Brussels 2023

Wednesday 24/05

8h45 Train trip to Brussels

9h30 -11h30: Visit to the EUParliament

Visits to the Hemicycle of European Parliament had to be booked 2 months in advance, that is the reason why students had time to get illusioned with the prospective. The group visit lasted around 2 hours, but participants never got bored, because everyone felt motivated being there, where real decisions are taken which affect all countries, and where policies based in SEE’s ideals are developed. The workshop consisted of a personalised talk by a staff member on the role and powers of the European Parliament, a question-and-answer session, which was particularly enhancing for students, and a visit to the Hemicycle gallery. Positive feedback on SEE by staff member of EU Parliament made everyone feel very satisfied about all the efforts invested in the project.

Visiting headquarters of European politics was a revulsive for all participants. A guide accompanied us throughout the visit to the Parliament, first giving us an inormative and reflective workshop on the functioning of the European Parliament. She promoted student interaction. It was especially gratifying when she commented that she had read SEE project and thought it was very good, because it really represented the ideals of the European Union. She said that sometimes institutions do not sufficiently reach youth and that from schools, with subsidized projects like ours, this could be achieved in the best way. Europe needs the conviction of its citizens in promoting democratic ideals and SEE educates in this conviction. After the workshop we entered the Parliament chamber, and we had the opportunity to take photos and to discover curiosities, e. g., flags are arranged in alphabetical order based on the name of the country in the original language of that country. It is a graphic way of realizing the spirit of consensus and equity that must permeate any European decision.

12h30 – 14h00: Visit to Parlamentarium.

Experience at Parlamentarium was very much enjoyed by students. A multimedia guide took us to the heart of the European Parliament, explaining the different stages towards European cooperation, how the European Parliament works and what its members do to respond to today's challenges. The Parlamentarium could be visited in any of the 24 official languages ​​of the Union, with an audio guide students could carry out their visit autonomously, which was an incentive for them.

15h00 – 17h00: Visit to House of European History. 

Students were Split in different international collaborative groups and where given a portfolio with a quiz to be solved in the team. It was a ludic way of discovering the history of Europe, and to realise that the fight for democratic values and a common conscience based on rational and moral principles has not always been easy, and it’s an aim and process which can never stop to be attained.

17h00 – 20h00: Visiting Brussels downtown

Friday 26/05

Erasmus group also had a day trip by train to city nearby, Mechelen. the city has a unique history as an unofficial capital of the duchy of burgundy. unfortunately the palace of Margaret of York was closed, but we learned the politics and art of power of the Burgundian state and how different European monarchies tried to capture the duchy after the death of Charles the Bold in 1477 and his daughter Mary the Rich in 1482.

Mechelen also is the seat of the archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. the seat of the archbishop in Mechelen is Rumbold's cathedral. the other seat is cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels.

Rumbold's cathedral is a fine example of Brabantine gothic. the style characterizes use of limestone or sandstone. It also usually uses round columns.

During those days, participants had also the opportunity of bringing together conclusions on three topics of the project (emotional education, gender equity and understanding of migration and refugees), which they summarised in a document where every country summarised outcomes and final reflections.

(https://padlet.com/martanebot_prof/conclusions-on-let-s-see-jame7hi4fx9q2oze)