Within the framework of the Erasmus accreditation at Prva gimnazija Varaždin, Croatia, 5 students and their Computer Science teacher, Bojan Banić, participated in the Erasmus mobility entitled “Virtual Reality”, from 17-22 August 2025 at Zavod Sv. Stanislava in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This intensive, six-day course was hosted at Škofijska klasična gimnazija, Slovenia, and focused on immersive game development, bringing together a small, dynamic group of students for a unique learning experience.

Škofijska klasična gimnazija and Prva gimnazija Varaždin have been collaborating for years on various projects especially in STEM subject so the theme of the the Erasmus mobility focused on 3D design and virtual reality. Namely, the academic core of the program was learning about the Unity engine with the specific goal of creating a functional Virtual Reality game. The structure was perfectly paced: we absorbed the fundamentals in the first two days, brainstormed ideas on the third, and dedicated the final two days to development. The challenge of building for VR was new to all of us and more complex than traditional 2D game design, pushing our problem-solving skills. While we worked on individual projects, the atmosphere was highly collaborative. Our group consisted us 5 Croatian students and one from Luxembourg and we constantly helped each other overcome obstacles. It was fascinating to see the diverse ideas my peers brought to life: Nikša Vaupotić developed a progressive VR basketball game, Karla Barbir created a farming simulator, Antonela Nikolić built a game about developing photographs, and Matej Kovačević designed a mountain-climbing adventure. My own project was a VR parkour game based on teleportation instead of jumping.

A key cultural and social highlight was a group excursion to the breathtaking Lake Bled. This trip was more than just sightseeing; it was where we truly bonded. Walking around the lake, sharing food and drinks, and laughing together created a strong sense of camaraderie that fueled our collaboration for the rest of the week.

The program culminated in a presentation session where we each demonstrated our VR games. There was a sense of excitement and relief among all of us for having finished our projects on time. The project lecturers expressed their satisfaction with our work and officially congratulated us on successfully completing the course. This final acknowledgment was a rewarding end to a demanding week.

In conclusion, the “Virtual Reality” mobility was far more than a technical course. It was a profound lesson in cross-cultural teamwork, creative problem-solving, and personal growth. The skills I gained in Unity are significant, but the confidence from presenting my work and the connections I made with fellow students are the most valuable takeaways. The memory of our day at Lake Bled remains a perfect symbol of the collaborative and inspiring spirit that defined this incredible Erasmus+ experience.

Written by Niko Zorko, IB Diploma Student, at Prva gimnazija Varaždin