Tim Cerar, a student at Academia Institute of Technology, participated in an Erasmus+ short-term study mobility for work placement at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford between 8 and 13 July 2026. The mobility was aimed at practical training in the field of systems thinking, research and social innovation, where students developed skills in analysing complex challenges, presenting research findings, collaborating with international participants, and exchanging knowledge and good practices.
Tim was part of a group of 17 students from Academia who participated at national level in the Map the System competition, with four winners representing Academia at the final international competition in Oxford. The mobility thus represented an opportunity not only for professional development and familiarisation with systems thinking approaches, but also for observing the best student projects from different countries and exchanging ideas with an international community of students, mentors and experts. As part of the mobility, students also developed critical thinking skills, analysis of complex systems, and the formulation of recommendations based on research findings and feedback from experts.
Erasmus in Oxford and the Map the System Competition
Upon arrival in Oxford, students became acquainted with the rich history and academic tradition of the city and attended numerous workshops in the fields of career development, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and social innovation. An important part of the programme also included collaboration with mentors, exchange of experiences and networking with participants from different countries. In addition to organised activities, they explored the city, visited its landmarks, and became more closely acquainted with the environment of one of the world's most prestigious universities.
The highlight of the mobility took place at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, where the Balkan Link group presented their project to an international panel as part of the Map the System competition. The presentation was based on in-depth research, systematic analysis of the problem and the search for innovative solutions. Although the group did not place amongst the six finalists, they received recognition for their outstanding achievement amongst more than 250 participants from various international institutions. Observing the presentations of other teams gave students insight into different approaches to research, presentation of results and the application of systems thinking in addressing social challenges.
The mobility brought students a wealth of new knowledge, unforgettable experiences and acquaintances that they will retain long after returning home. Above all, it showed them how important international collaboration, openness to new ideas and the ability to view complex challenges from a different perspective are. As Tim says, they would certainly recommend such an experience to all students, as the experience gained will serve as an important foundation for further development of project work, research thinking and problem-solving skills in future studies and careers.
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Source: Academia (14. 7. 2026).
This English summary was produced automatically from the Slovenian article and is pending editorial review. Slovenska različica
