A LIFE-CHANGING experience meeting teachers from all over Europe inspired a student to share her story with others.

Lily Smith, from Wrexham, will see her experiences turned into print in a leading professional journal for education professionals, Primary Geographer.

Lily, who is in the second year of a BA in Primary Education with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) at University of Chester, was accepted onto an Erasmus+ scholarship last year.

This saw her complete an intensive course in Budapest with 30 teachers and teachers in training from 10 different countries in Europe.

Primary Geographer is the Geographical Association’s journal for all Early Years and Primary teachers and is published three times a year.

Lily, 20, said: “My tutor, Arthur Kelly, thought it would be a great idea for me to write up my experience and get it published for other students to read.

"During the trip I took part in a series of thought provoking lectures, workshops and school visits which left me with an awakening of democratic practice and its relationship to education.

“We had to make a reflective sketchbook and write down notes and thoughts during the 10-day course; we could be as creative as we liked and were provided with resources to facilitate our creativity.

"The sketchbook was really helpful when it came to writing the article, and as it was with me for the majority of my trip, I was able to truly capture a lot of the memories and events that I had experienced.

Lily said it's "really exciting" to have the article published.

She added: "Being able to connect with others and share a passion for the future of teaching was inspiring so I am very eager to share my amazing experience and for other students to see the incredible opportunities that the University and Erasmus+ provide.

“I think the fact that I went to Budapest with the University in my first year and I’m off to Sweden in May in my second year just shows how the University creates amazing opportunities for its students."

Lily says after finishing her degree she hopes to complete a Newly Qualified Teacher year and hopes to then work overseas to "see the contrasting learning environments compared to our country".

Arthur Kelly said: “I’m so pleased that Lily has been able to share her positive experiences of studying abroad with other students and teachers.

"It’s exciting to see how her visits overseas are inspiring her desire to learn about teaching environments in other countries.”