Visit from Madrid: Erasmus+ Exchange on Sustainable Mobility
As part of an Erasmus+ project, our school had the pleasure of welcoming visitors from Spain last week: ten students, accompanied by a teacher and the principal, Cristina Sanz, from our partner institution, EOI de Coslada (Madrid), stayed in Hamburg for five days. The exchange forms part of a joint project entitled “Sustainable Mobility in the Metropolis – A Comparison between Hamburg and Madrid.”
During their stay, the Spanish guests gained valuable insights into Hamburg’s urban mobility concepts and were able to compare these with their experiences in Madrid. The collaboration will be further deepened in April, when the German group pays a return visit to Madrid. The project was initiated and organized by teachers Teresa Winter and Franziska Rießelmann, who coordinate the exchange within the framework of the European Erasmus+ programme and are implementing it for the second time. Its aim is to provide students with international perspectives on pressing societal issues while fostering meaningful intercultural encounters.
In addition to the academic project work, the guests were offered a wide range of insights into everyday school life. Particularly enriching were the classroom observations in language lessons, where the Spanish students participated alongside their German peers. These interactions enabled direct exchanges on learning methods, languages, and educational systems. A shared cultural programme was, of course, also an integral part of the visit: the Spanish guests explored key landmarks of Hamburg, including the Elbphilharmonie, the Landungsbrücken, and the historic Speicherstadt. In this way, they gained not only an understanding of the city itself but also of its history and cultural heritage.
A highlight of the week was the ceremonial presentation of a certificate officially recognizing the Erasmus+ partnership between the two schools. On this occasion, our principal, Kai Tiburtius, presented the certificate to Cristina Sanz, principal of EOI de Coslada. Our sincere thanks also go to the Spanish teachers Ms. Teke, Ms. Delgado, Ms. Stork, and Mr. Torino, whose dedicated support contributed significantly to the success of the programme.
From 20 to 29 April, Ms. Winter and Ms. Rießelmann will travel to Madrid together with 18 students from the vocational upper secondary school for the return visit. There, the project work on sustainable mobility will continue, further strengthening German-Spanish collaboration.
This exchange vividly demonstrates how European educational projects can promote international cooperation, intercultural learning, and the development of shared solutions to contemporary challenges.
