Erasmus+: Ten Years Connecting UC Chile with Europe

An email marked the beginning of a story that filled Fabián Berrios, then Coordinator for the UC Chile Center of Professional Development, with excitement: he had been accepted to represent our University in Krakow, Poland, as part of the Erasmus+ Staff Training Week program. 

“As we know, every journey is a change and involves a series of processes, and this would be one of the most incredible ones of my professional life,” says Fabián, anticipating how enriching the experience that was about to begin would be. 

Erasmus+ has been active in Chile for over a decade. Our country participates as a partner country, meaning that non-EU states can take part in international exchanges through local higher education institutions, which act as partner universities for projects and exchanges funded by the European Union. 

In 2025 alone, Chilean universities took part in 144 Erasmus+ initiatives oriented toward  the exchange of students, faculty members, and staff members from institutions of higher education, according to Erasmus+ project statistics. For its part, UC Chile has taken part in 105 Erasmus+ projects in the last 10 years, signing unilateral and bilateral agreements with 71 universities in 19 countries. 

Opportunities for professionals 

Thanks to an international exchange program, Fabián traveled to Jagiellonian University in Krakow, a historical center of scientific and cultural development in Poland, where astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and Pope John Paul II also studied. The educational experience as part of the Erasmus+ program brought together 15 participants from higher education institutions across various continents, with the UC Chile professional being the only representative from Latin America. 

In an environment of collaboration with professionals from other universities, he was able to learn about practices that help students from different backgrounds to better adapt and face the challenges of the professional world with a wider variety of tools –  tools that he now applies in his work as coordinator in the UC Chile Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. 

“There was a major change in me. The trip and the staff training helped me strengthen my self-confidence and my sense of purpose in my work and vocation at the University, my beloved UC Chile, were I studied in and now teach classes and guide students on their professional journeys. It also planted a seed or desire to continue on this path, not only in Chile, but also around the world,” he mentions. 

Since 2013, 10 professionals and 15 faculty members, like Fabián, from UC Chile have had the opportunity to travel to regions relevant to their fields of work, to exchange knowledge, and to connect with their peers in person. 

Likewise, in the last two years, 26 UC Chile students have received Erasmus+ scholarships, traveling to various destinations in Europe, primarily Spain, Slovakia, Croatia, Sweden, France, and the Netherlands. 

The latter destination was chosen by Tomás Triviño, a UC Chile Civil Engineering student, for his Erasmus+ program; he had never traveled outside Chile before. 

Exchange to the Netherlands 

“My exchange with Erasmus+ to the Netherlands was my first opportunity to travel outside of the country, to fly on a plane, and to face the world on my own: the experiences I had, the friends and great connections I made, along with the countries and cities I visited, completely changed the way I see my life,” he reflects. 

Tomás had the opportunity to study at the University of Maastricht, a city with an active university life, where he met international students from various places, including Spain, Taiwan, India, and Indonesia. 

During the six months of his exchange, he had the opportunity to learn about the Dutch educational system; additionally, while traveling with his new friends, he visited the windmills and tulip fields characteristic of the Netherlands, and also visited France. 

By providing the opportunity to gain experiences in countries with extensive expertise across various industries and fields of knowledge, Erasmus+ aims to promote the development of new talent to gain crucial experiences in order to establish themselves as professionals with global leadership skills, promoting more inclusive and cohesive societies, fostering respect for people of different backgrounds, increasing their skills in foreign languages, and thereby increasing their employability. 

Tomás highlights that this would not have been possible without the financial support provided by the program: “As an undergraduate student with a full-tuition scholarship, my grades allowed me to take this great opportunity, in which the European Union helped cover a large portion of the expenses, together with UC Chile,” he stated. 

Internationalization of Higher Education 

The goal of the program in our country is to promote international mobility, highlighting the transformative impact that individuals can have in their countries of origin after returning from an Erasmus+ experience. 

This aspect is emphasized by María Ignacia Valenzuela, Academic Assistant Manager from the Faculty of Mathematics, for whom this opportunity allowed her to strengthen her foreign language skills at the École Polytechnique in France. “I learned so much, about how to communicate in the workplace in English, as well as how people work there. Getting to know the people behind the processes and exchanging ideas and practices was extremely rewarding,” she mentions. 

Travelling to France allowed her to visit the same places where great scientists and mathematicians such as Cauchy —whom she admires— worked, and to see firsthand the first microscopes and artifacts from the 19th century. She considers it a unique opportunity in her career: “In the midst of the routine, experiencing something like this gives you a different perspective, renewed motivation, and a sense of gratitude that is reflected in your daily work.” 

She also notes that exploring Paris, walking its streets, visiting the Eiffel Tower, and enjoying its cuisine, helped her return to her work at UC Chile feeling refreshed. “I highly recommend these types of experiences, because they invite you to challenge yourself, to innovate, and to get to know new cultures, people and ways of working that broaden your perspective,” she states. 

Institutional commitment 

The development of the Erasmus+ program at UC Chile underscores internationalization as a central enabler of its academic mission, having promoted the talent development, global collaboration, and contributions to the country through formative experiences and knowledge creation for over a decade. 

“Erasmus+ has enabled our university community to access transformative experiences that strengthen their education and broaden their worldview. As UC Chile, we deeply believe in the value of internationalization to build a more innovative, connected and committed academic community that addresses  global challenges,” states Vice President for Academic Affairs, Maria Montt. 

Erasmus+ has established itself as a key program to broaden horizons and contribute to the education of professionals and researchers, with a global and committed perspective. Through these international experiences, UC Chile continues to strengthen its relationship with Europe and reaffirm its role in building a more inclusive higher education system oriented toward leading the way in addressing global challenges. 

Stay up to date on our website internacionalizacion.uc.cl/en/ and our UC Chile International social media channels.