October brought a meaningful wave of international collaboration to Córdoba. Over the past few days, we’ve continued hosting a variety of Erasmus+ job-shadowing and training groups here in Córdoba. Among the most recent, several teams from Sweden have come to learn and exchange good practices in 🔢 Mathematics teaching, 🪜 School cleaning and maintenance, and 💼 Vocational training in sales, business and marketing.
These inclusive Erasmus experiences in Spain reflect how educational exchange can extend beyond traditional roles, embracing a wider vision of professional learning.
Different themes. Different roles. But all three mobilities had something in common: an honest, practical exchange between professionals, rooted in mutual curiosity and respect.
These are not stories about theory. They are stories about how people observe, reflect, and take small, significant ideas back to their schools and workplaces.
To learn more about the guiding principles behind these programes, you can consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, published by the European Commission.
🔢 Inclusive Erasmus Experiences in Spain: Mathematics Education
Three secondary schools in Córdoba opened their doors to a group of Swedish educators interested in how mathematics is taught in Spain. Over several days, they observed classes, spoke with teachers, and saw how Spanish students engage with maths in real time.
The experience focused on practical aspects: lesson structure, classroom dynamics, student participation, and the general atmosphere of the schools. The Swedish teachers were particularly interested in how group work was used in some classes, how teachers addressed students’ questions, and how assessment was approached.
On the other side, Spanish teachers were able to step back from their routine and reflect on their own methodology through the eyes of international visitors. The feedback process — informal but thoughtful — became a space for mutual learning.
This type of Erasmus+ mobility highlights the potential for growth through observation: it helps to refresh teaching practices, inspire new strategies, and build stronger pedagogical networks across Europe. 🌎
Maths teachers from Sweden during one of the inclusive Erasmus + experiences in Córdoba.
🧼 Inclusive Erasmus Experiences in Spain: School Cleaning and Operations
Another group, composed of Swedish school cleaning staff and facility workers, spent time shadowing their Spanish counterparts in two Córdoba schools.
This mobility focused on operational routines: how cleaning is scheduled, how products and materials are used, how schools manage hygiene standards, and how cleaning staff coordinate with other departments.
While the tasks may be universal, the way each country organizes and values this work can vary. The exchange allowed both teams to compare practices — from tools to workflows — and to discuss professional challenges that are often shared, even across borders.
What stood out in this experience was the sense of mutual recognition. In many schools, cleaning staff operate behind the scenes. But during this mobility, their roles were made visible, acknowledged and given space for professional conversation. 👏
For Training Europe, it’s essential to promote inclusive mobility opportunities that reflect the diversity of school staff roles and ensure that everyone can benefit from Erasmus+ experiences.
Swedish participants during one of the inclusive Erasmus+ experiences in Spain, hosted in Córdoba’s local schools and training centres.
Swedish participants during one of the inclusive Erasmus+ experiences in Spain, hosted in Córdoba’s local schools and training centres.
📚 Inclusive Erasmus Experiences in Spain: VET in Sales, Business and Marketing
The third group was composed of Swedish vocational students and accompanying staff, specializing in sales, business and marketing. Their Erasmus+ mobility focused entirely on work-based learning placements in local companies in Córdoba, offering them a first-hand experience of how Spanish businesses operate in areas such as retail, administration, and customer service.
During their internship period, students had the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge in real professional environments, develop communication skills, and experience different approaches to teamwork and customer interaction.
For many of them, this was not only a step forward in their vocational training, but also a valuable opportunity to enhance their language skills, cultural awareness, and adaptability — key competences in today’s European labour market.
At the same time, the experience enriched local companies, who welcomed the chance to collaborate with young international trainees and exchange perspectives on work and education. 💡
Group of Swedish students taking part in inclusive Erasmus+ experiences in Spain, observing classroom activities in Córdoba.
🔍 A Common Thread: Learning by Observing
Although the three mobilities had very different content, they shared a simple but powerful format: observation, dialogue and reflection.
Hosting international colleagues — whether they’re teachers, cleaning staff, or students — offers more than an opportunity to share how we do things. It allows local teams to reflect on their own practice, step outside their daily rhythm, and see their work with fresh eyes.
In the case of Córdoba’s schools and organizations, the willingness to open doors and share routines led to meaningful conversations and small but valuable professional insights.
This reinforces our mission at Training Europe: to design mobilities that are immersive, inclusive and impactful. 🏠
✨ Why Inclusive Erasmus Experiences in Spain Matter
For Training Europe, these October mobilities show the diversity of Erasmus+ in action. They reflect our belief that mobility should be inclusive, targeted, and rooted in the real work people do every day — in classrooms, in corridors, in businesses.
They also show that hosting is not a one-way service. It’s a two-way process that strengthens teams, builds awareness, and opens paths for future collaboration.
Whether you’re looking to host or participate in similar exchanges, we’re here to support and guide you. Real impact often starts with simple observation — and the conversations that follow. 🤝
Learn more about how we organise and support job-shadowing projects on our Mobility Programmes page.
