Belgian students envision the future of the International Student Experience at ETIC
During two weeks, ETIC welcomed fifteen students from CVO Encora, Belgium, through the Erasmus+ programme. Coming from the fields of Graphic Design, Web Design and X-Media, the students accepted a challenge set by ETIC’s international team: to answer the question “Why Study in Lisbon? Why ETIC?”.
More than getting to know Lisbon and the school, the students were invited to take on the role of future international students and reflect on what makes a study experience abroad truly relevant for new generations.
Throughout a creative sprint, they explored the city, interviewed students, observed the surrounding creative community and analysed themes such as multiculturalism, creativity, community and the future of international education. The result was three distinct communication proposals to support ETIC’s internationalisation strategy.
Winning project: ETIC Student Survival Kit
The proposal distinguished by the jury was the ETIC Student Survival Kit project, developed by Oleksandra, Floor, Ayco, Ignias and Irline. The concept starts from a simple idea: arriving in a new city and entering a different culture to study can be as exciting as it is challenging. The solution found by the Belgian students was the creation of a welcome kit. Inspired by one of the most recognised icons of Portuguese culture, the sardine tin, the kit works as a creative guide to help students discover Lisbon, integrate into the community and begin their academic experience.
The project contains its own visual identity, a creative map of Lisbon, suggestions and resources for international students, digital content and an audiovisual narrative in stop-motion format for social media. The Belgian students built a prototype and presented it during a 15-minute pitch. More than a promotional piece, it allows connections to be created between people, cultures and creative communities.
An international perspective on ETIC
The work developed by the students from CVO Encora reinforces the importance of international partnerships and the Erasmus+ programme in building new perspectives on creative and transnational education. Their contribution was important for ETIC’s ongoing reflection on how to communicate internationally.
ETIC thanks the students and teachers from the Media/Design department of CVO Encora, Jeroen Keteleer and Kevin Nicasi, for the energy, creativity and collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout these two weeks in Lisbon.
