Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Erasmus+ study exchange and professional practice. In the winter semester 2022/2023, the International Relations Office of the University of Osijek in cooperation with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Osijek welcomed 85 students from all over Europe. Students from Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, North Macedonia and Turkey have been arriving in Osijek for many years, and recently there is also a trend of receiving exchange students from the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavian countries. On 4 October 2022, the Welcome Day was organised for incoming exchange students, during which they were greeted by Ms. Lidija Getto, Head of the International Relations Office, and by Ms. Klaudija Kulešević, coordinator for Erasmus+ incoming students, and by Ms. Nikolina Vidaković, President of the Erasmus Student Network Osijek. After having received information about academic and administrative procedures related to their stay, students were presented 14 activities that will take place during October aiming to facilitate their easier integration into local community and to familiarise themselves with the culture and history of Osijek as their temporary place of residence. Besides Speed Friending, an event that proved to be the best method of meeting new people, Tourist Board of Osijek organised a guided sightseeing of Osijek, on the occasion of which students learned about tradition of craft beer production from a local family brewery and visited the Osijek Zoo. They relaxed with the rhythms of bachata and salsa, tried to win the first or second to last places at the music quiz and at karaoke, and they hung out with man’s best friends in the abandoned animals’ shelter. They also visited the Papuk Nature Park. Socialising initiatives will be continued also in November, all for the benefits of strengthening multiculturalism. The idea of socialising events is to facilitate mutual connection, to strengthen tolerance and openness to cultural and social differences.
