Zayna Mohammad, a visual communication and design student at the University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Jordan, has been attending Academia Institute of Technology since April 2025 as part of the Erasmus+ exchange programme.
Zayna Mohammad, a visual communication and design student at the University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Jordan, arrived in Slovenia in April 2025 as part of the Erasmus+ programme, where she is completing her work placement at Academia Institute of Technology in Maribor. Her decision to leave the familiar environment of her home university and venture into a new cultural and professional setting was not an easy one – but it was courageous, considered and, as she says herself, one of the best decisions of her life. The desire to explore design beyond the borders of her homeland brought her to Europe, where she wanted to experience first-hand how creative processes unfold in a different cultural context.
"Moving to a new country has been a truly transformative experience for me as a creative. I knew that challenges awaited me – both personal and professional – but that's precisely where I saw an opportunity for growth."
Since arriving at Academia, she has been delighted by the friendliness and openness of the team, who immediately welcomed her into their midst. From the very first day, she was impressed by the reception from the Academia collective, which made her arrival pleasant. As she says, she feels like part of the community. She emphasises how important it is to her that she is not merely working in a simulated environment, but is actually collaborating on real projects, where she has the opportunity to see the entire process – from the conception of an idea to the final product.
Zayna has the opportunity to work alongside mentors and experts in the field of visual communication, gaining invaluable experience that will shape her further development. She also sees particular value in the international environment.
"One of the loveliest surprises for me has been how much I can learn simply by talking to people from different backgrounds. Everyone brings their own perspective, their own way of thinking. This opens my eyes and encourages me to think more broadly, more courageously, more creatively."
She also emphasises the importance of stepping outside one's comfort zone. She admits that in the beginning everything was new – the language, the way of working, the pace of life – but it was precisely these changes that led her to important personal insights. She has learnt to adapt, to ask questions, to listen – and in doing so, not only to develop her design skills, but also to grow as a person.
"The first month has passed very quickly, and although I'm still at the beginning, I feel I've already experienced a key shift in my career. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I know there's still much learning, creating and even making mistakes ahead of me – but all of this is part of the journey. And this journey is wonderful."
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Source: Academia (17. 4. 2025). Fotografije: arhiv Academie.
This English summary was produced automatically from the Slovenian article and is pending editorial review. Slovenska različica
