International academic mobility programs, such as Erasmus+, play a key role in the modern educational space, opening up boundless opportunities for students' personal and professional growth. They are not only a chance to deepen knowledge in world universities but also a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in new cultures, improve language skills, and broaden horizons. Such experience shapes future specialists who possess not only academic knowledge but also intercultural competence, flexibility, and adaptability – qualities that are extremely important in a globalised world.
Anna Haivoronska, a 2nd-year student specialising in Philology, spent the spring semester of the 2024/2025 academic year at the partner institution – Vilniaus kolegija | Higher education institution (Lithuania) within the framework of the Erasmus+ credit academic mobility program.
After completing the program, Anna Haivoronska eagerly shared her impressions of studying and living in Lithuania, offering a unique insight into the benefits of international mobility:
“My studies at Vilniaus kolegija | Higher education institution (VIKO) in Lithuania recently came to an end. Time there flew by quickly, yet it was full of events and emotions. During my five months in Lithuania, I deepened my knowledge of intercultural education and sociology and got to know the local culture better through numerous events, museums, and travels. Every aspect of life in another country impressed me in its own way, providing valuable experience – but one thing at a time.
Throughout the semester, I not only mastered several disciplines at the Pedagogical Faculty of VIKO but also immersed myself in a different educational system that placed strong emphasis on interactive engagement. Studying in Lithuania turned out to be highly creative and dynamic: we worked on numerous projects, presentations, conducted interviews and small studies, wrote essays, and even prepared public speeches. This comprehensive teaching, combined with practical tasks, contributed to the development of a wide range of skills and the formation of a holistic picture of each discipline. Exams became the final stage that helped consolidate the acquired knowledge. The final assignments varied, but most often we wrote articles on a chosen topic and presented the results, which not only allowed us to explore interesting issues deeply but also significantly improved my public speaking skills.
It is particularly worth noting that throughout the semester, all the teachers provided us with invaluable support, helping us adapt both to studying in English and to life in a new country. They treated Erasmus+ students with great understanding, willingly sharing recommendations for interesting places to visit and telling us about local holidays and traditions, for which I am immensely grateful. The friendliness of the lecturers, combined with a learning system tailored to the needs of international students, contributed to achieving significantly better academic results than expected. At least that's how it was for me. The only drawback was the lack of so-called “buddies” (student mentors), because with their help, navigating everyday student life would have been much simpler.
As a rule, the Erasmus+ program is not limited to the academic process, and my experience was no exception. All students had enough free time to explore the city and the country and attend various events, which I actively took advantage of. Vilnius, as befits a capital, is extremely rich in museums and exhibitions, some of which offer free entry for Ukrainians. This list includes almost all the most famous and vital cultural institutions, such as the National Gallery of Art, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, and many others. In spring, and also after successfully passing the session, other Ukrainian students and I had an excellent opportunity to visit several of them. There, we not only had a great time but also learned more about Lithuania's history, taking many memorable photos with the exhibits. We were also lucky to catch two large-scale city festivals: the colourful Kaziukas Fair and the vibrant Pink Soup Festival. At these events, we tasted national dishes, bought souvenirs for our relatives, and even participated in a walking competition whose route ended at a special market. The uniqueness of the stalls there was that some useful products could be purchased “for steps” accumulated during the competition. Thus, we combined sports activity with the opportunity to get a free, healthy lunch (which, of course, I prepared myself).
In addition to the abundance of museums, Vilnius and its surroundings delight with numerous parks and picturesque natural areas. Sakura Park, Green Lakes, and Europe Park – each is unique in its own way and perfect for outdoor recreation. In addition, the capital is surrounded by many forests where I happily walked in the evenings after class, further studying the local flora and fauna.
Besides Vilnius, Lithuania, it is also attractive with several other large cities that I explored no less thoroughly. Among them are the neighbouring cities of Kaunas and Klaipėda. Kaunas appeared before me as a vibrant pedestrian city with many establishments and interesting objects: ancient castles, cosy parks, picturesque bridges, and even a reservoir nearby. Its central part is an area where you can spend several days just admiring the architecture, or a whole week immersing yourself in colourful establishments and places. A special attraction for me was the reservoir, which is ideal for both swimming and photographing amazing natural landscapes. However, it is located outside the city, but it is definitely worth a visit.
In contrast, I visited Klaipėda during the rainy season, but this did not spoil my impression of the city at all. On the contrary, the long-forgotten smell of the sea, the majestic port with many ships and a gigantic cruise liner, as well as a ferry trip to the Curonian Spit with its wonderful pine forests and endless sandy beaches – all of this still seems incredible, infinitely beautiful, and unforgettable to me. A walk along the spit or a few days' rest are essential items on the program for every student. By the way, such trips can be quite budget-friendly if you team up with friends and rent a house together.
In summary, this semester abroad had a tremendous impact on me: I discovered new professional opportunities and saw significantly broader horizons for my own development. Such experience fundamentally changes one's view of the world, makes student years truly unforgettable, and motivates one to make even greater efforts in learning.
Finally, I want to re-thank Poltava Polytechnic for the opportunity to study in Lithuania and my loved ones who inspired me to try. International mobility is an excellent opportunity not only to grow professionally but also spiritually, to experience unforgettable moments in life. For this reason, I recommend all students to try studying in another country at least once!” – the student shares her impressions.
International academic mobility is not just a study trip, but a real investment in one's future, opening doors to new knowledge, cultural discoveries, and unforgettable emotions that shape one's personality. Therefore, if you dream of unforgettable student years, strive to broaden your horizons and become part of the global academic community, do not hesitate! Poltava Polytechnic offers unique opportunities to make this dream come true! Take a bold step towards adventure, because the experience of studying abroad will undoubtedly change your life for the better and inspire new achievements!
You can read about Anna Haivoronska's first impressions of this mobility program here, and learn more about the experience of Poltava Polytechnic students studying at Vilnius College in 2024 here and here, and in 2023 – here and here.
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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National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
