to this positive experience included timely communication, designated contact persons at the faculties, logistical assistance, pre-arrival information, orientation activities, and the integration of guests into the academic community.
Позитивниот тренд продолжува и во следниот циклус. Во извештајот за проектот од 2023 година, 100% од анкетираните дојдовни студенти биле задоволни од мобилноста, додека 100% од 30 дојдовни членови на кадарот биле задоволни од поддршката што ја добиле на МСУ. Како важни елементи на позитивното искуство се издвојуваат навремената комуникација, личните контакт-точки на факултетите, логистичката помош, информациите пред пристигнувањето, воведните активности и вклучувањето на гостите во академската средина.
New Formats of International Learning
In addition to traditional forms of mobility, ISU also organizes Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), which combine physical mobility with virtual activities and provide more flexible and interactive forms of international cooperation. Programs involving several partner higher education institutions have been implemented in Sveti Nikole, including a program dedicated to inclusive education and another focused on developing academic presentation and communication skills.
Digitalization and Equal Opportunities
ISU is actively involved in the digital transformation of Erasmus+ through Erasmus Without Paper and digital Learning Agreements. According to the 2025 Country Fiche for North Macedonia, International Slavic University achieved 100% digitalization of outgoing Learning Agreements in the 2024/2025 academic year, compared with the national rate of 67%.
The same report highlights ISU as one of the institutions with the highest levels of digitalization in the country, reaching 100% for outgoing mobilities and 98% for incoming mobilities.
Inclusion and equal access are also important aspects of the program. ISU strives to make mobility accessible to students from different backgrounds and to provide appropriate support to participants with fewer opportunities. In the 2022 project cycle, 100% of the surveyed incoming students reported being satisfied with the support provided for inclusion-related needs, while all surveyed study mobility students stated that they had been treated equally to local students.
A Network of Partnerships
Through Erasmus+, ISU continuously expands its network of European partnerships and creates new opportunities for mobility, joint academic activities, and knowledge exchange.
Cooperation with partner institutions does not end with a single mobility—it often develops into new joint projects, Blended Intensive Programmes, guest lectures, research connections, and other forms of academic cooperation.
In the years ahead, the University will continue to use Erasmus+ as a platform for modernizing teaching, supporting professional development, advancing digital transformation and inclusion, and strengthening international connections. The goal is for every mobility to create long-term value—for the participant, ISU’s academic community, and the partner institutions with which we are building the European Higher Education Area.