The primary goal of the Erasmus project was to provide PhD students and staff with high-quality mobility experiences in both Programme and Partner countries, fostering personal and professional growth while establishing new scientific and professional connections. This initiative aimed not only to enhance participants’ academic competences but also to strengthen institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange. More specifically, at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, a public postgraduate school and research institute, the project aimed to: 1. Enhance doctoral students’ and staff competences. The project sought to improve the academic and professional skills of both students and staff. For PhD students, this meant developing subject-specific expertise, transversal skills, and forward-looking competencies needed to address global challenges. For teaching and administrative staff, it offered opportunities to exchange best practices, enrich teaching methodologies, and acquire new training skills, contributing to IMT’s overall institutional development. 2. Promote personal and professional development. Mobility experiences were designed to foster personal growth by exposing participants to new cultures and working environments. For staff, this translated into improved teaching and training techniques, and cross-cultural communication. For students, it nurtured independence, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in diverse, global contexts. 3. Boost career prospects and post-doctoral opportunities. For PhD students, immersion in international research environments strengthened their professional profiles and expanded their networks, increasing post-doctoral career opportunities. For staff, mobility opened doors to future collaborations and improved institutional capacity to manage international projects. 4. Establish and consolidate collaborative networks. Student and staff mobility were key to building long-term partnerships between institutions. These collaborations benefited participants while enhancing IMT’s reputation as a young, dynamic research institution. Staff teaching and training exchanges in particular helped consolidate networks across different organizations, cultures, and countries, increasing the reach and impact of IMT’s academic and research programs. 5. Increase participation in democratic life and address global challenges. Exchanging ideas, knowledge and skills across borders and continents helps to shape well-rounded scholars and professionals capable of tackling a wide range of emerging global challenges. By providing international exposure to both students and staff, the project promoted active participation in democratic life and cultivated a global outlook, equipping participants to address international challenges and contribute to societal development. Support the IMT School’s mission and reputation. The project also advanced IMT’s interdisciplinary research focus on economic, societal, technological, and cultural systems. Mobility opportunities contributed directly to the School’s mission of advancing knowledge in these fields while positioning it as a hub for international collaboration and innovation in postgraduate education and research. By integrating student and staff mobility, the Erasmus initiative created a holistic development framework that strengthened participants’ skills and career prospects, enhanced institutional capacity, fostered innovation, and promoted cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.