As the teacher himself explains, this opportunity represents a significant step in his professional career: “For any university lecturer and researcher, one of the key objectives is to generate high-quality scientific knowledge with international relevance and impact. In this regard, international visits are a vital tool for establishing strong ties and synergies with leading research groups.” His visit will be hosted by PhASRec (Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation), a globally recognised research group specialising in physical activity and therapeutic exercise in relation to health.

In addition to strengthening institutional links between UIC Barcelona and North-West University, Dr Pérez will use the visit to present the research currently being carried out at UIC and to explore possible collaborations with projects led at the Potchefstroom campus in South Africa. “One of the main goals is to begin designing a new European project that we plan to submit together in upcoming international calls,” he adds.

Thanks to the coordinating efforts of Dr Guillermo Oviedo, the Erasmus+ K171 programme, co-funded by the European Commission, has recently awarded UIC Barcelona three grants for students and three for teaching and research staff.  These stays are of great strategic value: "I believe that stays at international universities are a very effective way to promote research and open up new funding opportunities. They also allow teaching and research staff to acquire new methodological knowledge and grow both personally and professionally. These experiences enrich the careers of both the individuals and the institutions of origin and destination," says Pérez.

As part of this same programme, UIC Barcelona also welcomed Johke Smit, a master's student at North-West University, who has been conducting research under the supervision of Dr Albert Pérez since February. His research focuses on studying the relationships between cognitive function, cardiorespiratory fitness and functional capacity in older adults, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology.

There is still one place available for doctoral students and two places for teaching and research staff for mobility stays at North-West University during the academic year. For further information, please contact Mònica Luque at the International Relations Office (mluque@uic.es) or Dr Albert Pérez.

Next year, as part of this programme, UIC Barcelona will welcome three teaching and research staff and one PhD student from North-West University, while two PhD students will travel to the South African university.