EHU bids farewell to the inaugural group of Boise State University students participating in the Transoceanic Campus

The first nine students to take part in the International Training Programme of the Transoceanic Campus return to Boise after two months of learning, research and cultural immersion in the Basque Country.

Just two months ago, they arrived in the Basque Country with the excitement and curiosity of beginning an academic adventure on the other side of the Atlantic. Today, they return to Boise with far more than a completed university placement: new friendships, new perspectives on research, a deeper appreciation of multilingualism and a growing network of academic and personal connections that will continue to develop long after their return home.

The Miramar Palace in Donostia-San Sebastián hosted the farewell ceremony for the inaugural group of students participating in the International Training Programme of the Transoceanic Campus. The event brought together Boise State University students, EHU faculty mentors and institutional representatives from both universities to reflect on a pioneering initiative that aims to become firmly established in the years ahead.

The institutional opening featured remarks by Gotzone Barandika, Vice-Rector for Transfer and Internationalisation at EHU; Koldo Callado, Director for Scientific and Social Development; Todd Otanicar, Professor and Department Chair at Boise State University; and Iñaki Goirizelaia, former Rector of EHU and one of the driving forces behind the Transoceanic Campus. All four speakers highlighted the strategic importance of strengthening academic cooperation between the Basque Country and Idaho through education, research and international mobility.

The true protagonists of the morning, however, were the students and their mentors.

During the ceremony was a series of conversations between the Boise State students and their EHU mentors, who reflected together on the experiences they had shared over the previous two months. Beyond the research projects themselves, they spoke about becoming part of research teams, discovering different ways of learning and working, and experiencing the Basque Country's rich cultural and linguistic diversity from within. As Miranda L. Nelson observed, "People speak fast in the Basque Country, but life moves at a slower pace than in America."

Throughout the conversations, one idea emerged repeatedly: the learning had been mutual. The students described how they had been welcomed into research groups from day one and given the opportunity to contribute to real projects, while the mentors explained how the presence of the Boise students had also enriched their own teams, bringing fresh perspectives and opening new opportunities for future collaboration.

The nine research projects developed during the placement covered a wide range of disciplines, including biomaterials, mechanical engineering, river restoration, primary education, Basque culture, cancer research and advanced manufacturing, illustrating the multidisciplinary nature of the programme.

Another recurring theme was the students' encounter with the Basque Country's multilingual reality. Living in an environment where Basque, Spanish and English coexist encouraged many participants to reflect on languages not only as tools for communication, but also as expressions of identity, culture and belonging.

The institutional session concluded with remarks by Joxerramon Bengoetxea, Rector of EHU, who reaffirmed the University's commitment to further developing the Transoceanic Campus and strengthening the long-term partnership between EHU and Boise State University.

The ceremony closed with a performance by KIMU Txalaparta, introducing the American students to one of the most distinctive expressions of Basque cultural heritage. Before the performance, participants were reminded of the symbolic meaning of the txalaparta: two people creating a shared rhythm by listening to one another, responding, leaving space for each other and engaging in dialogue—a powerful metaphor for the collaborative spirit that defines the Transoceanic Campus.

The event concluded with a group photograph and an informal lunch on the terrace of Miramar Palace. More than a farewell, it was a celebration of a new academic community connecting the Basque Country and Idaho through education, research and shared experience.

Student and mentor testimonials coming soon

Over the coming weeks, a series of nine short video capsules featuring the Boise State University students and their EHU mentors will be released. Through these first-hand conversations, the university community will be able to discover the academic, professional and personal impact of this inaugural edition of the Transoceanic Campus, while looking ahead to the future generations of students who will continue building bridges across the Atlantic.