Participation in the Erasmus+ KA171 International Staff Development Week at the Pontifical University of Salamanca

From April 7 to 11, 2025, Maryna Vasylieva, Deputy Director of the Education and Research Institute "Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy" and Professor, participated in the International Staff and Teaching Week "Inclusion and Mental Well-Being in Higher Education," organized by the Pontifical University of Salamanca (Spain).

This university is the coordinator of the international Erasmus+ project CB UA-Talent-UP, in which the Education and Research Institute "Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy" is a participant.

Before visiting the university, an online meeting was held for all participants of the International Week from different countries. During this meeting, institutions of higher education presented and discussed their approaches to ensuring the inclusion of all participants in the educational process.

During the International Week itself, the representatives of the Pontifical University of Salamanca organized several engaging activities:

• lectures such as "Movement: Your Best Companion,"

• "Inclusion and Diversity in Higher Education,"

• and "Mindfulness, Psychological Well-Being, and Mental Health" (which included the presentation of a research project and a practical workshop);

• and a workshop titled "Self-Care Time."

Participants — representatives of various universities — presented the work of their international offices, shared best practices on initiatives and resources for inclusion and mental well-being in higher education, discussed the organization of the Student Counseling Center at the University of Duhok, policies and activities on inclusion at the University of Leuven-Limburg, and the engagement of university communities in planning and implementing improvements in organizational well-being culture.

The participants also visited various departments of the Pontifical University of Salamanca and had the opportunity to ask their representatives about the organization of psychological, moral, physical, and rehabilitation support for participants in the educational process.

In addition, a rich cultural program was offered: a city tour of Salamanca and its landmarks, a picnic in the city park for informal networking, and an excursion to the Sierra de Francia, all of which contributed to building interpersonal connections and developing plans for future international cooperation among representatives of different universities.