Daria Shurduk, a student in group 201-EK, specialising in 051 “Economics”, participated in the international program “Study Tours to Poland” (STP) in Łódź, Poland, from October 20 to 30, 2025.
The STP program is significantly more than just an educational tour. It is a powerful, long-standing international initiative focused on developing civil society and supporting young leaders from Eastern European countries. Its primary mission is to foster intercultural dialogue, ensure an effective exchange of experience between generations, and, most importantly, support democratic changes in the participating countries. The realisation of this complex and highly organised program was made possible by the strategic support of influential international organisations, including the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the Leaders of Change Foundation, which work closely with the Borussia Foundation.
Daria shares her impressions of participating in the program:
“It was two weeks full of dynamism and discoveries that flew by in an instant. Our schedule was a kaleidoscope of packed events: we attended several exciting and highly informative workshops, visited institutions, and participated in inspiring activities.
International exchange is an invaluable bridge for networking, providing a unique opportunity to share experiences and fresh ideas with students from different corners of the world, and to delve deeply into their culture.
Our visit ceremoniously began with a welcome dinner, where the organisers created an atmosphere of sincerity and hospitality that instantly united the participants. This warm evening laid the foundation for future acquaintances, and the whirlwind of our active and inspired days began the very next morning.
One of the key events was the visit to the Łódzkie Centrum Pozarządowe (Łódź Non-Governmental Centre). We delved into the activities of this centre – a space that serves as a true catalyst for social change. It not only effectively mobilises city residents and provides powerful support for social initiatives, but also ignites a desire for positive transformation within the community.
A central element of the educational component was a foundational seminar on the architecture of the European Union. Here, we examined its structure and key bodies in detail and analysed the tangible benefits of EU membership, using Poland as a vivid example.
The practical session “Advocating through Writing” followed logically and importantly. This workshop focused on fundamental human rights and the art of writing effective letters in support of those whose freedoms and rights have been violated.
Next, the doors to Poland's academic space opened before us. We gained a unique opportunity to thoroughly study the local education system and immerse ourselves in its specifics.
This part of the program was realised through a visit to the University of Łódź, specifically the Faculty of Economics and Sociology. Not only were we given an informative campus tour, but we also met with active members of the “Investor Student Club”. During this dynamic conversation, local students generously shared their invaluable insights, enabling us to create a true synergy of ideas and perspectives on contemporary student life.
The next point on the map was the Urban Activity Factory. This visit was incredibly insightful as we explored the mechanisms for forming Ł ódź's municipal budget and studied local initiatives that drive community development.
A true culmination of inspiration was the meeting “Discover the Possibilities of ESC”. Volunteers from the Level Up organisation did not just present the European Solidarity Corps program; they shared real-life stories of their experiences and offered powerful motivation to volunteer, demonstrating how everyone can get involved in aid and solidarity.
The superb final chord was the cultural evening – a true celebration of traditions where each participating country displayed a vibrant palette of its culture, national customs, and culinary masterpieces. This evening turned into an atmospheric space for friendly communication and intercultural unity that transcends national borders. I had the distinct honour of proudly presenting the rich traditions of Ukraine, complemented by an interactive Kahoot quiz about the most interesting facts about our country.
We also visited Łowicz, where we met with local government representatives. During the “Traditional Folk Workshop”, we became acquainted with Polish folk traditions and the region's art.
Another essential stage was a visit to the University of the 3rd Age in Łódź, where we learned how programs for the activation and education of older people are implemented in Poland.
During the event “Discover Eco Trends”, we were introduced to examples of eco-businesses and learned about modern ecological practices that foster greater eco-awareness among Polish residents. Within the framework of the workshop “Public Consultations”, we practically studied methods of involving citizens in decision-making, worked in the World Café format, and discussed the importance of public participation in developing democratic processes.
We also visited the Regional Volunteer Centre “Centerko”, where we learned about the role of volunteering in fostering an active civil society.
The cultural part of the program was also rich: during the excursion “The Textile Industry of the Past and Present”, we explored the history of Łódź, Poland's textile capital, and visited Manufaktura, a symbol of the city. We also visited the Museum of the City of Łódź, where we learned about the city’s history and toured the magnificent Palace of Poznański, the former estate of a factory owner. A baroque music concert was held there, which became a true cultural highlight of our trip.
This program gifted me invaluable experience, new knowledge, inspiration for further development, and a multitude of vivid memories.
My participation in the “Study Tours to Poland” program confirmed for me that international cooperation, openness to new ideas, and a readiness to act are the keys to positive changes in society!”, – says Daria.
Previously, Poltava Polytechnic students participated in the “Study Tours to Poland” (STP) program in Lublin and Kraków (2025), Bielsko-Biała, Toruń, Wrocław, Łódź, and Warsaw (2024), Wrocław, Gdańsk, and Toruń (2023).
Recently, Yulia Hunchenko, Senior Lecturer at the Department of General Linguistics and Foreign Languages, participated in the academic mobility program for lecturers at Transilvania University of Brașov, Poltava Polytechnic lecturers Liudmyla Svystun and Yuliia Khudolii participated in the E3UDRES2 scientific festival under the Erasmus+ academic mobility program for teaching staff at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia). Additionally, Viktoriia Boiko, a philology student at Poltava Polytechnic, participated in a 10-day Erasmus+ youth exchange in Armenia, where she learned to better understand herself and others through intercultural dialogue, forming valuable skills for the future. Students from the Educational and Research Institute of Finance, Economics, Management and Law also shared their impressions of studying at the University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna and the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland (Austria).
As a reminder, faculty members of Poltava Polytechnic are eligible to participate in academic mobility and internship programs. Students can study abroad through Erasmus+ credit academic mobility grant programs for a semester or a full academic year at leading universities in Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
For more detailed information on current internship, teaching, and academic mobility programs abroad, please get in touch with the International Relations Office (office 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the coordinator of international activities at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Anna Pavelieva, Ph.D. in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation (email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +38-(095)-91-08-192).
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