Since 2022, the Hospitality and Tourism School in Novi Pazar has been opening the doors of Europe to its students through the Erasmus+ programme. The programme offers great opportunities to schools in Serbia, giving students free training abroad and invaluable life experience.
Adila Lubura, one of more than 60 students from this secondary school who have taken part in exchanges in European countries, says Erasmus+ gave her an unforgettable ten days in Antalya, the Turkish tourist resort.
“It was really wonderful. I made new friends, their school is huge, and they have different subjects and activities, which I found interesting. I did my work placement at a hotel reception desk and learned about their way of working, which is different from ours. I learned more about Turkish culture and cuisine, and how they make baklava. I would recommend everyone to apply, because you talk about this experience for days, and it confirmed my wish to stay in this profession,” says Adila.
Her schoolmate Darija Milošević, who spent two weeks in Malta, adds that applying is simple, which is why she advises all students whose schools take part in the programme to apply for an exchange.
“What was really useful for me is that I broke the barrier and got over my fear of speaking English. I also did my placement in a hotel, while some workshops were held at their school. Students from that school were our guides, and together we saw almost all of Malta, which has a rich history and culture,” she says.
It is not only students who bring home positive experiences from these exchanges. Their teachers say that during their stay in other countries they gained valuable skills, exchanged knowledge with colleagues and learned how other education systems work.
Teacher Almedina Martinović, who accompanied the students to Malta, is proud of how well they managed during the practical part of the exchange, when they worked in souvenir shops and at hotel reception desks.
“Besides the great responsibility we had as teachers, we also took part in workshops and projects. Looking back, I can see how much this experience means to the students, because Erasmus+ helps young people realise they can do much more than they think,” she said.
Teacher Faris Lotinac led a group of students to Antalya and came back with equally good impressions, saying the hospitality was outstanding.
“Every day the students went to their placements and visited hotels, pastry shops and bakeries, and they also had the chance to share experiences with peers from the host country and Poland. I’m full of impressions and would warmly recommend the Erasmus+ programme to everyone,” Lotinac concluded.
The Hospitality and Tourism School has been part of this major European programme since 2022. Since then, more than 60 students and around ten teachers have taken part in exchanges, travelling to Slovenia and Hungary as well as Malta and Türkiye.
“We choose all destinations carefully, so that students have a useful experience and gain knowledge and skills, but also find the place attractive as tourists. All our students had accommodation, meals and daily allowances covered during their exchanges. We are always happy to hear their positive comments when they come back,” says school principal Remzo Destović.
He adds that the school does not only send its students and staff to Europe, but also successfully hosts students and teachers from abroad. Last year, it welcomed two groups of students from Türkiye.
He explains that the school management is currently choosing a destination for this school year and preparing documents for reaccreditation in the Erasmus+ programme.
Find out more on the EU Mogućnosti platform.