Two Days of Job Shadowing in the framework of Erasmus+ in Bratislava: Exchange, Insights and New Perspectives
How do other art academies work, and how can we learn from one another? These were the questions explored by staff from our academy during two job-shadowing days at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (AFAD) in Bratislava at the end of September 2026. The participants included colleagues from Building Services, the Student Welcome Center and the International Office. In selecting participants, priority was given to colleagues who had not yet taken part in an Erasmus mobility. This was intended to give staff members who had not previously participated in Erasmus the opportunity to gain international experience. The aim of the visit was to gain insights into the working practices and structures of our partner academy, exchange experiences, and discuss shared topics and challenges.
Insights into different areas of work
Thomas Gruber, Peter Kirner, Udo Kapeller, Ayse Gülderen and Andreas Schwarz from the Buildings | Technical Services | Procurement Department took the opportunity to exchange ideas with their AFAD colleagues on building management and maintenance. In addition to personal discussions, the programme included guided tours of the buildings at the Drotárska cesta 44 and Hviezdoslavovo nám. locations.
For the International Office | Global Engagement, the meetings with colleagues on site provided an opportunity to learn about existing working practices, share experiences, and discuss tasks and challenges in the context of international higher education.
Christina Fasching (Student Welcome Center) focused particularly on student support and psychological counselling in collaboration with her AFAD colleagues. Topics included onboarding new students, counselling for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and supporting international students. Discussions with Tomáš Jančařík, Jana Yar, Marianna Hričová and other staff members provided deeper insights into the structures and services offered by the partner academy.
Learning from one another and strengthening connections
The two days were characterised by personal encounters, open discussions and valuable professional exchange. Insights into the different areas of work highlighted the wide range of responsibilities within an art academy and demonstrated how important collaboration between departments is for the smooth running of the institution and for providing students with the best possible support.
In addition to gaining new professional perspectives, participants established contacts and gathered ideas to take back to their own work. The exchange provides a solid foundation for sharing experiences in the future and further developing potential areas of collaboration.
Travelling sustainably
Sustainability also played a role in the journey to Bratislava: Christina Fasching travelled to Bratislava by bicycle and returned by train. She also cycled between the railway station and her accommodation, demonstrating an environmentally friendly way to combine international exchange with sustainable travel.
The job-shadowing days in Bratislava were a rewarding experience for the staff members involved from various departments of our academy. They provided an opportunity to learn from one another across institutional boundaries, gain new perspectives and strengthen connections with AFAD. At the same time, the visit highlighted the importance of promoting international experiences and ensuring that mobility opportunities are accessible to staff members across the institution.