Building capacity through staff development
The first EURECA-PRO Staff Buddy Community Staff Week strengthens skills across the alliance
- News
How can investing in staff development strengthen an entire European University Alliance? EURECA-PRO’s new Staff Buddy Community was created to bring together professional staff across the alliance, fostering peer learning, collaboration and the exchange of expertise through a variety of activities. Its first initiative took the form of a five-month Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), culminating in a Staff Week hosted by the Technical University of Crete from 15 to 19 June 2026. Together, these activities demonstrated how capacity building empowers professional staff, strengthens cooperation across institutions and ultimately benefits the students, researchers and academics they support.
The Staff Buddy Community: a new space for collaboration
The first initiative of the newly launched Staff Buddy Community took the form of a five-month Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), bringing together international relations professionals from across the EURECA-PRO alliance.
Designed as a pilot initiative, the Staff Buddy Community moves beyond the traditional concept of a “buddy system”. Its ambition is to create a sustainable European community of practice where colleagues can exchange experiences, develop new competencies and build lasting professional relationships.
After five online sessions dedicated to intercultural competence, communication within European University Alliances and international cooperation, participants met in Chania to continue these exchanges in person, strengthening both their professional expertise and the network connecting EURECA-PRO’s International Relations Offices.
For Jasmin Egger (Montanuniversität Leoben), one of the programme’s greatest strengths was precisely this opportunity to learn from peers:
“It is interesting to exchange with colleagues, hear about how things are handled in other institutions and work on joint ideas. I think this initiative can lead to stronger long-term cooperation between the EURECA-PRO partners from the bottom up through the IROs.“
Developing the skills needed to support international higher education
Throughout the week, participants explored practical topics that directly support their daily work, including intercultural communication, inclusive education, collaborative international learning and communication within European University Alliances.
Sessions led by experts from across EURECA-PRO encouraged participants to reflect on common challenges while discovering concrete approaches that can be adapted within their own institutions.
For Daryna Karpiuk (Hochschule Mittweida), exchanging practices with colleagues proved particularly valuable.
“It was very interesting to discuss similar challenges and learn how colleagues from different institutions approach and solve them in their own ways. These conversations gave me new perspectives and practical ideas that I can apply in my own work.“
Similarly, Asif Sulaiman (Université de Lorraine) emphasised the value of learning from different institutional contexts.
“It was enriching to discover different ways of working and exchange ideas on how some of these good practices could be adapted and implemented in our own institutions.”
Learning from one another and from different cultures
Peer learning extended well beyond the formal training sessions: participants shared professional experiences, discussed real-life challenges and reflected collectively on good practices. At the same time, Greek language workshops, visits to Chania’s historic centre and Archaeological Museum, and a traditional Cretan cooking experience created opportunities for intercultural learning in an informal setting.
Several participants identified these shared cultural experiences as highlights of the week.
For Jasmin Egger, the Greek language course and Cretan cooking workshop were reminders that “we have many different cultures and languages in Europe, and yet we are all somehow united.“
Daryna Karpiuk also highlighted the authenticity of the cooking experience:
“It allowed us to connect with Greek culture, traditions and hospitality on a much deeper level than any tourist visit could offer.“
Asif Sulaiman drew a parallel between preparing a traditional meal together and working within an alliance:
“Just like every ingredient is essential to a successful dish, every member plays an important role in our work.“
Investing in staff to better support students
Beyond the personal and professional benefits experienced by participants, the Staff Buddy Community reflects a broader ambition for EURECA-PRO: strengthening institutional capacity by investing in the people who make international cooperation possible.
International relations professionals are often the first point of contact for students, researchers and academics engaging in international activities. Developing their intercultural awareness, communication skills and knowledge of European cooperation directly contributes to improving the services delivered across the alliance.
Beatriz Alves Campos (Universidad de León) believes that building stronger connections between International Relations Offices will ultimately benefit the entire university community.
“Creating a community where we can openly share know-how, experiences and best practices is essential for overcoming the administrative and operational barriers that often limit mobility opportunities. Ultimately, these collaborations help us achieve our common goal: making international mobility more accessible and impactful for our students and staff.“
Asif Sulaiman also reflected on the often-overlooked role of professional staff within universities.
“Knowledge only has real impact when it reaches students and is supported by the people who organise, communicate and make it accessible.“
A pilot initiative with long-term ambitions
The first edition of the Staff Buddy Community demonstrated that professional development is about far more than acquiring new knowledge. It is about creating trust, fostering collaboration and building lasting relationships across institutions.
As Beatriz Alves Campos observed, “personal interactions are irreplaceable.” Meeting colleagues face to face builds trust and makes future collaboration “significantly more effective and meaningful.“
The experience also reaffirmed participants’ commitment to international higher education. Daryna Karpiuk described it as confirmation that she wants to continue developing professionally within internationalisation, while Jasmin Egger said the programme reminded her “how purposeful it is to work every day in higher education internationalisation and for Erasmus+.“
As EURECA-PRO continues to develop as a European University Alliance, initiatives such as the Staff Buddy Community illustrate how investing in people strengthens institutions. By developing the skills, confidence and networks of professional staff, the alliance is laying the foundations for stronger cooperation, more effective services and an even richer experience for students, researchers and academics across Europe.
