The Erasmus Mundus Programme has opened its doors to students and academics interested in studying short courses at the Spanish University of Valladolid. 

DUT’s Ayesha Mall, HoD: Media, Language and Communication and Head of the Journalism is the latest beneficiary of this programme.  The Erasmus Mundus Programme is a European higher education curriculum which aims to enhance quality education by ensuring diversity through different cultures. The Erasmus Mundus Programme for South Africa (derived from Erasmus Mundus), is a plan to network and co-ordinate South African and European universities. DUT students and academics who are fortunate enough to be chosen for international trips and experience different cultures through the Erasmus Mundus Programme, always come back with a more enriched, academic mindset. 

Discussing how she was introduced to this programme, Mall said; “Dr Alicia Torres, of the University of Valladolid, had visited DUT in 2016 as part of the Erasmus Programme and had spent time in the Journalism Programme. She had sent me an invite to visit the Journalism department at the University of Valladolid as part of the Erasmus staff mobility grant and I was honoured to have been selected onto the programme,” she said.

 Mall added that DUT staff and students always receive notification of such opportunities often from the DUT International Education and Partnerships office and the intent to apply is there, but often one can get waylaid by other work responsibilities. So this was the first time she had been on the Erasmus Programme. Mall was full of praise for the Erasmus Mundus Programme, adding that she cannot recommends staff and students to seize such opportunities.

  “I found the engagement with the Spanish journalism students exhilarating; they asked a lot of questions. They reminded me of my students at DUT in many ways – students are students wherever they are,” she chuckled.

 For Mall, meeting and exchanging ideas with international Journalism academics at the University of Valladolid was also hugely beneficial. “It was good to get an insight into the journalism curriculum development and the undergraduate and post-graduate journalism offerings; which is informing the development of the DUT Journalism proposed Honours in Journalism offering and the Master of Journalism proposed coursework offering,” she stressed. In between her time spent at the University of Valladolid, Mall found a moment to enjoy some sightseeing. “Spain, as we know, is steeped in history and I had the opportunity to visit some of the sights of historic importance. The University of Valladolid, in itself, is such a place; it is the second, oldest university in Spain, established in the thirteenth century. The architecture and character of its campuses are reflective of this. Dr Torres was kind enough to show me around, Valladolid. I am very grateful to the colleagues at the University of Valladolid for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with me, especially to Dr Torres for her immense hospitality,” she said.

 In terms of teaching practices, Mall said there were many similarities between teaching and learning practices at DUT Journalism and in the Journalism department at the University of Valladolid. “Our curriculum is similar in that they include the universal foundation principles and ethics of journalism practice, as well as knowledge and skills around the technological developments that impact on the practice of journalism,” she added.

 On returning back to DUT, Mall shared her thoughts with the department, saying that the adage that ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ does not wholly apply. “Sure, there are advantages in a university in a developed country that we would hanker after; however, there are many similar challenges and successes. In many respects, the University of Valladolid is better resourced in terms of infrastructure and staff but in certain areas we are on par or better,” she said proudly.

Pictured: Ayesha-Mall-with Dr Alicia Torres and the fourth-year-journalism-students at the University of Valladolid in Spain.

Waheeda Peters