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EMA’s Global Pre-Departure Orientation 2025

  • Writer: EMA Admin
    EMA Admin
  • Nov 13
  • 3 min read

On Sunday, 17 August, 2025 we came together for the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association’s Global pre-departure orientation 2025 (PDO). If you were unable to join or would like to revisit the sessions, you can access the recording here, and it will soon also be available on the YouTube channel of Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association.


This year, more than 2,176 students from around the world will begin their Erasmus Mundus journey at universities in the European Union and its partner institutions. The Global PDO allowed us to welcome over 600 of these incoming scholarship holders and self-funded students into the EMA community. Their questions, expectations, and excitement reminded us of our own first days as scholars, when we were preparing to embark on a new academic and cultural adventure.



The PDO was more than an event; it was a celebration of resilience, diversity, and connections. We reminded the students that being selected for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship is no small achievement. It is one of the most competitive and comprehensive scholarship programmes in the world, and the selection of each student reflects their dedication and potential.


The programme also highlighted the many pre-departure orientations that have already taken place in Mexico, Japan, Nigeria, Vietnam, Germany, Panama, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, and other countries, with further sessions ongoing across the globe. Sadly, there are countries where PDOs cannot be hosted due to sociopolitical contexts. For students from these countries, safety remains our top priority. We continue to emphasise that support is always available through their programme and country representatives, who are ready to answer questions and provide guidance during this transition.


What stood out most was how the Global PDO truly embodied the spirit of Erasmus Mundus. Country and Programme Representatives, together with volunteers from EMA’s Outreach and Capacity Building Unit, shared their experiences, practical advice, and encouragement. Together, we demonstrated that no Erasmus Mundus scholar is ever alone in this journey.


To complement this event, Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association, with the project leads Ana Huembes, EMA's Country Representative Nicaragua, in collaboration with Reagan Chidhakwa, EMA Country Representative Zimbabwe launched the Pre-departure Orientation Guide. 


The guide is a resource designed to provide guidance, tips, and tools to students beginning their academic journey in Europe. With this guide, scholars will have a practical companion to help them navigate the coming months, whether preparing for arrival, adapting to new contexts, or connecting with their peers. Insights from this year's global PDO speakers have also been included, and we hope to continue to update the guide, as we see it as an iterative project.


Given that Erasmus Mundus experiences are unique and each country’s policies and contexts are dynamic, it serves as a guide only, and students are encouraged to reach out to local authorities in their host countries for the most up-to-date information. Still, the Global PDO, along with the guide, reflect the essence of Erasmus Mundus: preparing, connecting, and empowering students to thrive. It was an honour to be part of this space and to witness once again how our global community grows stronger with each new generation of scholars.


You can rewatch the recording of the livestream on Facebook or the Youtube channels of Erasmus Mundus Nicaragua (event host) and the Erasmus Mundus Students & Alumni Association.  


If you are aspiring to earn a Erasmus Mundus scholarship, we encourage you to stay tuned. Regional Erasmus Mundus mentorship to guide and support applicants will be coming soon, and in the following weeks, we will share more details about it.


Link to the guide here: https://shorturl.at/UOYwI


Special thanks to our Panelists and Moderators for their EMAzing commitment to EMA’s mission.


Host and event organiser

  • Ana Huembes - Country Representative EMA Nicaragua (2023 - 2025)


Panelists

  • Karla Carrillo - EMA Mexico

  • Nico Wichmann - EMA Germany

  • Melih Kurtaran - EMA Türkiye

  • Jon Li Yeng - SDSI (2024 - 2026)

  • Carolina Vaz-Pires - SDSI (2023 - 2025)

  • Maria Reyes - EMMBIOME (2023 - 2025)


Moderators

  • Adv. Marvi Qazi - EMA President (2025-2027) - Special Appearance

  • Ana Janjusevic - EMA OCB Unit Director (2025 - 2027)

  • Reagan Chidhakwa - Country Representative EMA Zimbabwe (2022 - Present)

  • Jane Nduta Wambura - CRNet Community Developer

  • Valentina Carvajal - Country Representative EMA Colombia (2024 - 2026)

  • Cristian Larios - Country Representative EMA Nicaragua (2025 - 2027)

  • Renée Duhaney - Country Representative EMA Jamaica (2025 - 2027)


Technical moderator: Tahmida Shamsuddin - EMA’s Social Media Coordinator



By: Ana Huembes,

Former Country Representative - EMA Nicaragua (2023 - 2025)

This article was originally published via the newsletter Rumbo a tu beca #ErasmusMundus 


Last Updated 13 November 2025


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