From March 23 to 30, 2025, eight students of both grades 10 and 11 from Avicenna International College in Budapest, accompanied by their Biology teacher, participated in a week-long Erasmus+ group mobility in Spoleto, Italy. The host institution was Istituto di Istruzione Superiore “Sansi Leonardi Volta”, a group of high schools in Spoleto that have diverse sections including human sciences, arts, scientific and classical parts. The exchange focused on experiencing the different disciplines offered by those high schools as well as experiencing the culture of the region to expand horizons, gain new perspectives, and appreciate the diversity of Europe. This report summarizes the key activities, outcomes, and impact of the mobility experience.

The initial school visit on Monday was to the Human Sciences School. The morning commenced with introductions through individual presentations where each of our students had a powerpoint presentation about themselves in the first class. Subsequently, an icebreaker activity facilitated interaction, during which students inquired about their preferences in culinary choices, animal interests, and sporting activities, followed by a discussion regarding the rationale behind these selections.The subsequent session provided an overview of the Italian education system, including the commencement age for schooling and the academic specializations of the institution including pedagogy, psychology, anthropology and sociology.. The final class featured a student-led presentation encompassing information about the city, historical context, recommended points of interest, and dining establishments. The afternoon involved a visit to the beautiful city of Foligno, where students conducted a guided tour of the city.

Tuesday’s itinerary included a visit to the Art School/Scenography School. During this session, students were engaged in a practical activity involving the artistic rendering of their initials onto small wooden cubes, with student assistance provided as needed. Students experienced the Spolvero sketching method, used gold leaf gilding and observed oil painting class. The afternoon was dedicated to a guided tour of Assisi, culminating in a visit to the notable Cathedral of Assisi where they studied more about San Francesco.

Wednesday’s visit to the Scientific School involved conducting experiments to evaluate the thermal insulation properties of various cups for hot beverages. The biology class featured a dissection exercise involving the examination of samples from chicken organs under a microscope. The following session comprised a student presentation detailing their four-year academic journey, supplementary research endeavors, and current projects. Students were introduced to the PCTO system which is a work based learning project. The final class introduced a computer program analogous to LibreCAD, utilized for modeling cellular structures. The afternoon was spent exploring the principal monuments of Spoleto especially the Duomo and the Roman Theater as highlights along with several other famous sites through a guided tour led by students and faculty.

Thursday commenced with a visit to the Linguistic School, where an explanation of the school’s academic focus and the historical significance of the building was provided. This was followed by an introduction to common Italian phrases and expressions with origins in ancient Greek or Latin. The subsequent class involved a presentation on festivals in Spoleto. The third session facilitated an open discussion with the students. Following this, an opportunity was provided to meet with the mayor and members of the local council at the town hall. The afternoon entailed a guided tour of the primary monuments in Trevi and Montefalco.

The final school visit on Friday took place at the multimedia department of the Art School, where the focus of the day was photography. Activities included capturing original photographs and subsequently engaging in digital editing.Stop motion videos were also demonstrated during the sessions as well as 3D modelling in Blender software.Students also experienced light photography using different light sources which they edited for better presentation. The afternoon plan was modified because of heavy rains unfortunately.

Saturday was dedicated to an independent exploration of Rome, with visits to major landmarks including the Pantheon, Trevi fountain, St Peter’s Basilica, The Mausoleum of Hadrian, more often known as Castel Sant’Angelo along with other churches. Students then enjoyed lunch together at Taverna del Seminario.

This exchange profoundly shaped the students both academically and personally. Their English skills and intercultural understanding grew, and they picked up basic Italian through daily interactions. Experiencing Italian culture directly – its heritage, schools, and way of life – was eye-opening. Working together with Italian students fostered real friendships and cross-cultural learning. A lot of students felt way more self-assured, capable of doing things on their own, and more accepting of different cultures after this experience. This mobility was very special since it absolutely nailed what it set out to do: get cultures mixing, help everyone grow as individuals, and boost their learning. The students came back to Budapest with a whole bunch of new buddies, a much wider view of the world, and memories they’ll be talking about forever.

This mobility was fully financed by Erasmus+.

Written by: Harout Parseghian

11. April. 2025