Under the theme “Moving Minds: Student Mobility and Projects in the New Erasmus Era”, the USN Partner Days 2026 brought together international colleagues to reflect on how exchange programmes and collaborative projects are evolving in view of the upcoming Erasmus+ programme period.
Around 30 participants from 21 partner institutions across 15 countries attended the initiative. As in previous editions, the Partner Days mainly involved staff from International Relations Offices, creating a dedicated “for and by IROs” space for sharing expertise, practices, and experiences related to mobility and international cooperation.
The Director of the International Relations Office, Anette Staaland, highlighted the importance of the initiative:
«USN Partner Days is a really important yearly event at USN. It is a wonderful way to meet colleagues from our partner universities around the world, to exchange experiences, learn from each other and to deepen and expand our collaboration. It is also an excellent opportunity for us to showcase USN, its facilities, our courses taught in English, and to give our partners an insight into what it is like for their students to come to USN and to Norway for their semester abroad.»
Exploring the New Erasmus Era
The programme opened at Campus Drammen with institutional presentations and discussions on international higher education in a rapidly changing global context. Particular attention was given to the future of Erasmus+, including an introduction to the upcoming programme period 2028–2034, as well as to inclusion in higher education, with a focus on accessibility and equal opportunities within mobility schemes.
A panel discussion on the “New Erasmus Era” brought together representatives from several partner institutions to reflect on how mobility programmes can continue to evolve in response to new academic, social, and political realities.
Participants worked within two main tracks: Student Mobility and Recruitment and Project Management. Both tracks combined presentations of institutional practices, exchanges of best practices, and collaborative group work aimed at strengthening both mobility flows and project cooperation.
Experiences and Expectations
The sessions also focused on students’ experiences and expectations, project development and implementation strategies, and case-study activities later discussed in plenary sessions.
A particularly meaningful moment of the programme was the student panel, during which five students shared their international mobility experiences, reflecting on the challenges they encountered as well as the academic, professional, and personal benefits gained through studying abroad.
The students presented their experiences at the following universities:
- Maria: exchange period at Comillas University, Spoain
- Kristine: exchange period at University of Technology Sydney, Australia
- Faris: exchange period at University of Technology Sydney, Australia
- Nora: exchange period at University of Leeds, UK
- Miyuki: exchange period at Kansai University, Japan
Their testimonies offered valuable insight into the impact of international mobility on academic growth, intercultural understanding, and personal development.
The programme also included a tour of the USN facilities in Drammen, giving participants an overview of academic life, study environments, and student services.
Further Insight
On the final day, participants visited Campus Vestfold, where they were introduced to English-taught programmes and courses, followed by meetings with academic staff and representatives from the International Relations Office. The visit provided further insight into USN’s multi-campus structure and interdisciplinary educational offer.
Social activities throughout the week, including a welcome reception, a visit to the Spiralen viewpoint, and a joint dinner overlooking the city, further contributed to fostering dialogue and informal exchange among partners.
Strengthening Mobility Through Collaboration
USN Partner Days 2026 once again confirmed the importance of sustained international collaboration in the field of student mobility. By bringing together professionals working directly with exchange programmes and international projects, the event created a shared space for reflection, innovation, and cooperation, reinforcing the role of mobility as a key element in the future of higher education.