The internationalisation is much more than a concept at Gaztelueta: it is a reality that is lived throughout the academic year through concrete, enriching and profoundly educational experiences. From the arrival of Japanese and European students to our own students' trips abroad, the school is positioned as an environment open to the world, where cultural exchange is part of the educational process. These initiatives not only reinforce language skills, but also promote values such as empathy, respect and openness to other realities.
One of the most significant moments of the course was the visit of 33 pupils from the school Shonan High Schoolfrom Japan. This experience, organised by the Basque Association for Friendship with Japan Euskal-Japonia Elkarteahas been a clear example of how internationalisation is materialised in the school's day-to-day work. This association, born in 2006 as an online platform for lovers of the Basque Country, was promoted by the Basque Government during Iñigo Urkullu's term as Lehendakari, and today continues to weave bonds of understanding and collaboration between the two cultures.
During their stay, the Japanese students were able to participate in cultural, sporting and social activities that allowed them to learn about our identity, customs and values. At the same time, the Gaztelueta students had an unforgettable experience, discovering another way of understanding the world and establishing friendships that transcend borders.
The internationalisation is also understood as a two-way process, in which we not only receive, but also send. In this sense, the visit of our student Javier Asporosa to school Seido Mikawadaiin Nagasaki is another highlight of the course. His stay was made possible by the Japanese Government's Overseas Stay Programmewhich, for the second consecutive year, has counted on the collaboration of Gaztelueta.
This trip was in response to the previous visit of Kanata HiraseJapanese student who lived with us during his stay in our country. The reciprocity of this type of exchange reinforces the international vocation of our educational project, and allows our students to live first-hand the experience of adapting to a different culture, with all that this implies: learning to communicate, understanding other ways of thinking and valuing one's own from a global perspective.
As part of the strengthening of this relationship with Japan, this year we also had a visit from the principal of Seido School, Yuji Hirota. His presence has served to move towards a more formal and stable collaboration between the two institutions. He is expected to sign a collaboration agreement with GazteluetaThis will make it possible to continue developing joint projects, promote new exchanges and consolidate a network of international educational cooperation that will benefit both school communities.
Such agreements reflect how the internationalisation is consolidated in Gaztelueta not as a one-off activity, but as a strategic line of educational growth. A line that requires vision, institutional commitment and a firm commitment to offer students an education in tune with the challenges of a globalised world.
In addition to the links with Asia, this academic year Gaztelueta has had a particularly enriching experience thanks to the stay of an Italian student for one month as part of an EU exchange programme. During his time at the school, he not only took part in the normal academic life, but also shared his experience with the students from 4th Grade PrimaryThe project is a great success, arousing curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about new cultures, even among the youngest children.
Initiatives such as these demonstrate that the internationalisation is not limited to certain educational stages or language levels, but can be experienced from an early age, as a seed that grows throughout the school career. Direct interaction with people from other countries helps to break down stereotypes, foster tolerance and develop social and emotional skills that are essential for the 21st century.
The sum of all these experiences - the visits, the exchanges, the agreements - reflect a firm commitment to an educational model in which the internationalisation is not an add-on, but a central axis of the students' personal and academic development. At Gaztelueta we understand that preparing our students for the future means offering them real experiences that connect them with the world, that teach them to live with diversity and that inspire them to build bridges between cultures.
In an increasingly interconnected global context, training citizens with an international mindset, capable of communicating, collaborating and mutually enriching with people from other countries, is more necessary than ever. And on this path, Gaztelueta advances steadily, opening up new opportunities and always keeping the focus on its mission: to educate with a global vision, without ever losing its roots.
