Mini-Erasmus as first-hand experience of university studies for secondary school students at UKF
Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra (UKF) joined the Mini-Erasmus project together with its ESN UKF section starting the Academic Year 2015/2016. Mini-Erasmus took place at UKF in the period of November 22 – 26, 2015 during which university received 17 students from secondary schools in Banská Bystrica, Bratislava, Žilina, Zvolen, Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Prešov, Námestovo Sereď, Sučany and Bytča. On November 23, 2015, students were warmly welcomed at Aula Magna by prof. PhDr. Gabriela Miššíková, PhD., Vice-Rector for International Relations of UKF. To this end, students received the exact schedules for three days of lecturing (November 23 – 25, 2015), promotional material of UKF and information brochures on the project with maps and tips about travel opportunities and catering. Secondary school students get assigned one UKF student tutor for each participating faculty (Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care), who were accompanying them during stay at UKF and for extra-curricular programmme. During the project, students attended veritable and interesting lectures, seminars or exercises within the field of computer science, mathematics, translation, literature, pedagogy, nursing, microbiology, geography, ecology, law, ethics, social work, marketing, management, psychology, chemistry, physics, cultural studies and tourism. The project involved 43 teachers from UKF who welcomed secondary school students at their lecture, seminar or exercise. A university student life is a life in college including life at student dormitory and Mini-Erasmus students were given a chance to try this aspect as well. As students of our university, even though received for short-term study, they experienced the UKF student environment and gladly engaged also in various activities organized under the Student Days of Nitra Universities (SDNU) between November 16 – 27, 2015. We are pleased to have the opportunity to show secondary school students our teaching process, everyday student life at UKF and extracurricular activities devoted to the development and entertainment of our students. We believe we have motivated them this way for possible future study at our university.