The Erasmus Mundus Programme has given the Durban University of Technology academics and students an opportunity to study at the University of Valladolid in Spain.

The Erasmus Mundus Programme is a European higher education curriculum which aims to enhance the quality of education by ensuring diversity through different cultures.

Ismael Garcia, a lecturer from the University of Valladolid visited the Durban University of Technology (DUT), this year on Tuesday (16 April 2019), as part of the Erasmus Programme. He spent some time with the Journalism students teaching them some of the journalism styles that are used in Europe.

“The teaching and learning between South Africa and Europe have a lot of differences because of the social issues between the two countries and the geographical differences,” he said.

“The partnership they have with the University of Valladolid goes back when Dr Alicia Torres visited DUT in 2016 as a visiting academic; then the Head of the Journalism programme, Ayesha Mall, went across on an Erasmus scholarship. I also went last year and we already have two staff members from Spain who have visited DUT. The language of instruction in Spain is Spanish, however we did not have a problem with the language because the students were very interactive. I think we are more like friends now rather than colleagues across the ocean, and it was wonderful having Garcia here at DUT,” said Mrs Deseni Soobben, DUT Journalism lecturer.

Soobben also highlighted that they have plans on taking some of the Journalism students to be part of the Erasmus scholarship which will be for post graduate students, and this can bring great opportunity for them to explore the world and gain some of the journalism styles that are used in Spain

Mall: Head of department for Media Language and Communications at DUT emphasised that the Erasmus Programme allows for staff mobility between the two universities and within Erasmus Programme.

Pictured: Mrs Deseni Soobben (DUT Journalism lecturer) and Ismael Garcia from the University of Valladolid in Spain.

Nomkhuleko Thutshini