Three students of the Educational and Research Institute of Finance, Economics, Management and Law of National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic" Nadiya Kubrak Anzhelika Didechkina, and Dana Sholokh are studying under the Erasmus+ Credit Academic Mobility Program at the University of Applied Sciences FACHHOCHSCHULE BURGENLAND in Eisenstadt (the administrative center of Burgenland, Austria) during the spring semester of the academic year 2023/2024. The students of the classical university shared their impressions of studying and living in the city where the world-famous composer Joseph Haydn worked for almost 30 years.
Dana Sholokh, a second-year student majoring in 292 International Economic Relations, and Nadiia Kubrak, a third-year student majoring in 075 Marketing, said:
"The spring semester of 2023-2024, spent at FH Burgenland as part of the Erasmus+ program, was an unforgettable experience for us, full of new knowledge, friends, travel and language discoveries.
The international atmosphere of the university gave us the opportunity to meet peers from all over the world: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Finland, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Peru, and France. Together we explored the most picturesque cities in Europe, enjoying excursions to Budapest, Vienna, and other interesting cities.
Studying in English was not only a source of knowledge, but also significantly improved our language skills. Communicating with native speakers from different countries allowed us to deepen our knowledge and use English fluently in everyday life. An additional bonus was learning German, which opened up new horizons and made it easier to adapt to life in Austria.
The support and assistance from the university faculty and staff is impressive. Their friendliness and willingness to help in any situation created a favorable atmosphere for learning and personal development.
Interactive and team-based classes allowed us to get out of our comfort zone, meet new people, and work on joint projects. This not only contributed to a better understanding of the educational material, but also helped to develop team skills and establish strong friendships.
It all started with the welcome week, where we immersed ourselves in the Austrian student atmosphere and made friends with representatives of different programs. This week was a great opportunity to adapt to the new environment, get acquainted with the university and its rules, and unite the group of Erasmus+ students.
The training was partially live with long pairs (up to 4 hours) and workshops, and some pairs were held online. This learning format was intense and dynamic, but thanks to the support of our teachers and teamwork, we successfully coped with all the tasks.
The exam period was a test of our knowledge and skills. Current assignments, tests, and the online platform Moodle (familiar from Poltava Polytechnic) helped us to prepare for the exams and pass them with flying colors.
All in all, Erasmus+ at FH Burgenland is an incredible experience that we recommend to everyone! It is a unique opportunity to get a quality education, make new friends, travel the world and represent our university with dignity on the world stage. We are extremely grateful to our native Poltava Polytechnic for this incredible opportunity!"
Anzhelika Didechkina, third-year student majoring in 075 Marketing:
"Studying abroad always evokes a sense of excitement and some anxiety. You leave your home country to immerse yourself in a different culture, meet new people, and learn a different approach to learning. For those who have studied at the Austrian university FH Burgenland, this experience has become a source of incredible memories, valuable lessons, and lasting friendships.
FH Burgenland University is located in Eisenstadt, a small but charming town in Austria. This place is known for its history and culture. Walking through the narrow streets, you can easily imagine how Joseph Haydn created his musical masterpieces here, and the Esterhazy family influenced the life of the city. The people of Eisenstadt are friendly and helpful, always ready to help and smile. The atmosphere here is calm and cozy, and drivers always let pedestrians pass, even if you are not yet on the crosswalk.
The campus is conveniently located near all the necessary shops, and it only takes half an hour to get to the city center on foot. The dormitory where students live is located right across the street from the university. The living conditions are comfortable, with spacious kitchens, lounges, a gym, saunas, and even music rooms.
Studying at this university is different from the Ukrainian approach. There is a great emphasis on interaction and teamwork. Classes can last for several hours in a row, sometimes up to 6 hours, but this is compensated by the fact that on other days’ classes can be canceled or shortened. This gives students more time for independent work and research. The teachers at FH Burgenland are very friendly and always ready to help. They are actively interested in the culture and events in Ukraine, supporting international students. During their first week at the university, Erasmus+ students met with the university's faculty and staff, had a city tour, and learned about local traditions.
One of the most interesting aspects of studying abroad is the opportunity to meet people from different countries. Students from Austria, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and China become friends and share experiences. They attend classes together, work on joint projects, and travel. Eisenstadt is located in a convenient location that is easy to travel from. During their studies, students have traveled to Budapest, Vienna, and other cities. Each trip is a new experience, culture, and entertainment. Visiting Vienna has become one of their favorite things to do, because this city is famous for its architecture, museums, and music events.
In Ukraine, education is more structured, with clear schedules of classes and assessments. In Austria, students have more freedom and responsibility for their studies. In my opinion, this approach helps to develop independence and teamwork skills. The teachers at FH Burgenland encourage active interaction rather than just teaching the material, which creates a more dynamic and interactive learning environment. Studying at the FH Burgenland University in Eisenstadt is a unique experience that opens up new horizons. Learning about new cultures, working in a team, studying in English and traveling create unforgettable memories. It is an opportunity to develop not only academically, but also personally, creating connections that will last a lifetime. If you have a chance to participate in the Erasmus+ program and study abroad, take it - it is definitely worth every minute!"
It should be noted that in the first (winter) semester of the academic year 2023/2024, 2 students of our Institute of Finance, Economics, Management and Law, Nadiia Kubrak and Anastasiia Arkhipova, studied at University of Applied Sciences in Burgenland. Student Nadiia Kubrak extended her mobility program for the spring semester of 2024.
We would like to remind you that recently three female students of Polytechnic became participants of the grant program "Study Tours to Poland" in Wroclaw, 2 female students of Polytechnic studied the principles of volunteering within the framework of the Polish grant program "Study Tours to Poland". Last year, 4 students of Poltava Polytechnic took part in Study Tours to Poland and visited Wroclaw, Gdańsk and Toruń.
It is worth mentioning that students of Poltava Polytechnic have the opportunity to study abroad under the Erasmus+ grant programs of credit academic mobility for a semester or a whole academic year at the leading universities of Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and the Czech Republic.
For more information about the current academic mobility programs, please contact the International Relations Department (room 320-F, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the Coordinator of International Activities of National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic", PhD in Philology, Associate Professor of Germanic Philology and Translation Department Anna Pavelieva (room 310-c, email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +3-8-(095)-91-08-192).
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