![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_01-1200x800.jpg\")
\n <\/h3>\n
Here you can see me in front of the regularly held Staff Week logo at the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_02-1200x800.jpg\")
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The campus of the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_03-1200x800.jpg\")
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Valencia\u2019s city center after a summer rain shower. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig\r\n<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_04-1200x800.jpg\")
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A souvenir photo in front of the Press and Communications Department office at the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia. \r\nPicture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_05-1200x800.jpg\")
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The large bull on the campus of the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia. It served daily as the meeting point for the 230 Staff Week participants to network and dine. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_06-1200x800.jpg\")
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My small group and I on the city tour of Valencia. Here you can see one of the city gates. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_07-1200x800.jpg\")
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Tall palms adorn Valencia\u2019s city center. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_08-1200x800.jpg\")
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Here I was a guest in the university\u2019s own podcast studio. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_09-1200x800.jpg\")
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The communications department of the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia has its own television studio. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/post_aus_valencia_Jessica-Lueders_10-1200x800.jpg\")
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The courtyard of the Centre del Carme Cultura Contempor\u00e1nea in Valencia. Picture credits: Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders\/TU Braunschweig<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
How long does the stay last and on which programme is it carried out?<\/h3>\n
My Erasmus+ stay consisted of participating in a one-week Staff Week hosted and organized by the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia.<\/p>\n
Local Life<\/h2>\nHere\u2019s how I lived in Valencia:<\/h3>\n
I stayed in a small room with a balcony in private accommodation. What was particularly nice was sharing the apartment with a Spanish host couple who were about my age. This gave me an immediate social connection in Valencia and allowed me to improve my Spanish skills every day.<\/p>\n
How the workday in Valencia differs from Germany:<\/h3>\n
In Spain, the daily rhythm is shifted: because of the midday heat, people often work early in the morning and then again later in the afternoon, with a longer lunch break (siesta) in between. I also felt that camaraderie and fun at work are valued more highly than in Germany. For example, the communications department organized numerous small team events and breakfast buffets\u2014simply to make the day and the work a bit more enjoyable.<\/p>\n
How I spent my evenings in Valencia?<\/h3>\n
I was fortunate to meet many wonderful people from different European countries. In the evenings, we would either go to the beach, grab something to eat, or I\u2019d spend time on the balcony with my host couple and their friends.<\/p>\n
The biggest challenge during my stay:<\/h3>\n
My stay in Valencia went smoothly. The biggest challenge was squeezing my rental bike upright into a tiny elevator every evening to bring it up to the apartment \u2013 you shouldn\u2019t leave bikes on the street in Valencia at night if you want to find them again in the morning.<\/p>\n
Good to know<\/h2>\nThis is a local dish you definitely have to try:<\/h3>\n
Definitely paella! It comes in many different varieties (with seafood, vegetarian, or with chicken) and originates from the Valencia region. With fresh oranges for dessert, the meal is perfect!<\/p>\n
Especially typical of the country I stayed in was:<\/h3>\n
the people\u2019s open, cheerful, and warm-hearted mentality<\/p>\n
What faux pas should you avoid in Valencia?<\/h3>\n
If you are travelling by bicycle, you should always lock it securely and preferably bring it inside at night.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\nHow do the skills and experiences you acquired abroad help you in your current position at TU Braunschweig?<\/h3>\n
On the one hand, exchanging ideas with colleagues from Germany and across Europe greatly supports my work: it\u2019s invaluable to hear about other universities\u2019 experiences and to discuss current challenges. Even though we operate in different countries, many of the problems are comparable\u2014and so are the solutions. Furthermore, in my specific field it was particularly exciting to learn about other universities\u2019 marketing campaigns and draw inspiration for our own. For example, after the Staff Week one participant sent me materials and merchandise from her latest campaign\u2014among other things, a jute tote bag that I now proudly carry.<\/p>\n
What I personally gained from my time abroad<\/h3>\n
I not only forged many valuable contacts with people from across Europe, but also refreshed my language skills and got to know a large university in a city that was new to me. I am very grateful for this opportunity and would encourage everyone to take advantage of the ERASMUS+ staff mobility programme.<\/p>\n
What I\u2019m bringing home with me:<\/h3>\n
A ceramic swallow\u2014very typical of Valencia\u2014and the desire to return there again soon.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the tip I\u2019d give to colleagues planning to go abroad:<\/h3>\n
Just go for it\u2014and be brave enough to reach out to others or share accommodation with fellow participants. The most valuable experiences always come from conversations and shared adventures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since November 2023, Jessica Katharina L\u00fcders has been working as … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":78048,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","class_list":["post-78046","kb_magazin","type-kb_magazin","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","kb_cat_magazin-campus-life","kb_tags-administration","kb_tags-international-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n