During the first half of November, Dr. Laura Megido Fernández, lecturer and researcher at University of Oviedo (Spain), spent a week at the DICA of Politecnico di Milano as part of an international teaching training stay.
Throughout the week, she attended several classes across different courses taught both in English and Italian, gaining insights into diverse teaching approaches and methodologies.
She also held enriching discussions with Professor Mario Grosso and his team on topics such as teaching innovation, artificial intelligence in education, and strategies to foster more engaging and inclusive learning environments.
“I always enjoy coming back to Italy,” Dr. Megido shared. “Since my PhD years, when I first came to conduct research at the Università degli Studi di Padova, I have always felt warmly welcomed here. This stay at Polimi has been a truly enriching experience, both professionally and personally.”
As part of her stay, she observed different classes and interacted with students and faculty members, focusing on the dynamics and delivery of teaching in various formats.
“When attending classes now as a lecturer rather than a student, I notice new aspects, like the teaching strategies taken by professors to the fluency and rhythm of the lectures” she reflected. “It has been a great opportunity to observe different styles and think about how to adapt some of those approaches in my own courses, as well as to reflect on new ways of connecting more effectively with students.”
Another interesting aspect of the stay was the relevance of multidisciplinarity. Dr. Megido also attended a short seminar by researcher Lucia Tecuto from the University of Bologna on the psychological response to climate change.
“It was a brief but enriching session,” she noted, “and a good reminder of how interconnected technical, environmental, and social perspectives really are.”
Outside the university, she also took the opportunity to explore Milan for the first time.
“The roof terraces of the Duomo di Milano are absolutely stunning, and visiting the Castello Sforzesco was another highlight of the trip. As always in Italy, the food is exceptional! I was also lucky to reconnect with some dear friends from previous research visits in Italy, sharing conversations, memories, and coffee together reminded me how valuable these personal connections are, and how they grow with each new experience abroad.”
This exchange marks another step in strengthening the collaboration between University of Oviedo and Politecnico di Milano, fostering international cooperation and lifelong learning.