Abstract:

This contribution presents the experience of hosting two students from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST, Pakistan) through the Erasmus+ KA171 programme in two consecutive academic years. The mobilities followed nearly a year of remote supervision with several candidates at their home institution, which allowed us to monitor their initial work and ultimately select the most engaged students to participate in the programme. Once at the University of Málaga, both students completed a full semester of coursework and developed their Bachelor’s Thesis within a photonics research group. From an organisational standpoint, the experience revealed several practical challenges associated with KA171 mobilities involving non-EU partners. Visa processing from Pakistan showed long and unpredictable timelines, requiring continuous coordination between the sending institution, the host university, and the relevant consular authorities. Securing suitable housing from abroad was also difficult due to documentation requirements and the current rental conditions in Málaga. These issues were managed through sustained institutional support and close communication. Beyond these logistical aspects, the mobilities demonstrated the potential of KA171 to attract motivated students from less economically developed non-EU countries. Early engagement with candidates and structured academic supervision proved effective in fostering their development and strengthening collaboration between partner institutions. At the same time, the experience underscores the need for enhanced administrative support and a broader offering of English-taught courses to maximise the academic and institutional impact of KA171 mobilities. Overall, this case highlights both the opportunities and the limitations of KA171 when applied to partnerships outside the EU. By presenting a concrete and replicable workflow, from early candidate engagement to on-site academic integration, this contribution aims to provide institutions with practical insights that can support more efficient, equitable, and academically meaningful international mobility schemes.

Keywords:

Erasmus+, Mobility.