Students from City of Dublin FET College, Ballyfermot, Southwest Campus took their broadcasting skills into a real European media environment this summer as part of an exciting Erasmus+ VET mobility to Marbella, Spain, from 12–22 June 2026.
The mobility provided students from the College’s Radio and Podcasting Production and Presentation programme with the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and gain practical experience working alongside media professionals in both radio and television production on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Four Ballyfermot students participated in the mobility, working with two media partners in Marbella. Mayara and Peter joined the team at Talk Radio Europe (TRE), while Robin and Siobhan undertook their placement with Good Morning Marbella TV.
For Mayara and Peter, the placement at Talk Radio Europe offered an opportunity to experience the day-to-day environment of a professional radio station broadcasting to an international audience. Working alongside the TRE team allowed them to see at first hand how programmes move from planning and research through to production and broadcast, while developing their own communication, production and digital media skills.
Robin and Siobhan’s television placement similarly provided an opportunity to experience professional broadcasting from the other side of the camera. Their time with Good Morning Marbella TV exposed them to the fast-paced world of television and digital content production, helping them develop greater confidence in areas such as filming, presenting, production, teamwork and the creation of content for contemporary media platforms.
Importantly, the experience was not simply an observational visit. Erasmus+ VET mobility is about learning through work, placing students in authentic professional environments where they can apply the skills developed on their course, take on new responsibilities and learn from practitioners working within the industry.
The Marbella mobility also demonstrated how rapidly the worlds of radio, television, podcasting and social media are converging. Today’s media professionals increasingly need to be comfortable creating content across multiple platforms, adapting material for different audiences and moving between audio, video and short-form digital content. Working in this environment gave the Ballyfermot students an invaluable opportunity to further develop these transferable skills.
The professional experience was complemented by the wider cultural dimension that is central to Erasmus+. During their time in Marbella, the students had opportunities to explore the local area and engage with Spanish culture, including experiences connected with flamenco and the landscape and culture of Marbella and the Costa del Sol. These experiences are an important part of mobility: learning to live and work in another country encourages independence, adaptability, intercultural awareness and confidence.
For students preparing for careers in broadcasting and the wider creative industries, these skills are every bit as important as technical knowledge. Media is an international industry, and the ability to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds, adapt quickly to an unfamiliar workplace and contribute confidently as part of a new team can make a significant difference when progressing into employment or further study.
The mobility also strengthens the College’s growing network of European media partners. Ballyfermot has been developing international opportunities that allow learners to experience their chosen industries in different European settings, with Erasmus+ providing a bridge between vocational education in Dublin and professional workplaces across Europe.
This latest mobility builds on the College’s developing relationship with Talk Radio Europe, while the partnership with Good Morning Marbella TV creates another valuable pathway for future learners interested in television, video, broadcasting and digital content production.
Most importantly, the experience demonstrates what Erasmus+ can mean at learner level. Four students left Ballyfermot for Spain with the skills developed through their course and returned having tested those skills in a professional international workplace, experienced a different culture and gained a clearer understanding of the opportunities available within the modern media industry.
For future Ballyfermot Radio and Podcasting students, Marbella 2026 sends a simple message: the skills developed in the College can take you far beyond the studio in Ballyfermot. Your next production could be in another European country.
The College looks forward to continuing its collaboration with its partners in Marbella and creating further opportunities for Ballyfermot learners to study, train and work across Europe through Erasmus+.