Angela Smilkovska, Martin Zarkov, Elena Teovska, Ana Marija Miteva, and Vasilija Smilkova, students at Goce Delcev University – Stip, participated in The Flavour School – Urban Future Public Space LAB: Art, Design and Technology for People, held in Riga, Latvia.
The programme provided students with the opportunity to work on real-life challenges related to art, design, technology, and public space, while developing their ideas together with participants from different fields of study and European universities.
For Angela Smilkovska, one of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the opportunity to step outside the boundaries of her primary field of study and explore different perspectives.
“Through teamwork with students from different countries, the exchange of ideas, and the practical development of a joint project, I gained new skills, different perspectives, and wonderful international connections. I was happy to have the opportunity to represent UGD as part of such an international initiative,” Angela shares.
One of the outcomes of the work was the development of ideas for Riga’s Light Festival – STARO RĪGA, with the students using the city’s architecture as inspiration for creating artistic interventions.
“The experience was much more than just an ordinary week on campus. From something we experienced and observed firsthand, we managed to develop an idea that gradually took shape and gained the potential to become a real artistic intervention in the city,” says Elena Teovska.
In addition to working on the projects, the students had the opportunity to explore Riga, its local culture, and the way of life in Latvia.
“We worked together with students and professors from different European universities on real-life challenges through teamwork. Besides the work itself, we also had the opportunity to get to know Riga better, as well as the local culture and way of life in Latvia,” says Martin Zarkov.
The experience in Riga demonstrated how international programmes of this kind can complement the education students receive at UGD by providing practical experience, encouraging creative approaches, and introducing new perspectives that students can apply in their further academic and professional development.
