As Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinator at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, I highly value the contribution of the BRIDGES by Mentors project to the quality and impact of our Erasmus+ mobility activities, particularly within KA1 incoming student mobility.
Every semester, NHL Stenden welcomes a large and diverse group of international exchange students from partner institutions across Europe and beyond. While these students are academically well-prepared, many face challenges related to social integration, building local networks, and adapting to a new cultural and educational environment. The BRIDGES by Mentors project addresses these challenges in a highly effective and sustainable way.
Through structured peer mentoring and meaningful interaction with local students, the project creates opportunities for incoming exchange students to establish personal connections from the moment they arrive. This significantly enhances their sense of belonging and reduces the social barriers that international students may experience during their mobility period. By fostering genuine relationships between local and international participants, the project strengthens intercultural understanding and promotes a more inclusive campus community.
The benefits of BRIDGES by Mentors extend beyond social integration. The mentoring activities contribute positively to students’ wellbeing by offering guidance, emotional support, and opportunities for participation in community life. Students report feeling more confident, better connected, and more engaged in both their academic and social experiences. Such outcomes are essential for ensuring a successful and rewarding international mobility experience.
Furthermore, the project plays a valuable role in the development of transversal and soft skills. Through collaboration, communication, intercultural dialogue, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving activities, both mentors and mentees acquire competencies that are increasingly important in an international labour market. The practical learning environment created by the project complements the academic objectives of the Erasmus+ programme and enhances students’ personal and professional growth.
From an institutional perspective, BRIDGES by Mentors contributes directly to the Erasmus+ priorities of inclusion, participation, intercultural exchange, and active citizenship. It strengthens the overall quality of incoming mobility at NHL Stenden and helps ensure that international students not only study abroad, but also become active members of the local community during their stay.
For these reasons, I consider BRIDGES by Mentors an excellent example of how Erasmus+ cooperation projects can create tangible added value for participating institutions and students alike, while enhancing the impact and sustainability of international mobility within higher education.
Moniek Dijkema
Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinator
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences