European exchange in IT Training
Trainees from TU Darmstadt in Portugal as part of Erasmus+
2025/11/19
Four IT trainees from Darmstadt, including one trainee from TU Darmstadt, took part in a three-week stay abroad in Portugal within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme. The aim of the programme is to promote exchange between European partner countries and to gain practical insights into the international IT working environment. The group was accompanied for five days by five teachers and two supervisors, including a representative of TU Darmstadt’s University Computing Centre.
International Networking through Erasmus+
This year’s Erasmus+ exchange took four trainees from the Heinrich-Emanuel-Merck-Schule and the Friedrich-List-Schule to Portugal. The goal of the trip was to strengthen European exchange in IT vocational training and to gain experience in an international working environment.
Among the participants was Julia Weber, one of our trainees specialising as an IT specialist in system integration. Together with three other trainees, she worked in the “Smart City Lab” of the city of Lagoa in the Algarve. The project was supervised by teachers from the vocational school as well as two additional supervisors, including Ulrike Jäger from the University Computing Centre (HRZ).
In the past, the HRZ had already hosted Portuguese IT trainees in Darmstadt through Erasmus+ (see HRZ News from 17/04/2025). Such visits promote both professional and cultural exchange between schools and companies across Europe.
Learning, researching and networking
During their stay, the trainees worked on a self-selected IT project. Together with their Portuguese supervisor, they developed a CubeSat – a small, modular satellite equipped with various sensors. It recorded temperature, humidity and environmental data and transmitted them to an evaluation unit via a radio module.
In addition to the technical work, the participants gained insights into Portuguese working practices and culture. “80% of the work is done in 20% of the time – and during the remaining 80% of the time, you only work at 20%,” says Julia Weber.
New perspectives and experiences
There was also plenty of time for leisure activities. The group stayed in Armação de Pêra in the Algarve and used their free afternoons to discover the surrounding area and Portuguese culture. A particular highlight was a day trip to Lisbon, where the trainees visited the old town, the Torre de Belém and the Cristo Rei statue.
For Julia Weber, the stay was a valuable experience:
“I would recommend that all trainees take part in the Erasmus+ programme if they have the opportunity. Even if you might be afraid at first of this new experience, afterwards it feels great to be able to say that you dared to do it. If I had the chance, I would definitely take part again.”
The complete interview with Julia Weber is available for download: Interview with Julia Weber (pdf, in German) (opens in new tab)
