How a Filipino Social Worker Won the Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to Pursue the ESWOCHY European Joint Master’s in Social Work with Children and Youth Across Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Portugal

I am Daryl James Valdez, a social worker by profession from the Philippines. I was awarded the Erasmus Mundus scholarship for the ESWOCHY program – European Joint Master in Social Work with Children and Youth (https://eswochy.eu/ ) in 2022-2024. Our mobility countries include Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Portugal.

Educational Background

I am a graduate of a Bachelor of Science in Social Work as Magna Cum Laude last 2012 at Maasin City College (now Southern Leyte State University) in the Philippines. In 2013, I passed the Licensure Examination for Social Workers in the Philippines, which gave me the professional eligibility to practice social work. Year 2018, I was able to finish a Master of Science in Social Work major in Social Administration at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (https://uspf.edu.ph/), where my master's thesis about the functionality of the desk for violence against women and their children was published in the Philippine Journal of Social Work in 2021.

My educational background has provided me with various insights and studies about social work in many countries around the world. Also, it paved the way for my strong interest in expanding my knowledge and understanding of the profession. I am always inclined to acquire global perspectives about social work in different contexts while promoting our indigenous knowledge based on my actual practice experience. These have contributed mostly to my motivations for pursuing my application to the Erasmus Mundus scholarship.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship?

In my case, I haven’t applied for many scholarships. ESWOCHY is the only program I have applied for. The biggest deciding factor I considered is the fact that it is very aligned to my practice which is social work with children and youth. I have many years of experience working with children and youth faced with different problems. My dream is to develop expertise in this field of social work and be able to contribute more to the society where I live. My aspirations for the children and youth have truly influenced me to pursue.

Why Erasmus Mundus? I find it very famous and difficult to get. By challenging myself in the competition both within myself and others, I learned to appreciate the process and the outcome. Erasmus Mundus is truly a global gateway for knowledge and cultural exchange. It is something that always fills my desire to get to know the world more and even better.

I was the only Filipino chosen for our cohort. Perhaps what made my application stand out is my solid educational background, vast years of practice experience, and my research publication. I also got a 7.0 IELTS band, which is required for our program.

Could You Briefly Discuss the Erasmus Mundus Program You Pursued and the Specific Field of Study It Focused On?

According to our program’s website, with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, the Consortium of Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania) (coordinator), Riga Stradins University (Latvia), the Catholic University in Ruzomberok (Slovakia), and the ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal) presents “European Joint Master in Social Work with Children and Youth”.The ESWOCHY programme is based on three pillars: a humanistic perspective, intercultural communication, and digital social work.

The duration of ESWOCHY is 2 years (120 ECTS). The aim of ESWOCHY is to prepare highly skilled professionals to be leaders in the field of international, intercultural, and comparative social work with children and youth.

The students will possess an educational and experiential foundation that combines theories of social work, social sciences, humanities, and indigenous knowledge, comparative international research, policy development, and the newest knowledge of using ICT in social work practice with children and youth.

How Did the Cost of Living Vary Across the Countries You Studied In? Which Country Was the Most Affordable or Expensive, and How Did You Manage Financially?

During my two-year stay across four different countries, the cost of living differs primarily based on the location and life standards. I find it cheaper in Lithuania in terms of the basic commodities, public transport services (since all students there have an 80% discount for buses and trams within the city and a 50% discount for trains around the country), and the monthly dormitory rent. A bit higher costs in Latvia, significantly higher in Slovakia, and I find Portugal to be the most expensive, especially since we stay in the capital, Lisbon.

Our monthly allowance is enough for all the costs needed to survive. It’s just a matter of priority and a well-informed lifestyle. Traveling is always a good option, but it should be within your budget.

Did You Face Any Language Barriers, and if So, How Did You Overcome Them? Did the Language of Instruction Change from One Country to Another?

Generally, our program is delivered in English – all our classes, communications, and outputs. Though there are professors who don’t speak English clearly because of their accent and use of words, with the help of written instructions and some explanations during classes, everyone and everything is understood.

I would say that the issue of language barrier is very evident in the way we interact with society. Most people in our mobility countries don’t speak English or only know a little. This is challenging in terms of cultural adaptation and thriving in our everyday lives. With the help of technology such as Google Translate, interacting with the people was a bit easier.

Would You Recommend the Erasmus Mundus Program to Others? What Advice Would You Give to Someone Considering This Scholarship?

For young professionals who are willing to broaden their life’s perspectives and gain a better understanding of their purpose, Erasmus Mundus is the best program for you! My experience has emboldened my view about my profession and my personal life. It was a transformative journey from having more conservative views to progressive ideas, to becoming an ambivert, to being more accepting and flexible, and to becoming more connected to the global society. The network of friendship, professional collaboration, and a meaningful community of practice is vital as we share various life experiences within the two-year study journey.

My advice is to always be open to every challenge by starting to overcome your own comfort zones! There’s so much to see, learn, and experience in the world. With the Erasmus Mundus program, you are given the big opportunity to study with a diverse group of people, to travel Europe, and to explore life in many facets. Use every moment to leave a lasting positive imprint in the lives of every person you meet. Always remember to be willing to share what you have in terms of experience and expertise because you never know where it will take you.

Looking Back, Would You Have Done Anything Differently During Your Time in the Program?

While I did an excellent job finishing the program, I also reckon three things that I could have done differently during my time there. First, I could have invested my time and effort learning new languages as possible. I find it very helpful to have good knowledge and to communicate in other languages like Portuguese, Lithuanian, Latvian, and Slovak, especially when you search for work after your studies. Second, I could have invested more opportunity to do much research in collaboration with our professors and even classmates. I find it necessary for my desire to pursue for PhD. Lastly, I could have joined various support groups or clubs in our universities. The training and the experience could somehow help me to boost my understanding of social work in Europe and to further widen my network.

Looking back, I am very satisfied with the outcome of my two-year Erasmus Mundus journey. I miss my wonderful colleagues, and the experience has taught me many lessons that until now has guided my personal and professional values. As I always say, once you have been to Erasmus Mundus, your life will never be the same.