Hybrid Erasmus+ Mobility in Belgium: Nathan’s Physiotherapy Thesis, Between CEERRF and HELB
Erasmus+ usually brings to mind clinical placements abroad. But the programme also supports other, lesser-known formats. Nathan Pierret, a final-year physiotherapy student at CEERRF, took part in one of them: a short hybrid mobility in Belgium, run with the Haute École Libre de Bruxelles (HELB), one of our partner institutions, to carry out the fieldwork for his final-year thesis.
A hybrid mobility built around the thesis
A hybrid mobility combines remote work with a period on site. For Nathan, the virtual part began in July 2025. Over several months, he defined his research question, designed his methodology and prepared the application for the Belgian ethics committee, which he needed before starting his study.
The on-site week then took place from 20 to 24 April 2026. This format works well for students at the end of their course: it fits into the teaching units of the programme and means they arrive in the field with a project that is ready to go.
A week of research at a nursery run by the CPAS of Gembloux
Nathan was hosted at a nursery run by the CPAS of Gembloux (the local public social welfare centre), a partner of HELB. His goal was to collect the data for his thesis as part of an observational study approved by a Belgian ethics committee.
The findings belong to Nathan, so we won’t go into detail here. His work focuses on occupational health among early childhood professionals, and more specifically on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), a subject where physiotherapy, prevention and working conditions meet. The week was taken up with observations, measurements, interviews with staff and transcriptions
Nathan’s testimonial
« Thanks to the Erasmus+ programme, I had the opportunity to have a particularly rewarding experience in Belgium as part of my final-year thesis in physiotherapy. This mobility allowed me to carry out my study directly in the field, in a nursery facing issues with musculoskeletal disorders among early childhood professionals.
This experience gave me a great deal, both professionally and personally. It helped me develop my research, observation and communication skills, while discovering a new work environment and a different way of approaching certain professional issues. My discussions with the teams on site allowed me to learn from their knowledge, their experience and their day-to-day work.
I sincerely thank them for their welcome, their availability and for sharing their experience throughout this mobility. This collaboration will remain one of the best memories of my time as a student.
I would also like to warmly thank CEERRF and the Erasmus+ programme for giving me this opportunity, which mattered as much for my personal growth as for my professional development.»
Nathan Pierret, physiotherapy student at CEERRF
Thank you to everyone who made this project possible
A mobility like this one relies on many people. Nathan would like to thank:
CEERRF and HELB: a long-standing Erasmus+ partnership
Nathan’s project builds on a collaboration between CEERRF and HELB that has been running for several years. The partnership benefits students and teaching staff alike: it allows the two schools to share teaching practices, open up new placement and research opportunities, and bring teams together on both sides of the border. For students considering part of their physiotherapy studies abroad, this kind of mobility offers a first, well-supervised experience.
Are you a CEERRF student interested in an Erasmus+ mobility ? Get in touch with the school’s international relations office.