Senior learners from Spain explored Bratislava during an Erasmus+ mobility at CU
The Centre of Continuing Education of Comenius University Bratislava (CCE CU) welcomed forty-six Erasmus+ participants from Spain between 4 and 8 May 2026. The group consisted of staff members and senior learners from universities in Alicante, Castellón and Málaga, who came to Bratislava to gain inspiration, learn new skills and build international friendships.
The participants arrived in groups of around fourteen people from each university: Universidad de Alicante, Universidad Jaume I and Universidad de Málaga. The official welcome ceremony for the international guests took place on Monday, 4 May, in the meeting room of the CU Scientific Board. The Spanish delegation was received by CU Vice-Rector for External Relations Radomír Masaryk, accompanied by university spokesperson Eva Kopecká.
Education and inclusion at the heart of the programme
The mobility programme focused on inclusion, sustainability and digital skills. Following Monday’s welcome session, the senior participants attended a workshop on mobile photography led by Katarína Révayová, followed by a guided tour of Bratislava’s historic city centre in Spanish.
Tuesday focused on inclusion, with participants discussing ways of overcoming invisible barriers in education together with Elena Mendelová from the CU Support Centre for Students with Specific Needs. They also learned more about the University of the Third Age at CU and adult education programmes offered through the CCE. Wednesday connected ecology with technology. Participants first shared their experiences via a digital presentation titled Bratislava Through Our Eyes, in which they expressed their enthusiasm for both the university environment and the city itself. They then attended a lecture by Associate Professor Peter Hanajík on sustainability at CU and visited a travelling exhibition presenting student and faculty initiatives contributing to the university’s sustainable development goals. The programme continued with a visit to the Waterworks Museum. The final part of the week included a visit to the House of the European Union and a discussion on lifelong learning. The programme also featured thematic walks to Bratislava Castle and Devín Castle focusing on European values and participation at every age, and concluded with an environmentally themed walk along the banks of the Danube near Devín Castle.
Personal stories and motivation for lifelong learning
For many of the learners, the University of the Third Age represents a way of staying actively connected with society. Silvestre from Castellón highlighted the importance of social interaction and continuous learning as tools for coping with the transition from working life to retirement. Isabel from Málaga fulfilled a long-held dream of visiting Central Europe during her trip to Bratislava and is currently studying the psychology of emotions back home. Participants Antonia and Victoria from Alicante particularly appreciated the excellent organisation and the atmosphere of the city, which they said exceeded all expectations.
Organising such a large-scale event required careful preparation. Nadežda Hrapková, project manager at CCE CU and coordinator of the mobility project, sees similar activities as essential for building a modern Europe. “International mobility in later life demonstrates that education has no age limits. Our guests from Spain brought to Bratislava not only their southern temperament, but also a tremendous enthusiasm for learning and sharing experiences. For our Centre of Continuing Education, it is essential to create a space where European identity is built through genuine encounters and dialogue between generations,” said Hrapková.
The Spanish delegation left Bratislava impressed by the hospitality of CCE CU and the carefully prepared programme, which made everyone feel at home. The event confirmed that Erasmus+ programmes are a genuine tool for bringing people together regardless of gender or age.
The successful international cooperation will continue beyond this visit. One of the CCE’s upcoming plans is to organise a similar mobility programme for senior learners in cooperation with a partner institution in Poland. Between 8 and 12 June, 2026, eight Slovak participants will travel to Wrocław as part of an Erasmus+ mobility programme. From June 2026 onwards, the centre is also expecting approval of a new KA121 mobility programme under its Erasmus+ Accreditation, running until the end of 2027.