A unique international learning experience was offered to 43 students from the University of Crete and other Greek universities through their participation in the free summer course “Mind Full or Mindful: Mindfulness in Education,” organized within the framework of the University of Crete’s collaboration with the City University of New York (CUNY).

Taught by Professor David Manier of Lehman College (CUNY) and using the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) approach, students from Greece and the United States worked together in international teams, completed collaborative assignments, and presented their findings in English. The course was coordinated by Prof. E. Vasilaki and Assist. Prof. A. Vasiou from the UoC Department of Primary Education.

The experience strengthened students’ teamwork, communication, and intercultural understanding skills, demonstrating how international learning can transcend geographical boundaries. “It was a unique experience!” remarked a student from the Department of Primary Education at the University of Crete.

This initiative highlights the potential of COIL to bring together students from different universities and cultural backgrounds, transforming international academic collaboration into a dynamic, interactive, and engaging learning experience.

The University of Crete extends its sincere gratitude to Professor David Manier for offering the summer course and for his valuable contribution to creating meaningful international educational opportunities.

The partnership of the University of Crete with CUNY is further strengthened by the recent approval of three-year funding under Erasmus+ KA171, which will support future international academic mobility opportunities.