CONNECTING CAREERS ACROSS EUROPE: A STAFF JOURNEY IN INVEST
Across the INVEST alliance, administrative staff play a key role in strengthening international cooperation and shaping the future of European higher education. Through staff training, mobility opportunities, and close collaboration, INVEST enables professionals to grow, share expertise, and work together across institutional and national boundaries.
This story highlights the experience of Chryssanthi Fourlari, an administrative staff member at the University of Thessaly, who turned her everyday professional role into an active European collaboration journey. Through INVEST, she deepened her knowledge of international mobility management, gained insight into how partner universities organize and coordinate administrative processes, and contributed to shared practices that support students and staff across the alliance. Her experience shows how collaboration across countries and institutions can enhance efficiency, promote inclusiveness, and strengthen the overall quality of international education.
My International Experience as Administrative Staff in INVEST
My name is Chryssanthi Fourlari, and I work as administrative staff in the International Educational Programmes Office of the University of Thessaly, where I support mobility processes and manage the day-to-day operations related to international cooperation. Through this work, I became involved with INVEST through staff training opportunities offered within the alliance. Over the past three years, I have participated in two staff training programs, which allowed me to engage more closely with the INVEST network and experience firsthand the added value of structured collaboration within a European University alliance.
I was particularly motivated by the opportunity to further strengthen my skills in international mobility management and to better understand how different universities structure their administrative processes. INVEST provided a framework not only for learning, but also for contributing to shared administrative practices that can enhance institutional capacity.
Through my work in the Erasmus Office, I already had experience with various mobility initiatives. However, INVEST offered a more collaborative, multi-institutional perspective, broadening my understanding of how internationalization strategies are designed and implemented across partner universities.
International work through INVEST
Working with colleagues across the INVEST alliance has been highly rewarding. The diversity of approaches, working cultures, and institutional priorities has created a rich environment for knowledge exchange. Despite operational differences between institutions, there is a shared and strong commitment to improving mobility opportunities for both students and staff.
One moment that truly captures what international collaboration feels like was the students’ parade at the University of Reims. What stood out immediately was the sheer diversity: students from dozens of countries walking side by side, carrying flags, wearing traditional clothing. A celebration of nations. It felt like a genuine celebration of nations coming together. That experience highlighted a core lesson of international collaboration: success does not come from everyone doing things in the same way, but from the ability to adapt in real time. It reinforced the value of flexibility, openness, and mutual understanding in international work.
I also had the opportunity to travel twice through INVEST staff training programs, and each experience was professionally meaningful. Being physically present on partner campuses allowed me to observe best practices directly, exchange ideas more naturally with colleagues, and build personal connections. These personal and professional connections continue to support smoother and more effective collaboration across the alliance.
Learning & growth
Working in INVEST has strengthened my understanding of mobility governance across institutions, digital mobility systems, and the importance of harmonizing procedures at a European level. Alongside these technical aspects, I also developed important soft skills, including cross-cultural communication, problem-solving within international teams, and the ability to adapt to different administrative environments.
This experience has clearly changed the way I approach my work. I now face challenges with a more collaborative mindset and actively consider how our institutional processes can align with broader European practices. I have also become more open to innovation and to integrating lessons learned from other universities into my daily work.
At the same time, I was able to contribute my own expertise to the alliance. I shared practical knowledge related to Erasmus procedures, mobility documentation, and local institutional workflows. In addition, I contributed insights on supporting incoming students and ensuring that accessibility and inclusion remain core priorities in mobility planning.
Impact & meaning
My international experience through INVEST has brought tangible benefits to my university and my team. The staff training programs enabled me to streamline aspects of our mobility administration and introduce improved practices adopted from partner institutions. As a result, my team benefits from greater familiarity with digital tools, more efficient communication channels, and a stronger understanding of how to support diverse mobility participants.
One aspect of working in an international setting that genuinely surprised me was how aligned we were, despite different institutional contexts. The willingness of colleagues to share challenges openly and work together toward common solutions was both refreshing and motivating. It created a sense of shared purpose that went beyond institutional boundaries.
I also wish more people understood how collaborative international higher education projects truly are. They are not simply administrative frameworks; they foster a community of professionals who learn from one another and actively contribute to shaping the future of European higher education.
Looking ahead
The most valuable lesson I have gained through INVEST has been recognizing the importance of continuous professional development and the strength of collaboration. The experience reinforced how much can be achieved when institutions share expertise and work toward common goals.
Since joining INVEST, I feel more confident working in international settings and more proactive in implementing improved practices. I no longer view mobility solely as an administrative process, but as a strategic tool for institutional development that can support broader internationalization objectives.
Looking ahead, I intend to apply what I have learned to support more efficient mobility processes, contribute to institutional internationalization strategies, and encourage more staff members to participate in similar international opportunities.
For anyone considering applying for international work, I would strongly encourage them to take the opportunity. The professional growth, exposure to new ideas, and networks built through such experiences are invaluable. Even short-term training opportunities can significantly broaden perspectives and shape the way one approaches their work.
