During the 2025–2026 academic year, the Experience Campus at UIC Barcelona has further strengthened its Erasmus+ mobility programme for older learners, with 72 students participating in six international exchanges hosted by European universities in Austria, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
These mobilities – aimed at students enrolled in the Senior University Programme in Culture, Science and Society and in the Experience Campus continuing programmes – took place between March and May 2026, in collaboration with several European universities specialising in adult education and university programmes for senior learners.
This year, students undertook stays at Die Wiener Volkshochschule in Vienna (Austria), the Technical University of Liberec (Czech Republic), the Technical University in Zvolen (Slovakia), Università della Terza Età “Paolo Naliato” in Udine (Italy), Jan Długosz University of Częstochowa (Poland) and the University of Zagreb (Croatia).
In total, the six mobilities involved 72 participants: 13 students in Vienna, 10 in Liberec, 12 in Zagreb, 11 in Zvolen, 15 in Udine and 11 in Częstochowa. Each group was accompanied by teaching staff and personnel from the Experience Campus, reflecting a clear commitment to fostering a shared academic, cultural and human experience.
In addition, the University hosted visits from senior students from several of these partner institutions, specifically from Poland, Slovakia and Croatia, and is due to welcome a group from Italy shortly.
As explained by Jordi Miralbell, director of the Experience Campus, “the mobilities offer significant value at multiple levels. They enable participants to discover other countries, universities and ways of working, but above all they foster personal relationships, hospitality and a shared sense of European citizenship”.
Miralbell also highlights the transformative impact of these experiences at a personal level: “Many students feel a strong sense of pride in being able, at this stage in life, to travel abroad and engage with a university environment. Some had never flown before, and through Erasmus+ they have discovered what it means to share experiences with people from different cultures.”
An inclusive and intergenerational programme
The Erasmus+ programme at the Experience Campus is aimed at third-year students enrolled in the Senior University Programme and at learners participating in continuing programmes across its various locations: Barcelona, Penedès, Andorra, Calonge i Sant Antoni and Bolvir-Cerdanya.
Places are allocated through an annual call based on inclusive and objective criteria. Consideration is given to factors such as language proficiency or involvement in voluntary activities, as well as situations of vulnerability, disability, limited financial resources, lack of previous international travel and lower levels of prior education.
The groups reflect a high level of diversity within the Experience Campus community. The average age is around 72, although younger participants and students aged over 90 also take part. In recent years, the programme has included individuals with visual impairments, reduced mobility or specific medical needs, always supported by accompanying staff.
Since the initiative began three years ago, Experience Campus students have completed a total of 163 Erasmus+ mobility placements, taking part in exchanges hosted by universities in Austria, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Croatia, France, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. At the same time, UIC Barcelona also welcomes groups of senior European students to Barcelona as part of these exchanges.
Learning, sharing and tackling loneliness
Each Erasmus+ stay lasts five days and combines academic, cultural and social activities alongside local students. Participants attend classes in subjects such as languages, art, environmental studies, cooking and music, as well as taking part in cultural visits and joint activities that highlight the local heritage of each destination.
This model not only promotes lifelong learning, but also supports emotional wellbeing, social engagement and active ageing. In this way, the programme also helps to tackle loneliness while encouraging cognitive stimulation.
Anna Segarra, a participant in the continuing programme ‘Our world: roots and destination’, who took part this year in the Erasmus+ mobility in Liberec, highlights the impact of the experience: “Our Erasmus stay in Liberec was truly exceptional. The sense of community, the cultural exchange and the opportunity to get to know the country were all extremely positive. I would recommend it to everyone.”
