02/11/2023 | Projects

WBAA “Humans of Erasmus+” documentary just went live!

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The “Humans of Erasmus+” project included producing a documentary and creating a digital brochure through which experiences of former Erasmus+ participants from Western Balkan countries are presented. Main activities were done through recording, photographing, and writing testimonials in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The project aimed to create a digital collection of experiences and inspire future Erasmus+ participants, but also to deliver outcomes that can be used as digital resources for the promotion of WBAA and Erasmus+ opportunities by various stakeholders.

The objectives of the “Humans of Erasmus+” project were achieved through the organisation of the road trip through the Western Balkans countries, during which project team visited all countries and Erasmus+ alumni who applied to participate, carefully planned filming and other multimedia activities, including post-production and design work. The project team is working in multimedia industry in real life, so they were able to use their equipment for filming the documentary. All project activities were done in the period between January and October 2023.

Through this project, the authors of the "Humans of Erasmus+" film, Naida (project coordinator), Amina (unit still photographer and designer) and Abdulah Hodžić (film director) wanted to hear unique stories and showcase up to 20 personal experiences from Erasmus+ alumni located in all 6 countries of the Western Balkans. These experiences were screened during the Erasmus+ Days in the newly opened Europe House in Sarajevo on the 10th of October 2023 and the even was attended by 60 guests. The promotion was also organized on several universities in Sarajevo, Bihać, Tuzla, and Mostar, and it’s expected that the documentary will inspire other organizations and universities in the region to include it into their activities related to the promotion of Erasmus+ programme. By sharing Erasmus+ alumni experience, future generations will be inspired, and the larger society will be informed about the benefits of Erasmus+ exchanges. It is not just another documentary, it is a celebration of personal journeys and transformative experiences.

The project idea “Humans of Erasmus+” addressed the following WBAA Clusters:

  • Events for Erasmus+ and WBAA promotion – the documentary “Humans of Erasmus+” was premiered during Erasmus+ Days week organized by EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it will be used for the promotion of importance of Erasmus+ program for the Western Balkans during other events related to Erasmus+, education, international opportunities, International Staff Weeks, etc.
  • Project promoting modernization and internationalization of Higher Education in the region – through sharing experiences from different European universities by Western Balkan Erasmus+ alumni members, the project promotes modernization and internationalization of Higher Education in the region, as well as possible future directions for this type of initiatives.
  • Other outreach projects providing knowledge exchange and networking opportunities - filming the documentary through which Western Balkan Erasmus+ alumni from several target groups shared their experiences is a type of outreach project by itself, as it provided knowledge exchange and present useful information in a digital form. Connecting people that will become a part of the documentary will set the environment for networking opportunities, and that will also be additionally achieved by creating a digital brochure that will include written testimonials.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Involved organisations:

  • WBAA (Western Balkans Alumni Association)
  • EACEA (European Commission, European Education and Culture Executive Agency)
  • GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH)
  • Mosaic

Special thanks to:

  • UNSA (University of Sarajevo)
  • International Relations Office of UNSA
  • The Balkan Forum: Astrit Istrefi, Gazmend Berlajolli
  • The Europe House
  • Samir Beharić
  • Sabahudin Mujkić

Naida Hodžić

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 01st of November 2023