Exchanging good practice: Access UCC group visits Erasmus University Rotterdam's IDEA Center

2 Jul 2025

Seven colleagues from the Access UCC team recently visited Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) on an Erasmus+ staff exchange visit. The group was hosted by EUR's IDEA Center, with a packed programme focusing on exchange of good practices in widening participation.

The two-day working visit dived into the work of IDEA Center and the Education & Students department of EUR, and how that compares with the approach at University College Cork.

During the first day, staff from both institutions discussed best practices in outreach, student engagement, soft landing activities, inclusive monitoring and research. Furthermore, the UCC visiting group got to hear EUR students’ perspectives on a variety of projects and how they shape those projects.   

On the second day, the discussions were centered on international students and students and staff with disabilities. At the end of the programme the IDEA Center facilitated a workshop on how to have conversations around sensitive (political) issues.

Outside the academic setting, the group got to know a little bit of Dutch culture and of the city of Rotterdam, visiting some historical places in the city, as well as tasting a Dutch treat: bitterballen.

Paulo Carvalho da Silva, policy advisor at IDEA Center, hosted the visit: “I believe it was a great success. We were constantly behind on the time scheduled. Not because of bad planning, but because of all the great questions and conversations that kept popping up. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between EUR and UCC, and what we can learn from each other. We hope we will be able to visit them in Ireland very soon to learn even more.”

Credit for the copy of this post to a LinkedIn update by the IDEA Center of Erasmus University Rotterdam: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ideacenter-eur_exchanging-good-practices-with-university-activity-7341475665738629121-ZUtk