National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” continues to actively expand the horizons of international academic cooperation, providing students with unique opportunities for studies based on European standards.
In the Autumn semester of the 2025/2026 academic year (September 1, 2025 – January 25, 2026), Tetiana Holub, a student of group 301 FM and Maryna Kostenko, a student of group 302 FM, both majoring in “International Economic Relations”, are studying under the Erasmus+ credit academic mobility programme at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.
The partner university is located in Valmiera, is known for its innovative approach to education. The educational process here primarily focuses on practice and project activities in regional development, digital technologies, and international business, which are critical to the speciality “International Economic Relations”. ViA is famous for its close links with local industry and its highly internationalised environment, where students from Poltava study in multinational groups alongside colleagues from all over Europe.
Five months in the heart of the Baltics is not only intensive study but also a powerful catalyst for personal growth, a test of independence, and, of course, an opportunity to realise travel dreams. Please read about how the Latvian university welcomed them warmly, how Erasmus+ opened the door to the world of free English communication, and what vital skills international experience develops, in their inspiring stories and testimonies about the power of intercultural exchange.
Maryna Kostenko, a student of group 302 FM majoring in “International Economic Relations”: “Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences met us with unusual warmth and hospitality. From the very first days of our stay, we felt the university community’s incredible care and openness.
To help us adapt, local students organised an exciting trip around Valmiera, after which we had the honour of meeting the teaching staff. Thematic evenings full of local flavour also awaited us: fiery Latvian dances, a tasting of traditional dishes, and a deep immersion into the local culture.
As an international student representing National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” within the Erasmus+ program, I gained invaluable opportunities for academic growth, personal development, and, of course, getting to know Europe. During this brief period, I have already been lucky enough to discover the magnificent city of Stockholm (Sweden) and the charming city of Tallinn (Estonia). These trips have gifted a treasure trove of unforgettable impressions, new contacts, and powerful inspiration for further study.
My daily stay in Valmiera has become an actual language and communication training ground for me. I am not only improving my English by using it in class, but also through constant communication with students from all corners of the world. This multicultural experience tempers flexibility of thought, develops comprehensive intercultural communication, sharpens critical analysis, and enhances the ability to find practical solutions quickly. These acquired skills will undoubtedly become a reliable foundation for a successful career both in Ukraine and in the European labour market.
The educational program itself is distinguished by its high organisation and the accessibility of its material presentation. A great emphasis is placed on group projects, which effectively develop teamwork, deepen English knowledge, and lay the foundations for leadership. We have the honour of studying under the guidance of leading specialists from across Europe.
In summary, I can confidently state that Erasmus+ is significantly more than just an educational program abroad. It is a path to expanding one’s own horizons, it is an opportunity to find friends in the most distant corners of the world, and, most importantly, it is a chance to know yourself more deeply”.
Maryna Kostenko states that Erasmus+ is a powerful catalyst for self-development, opening horizons for academic growth and intercultural communication. Another student, Tetiana Holub, shares this transformative view of the academic mobility program, for whom the trip to Valmiera became the second academic mobility mission.
Holub Tetiana, a student of group 301 FM majoring in “International Economic Relations”: “This is already my second Erasmus+, and it is not just another experience, but a true kaleidoscope of impressions that opens horizons of new knowledge and unexplored opportunities. This year, Latvia became my academic home, namely the charming city of Valmiera and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.
The Erasmus+ program is a true educational treasure that provides students with the opportunity not only to deepen fundamental knowledge and acquire valuable skills, but also to immerse themselves in the diversity of educational systems worldwide. My home HEI – National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, helps me explore this international dimension of learning.
Latvia’s educational system impressed me with its combination of academic freedom and high student responsibility, which motivates independent material processing. Especially valuable was the fact that instructors actively encouraged critical thinking and discussion, fostering an open atmosphere in which students from different countries could exchange ideas.
The geography of my travels continues to expand: in the first month of my stay here alone, I managed to see Estonia and Sweden. The Latvian experience became a catalyst for personal growth. I am learning to be absolutely independent, developing social skills, and bravely overcoming challenges that previously seemed insurmountable.
A significant improvement in English proficiency brings particular joy. I finally felt true freedom of communication; it seemed incredible to be able to listen, understand, and engage in academic dialogue in a foreign language.
Teaching at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences is maximally accessible and student-oriented. This includes an easy, structured presentation of material and exciting group projects that stimulate creativity – we choose the research object or the team we wish to work with ourselves.
In summary, I can confidently state that Erasmus+ is significantly more than just an academic program. It is a unique mix of quality education, new acquaintances, rapid development, and, undoubtedly, unforgettable life stories that shape my worldview”.
Student mobility is a powerful mechanism for preparing specialists ready for the global market. The five-month experience in Latvia allowed the young specialists not only to deepen their professional knowledge in “International Economic Relations” in line with European requirements. It was also intensive training in vital competencies: improving conversational English, effective intercultural communication, and forming a high level of independence. Such international mobility opportunities offered by the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” are essential capital for building a successful career and further expanding the worldview of future specialists.
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” actively develops international cooperation with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia), which has already laid the groundwork for several successful academic mobilities. Specifically, within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA171 program, Poltava Polytechnic associate professors Lyudmyla Svystun and Yuliia Khudolii participated in the E3UDRES2 science festival, researchers Olha Harkava and Lyudmyla Shevchenko presented their scientific work on frame structural systems of buildings and the landscape and spatial organisation of the city of Poltava at the event “ViA's Research Evening 2024”. In addition, university lecturers and students participated in the “WOOD TECHNOLOGY HACKATHON”, where, together with international teams, they developed innovative projects, gaining valuable experience and new contacts. Such fruitful interaction contributes to strengthening institutional partnerships, exchanging advanced expertise in higher education, and integrating Poltava Polytechnic into the European scientific and educational space.
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 Poltava Polytechnic International Relations Coordinator – 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”
