To erase the borders on the map and in the mind, to turn the dream of European education into reality and to return home with an invaluable baggage of knowledge and impressions – this is the way Karyna Kalnyk and Tetiana Holub, second-year students of the Educational and Research Institute of Finance, Economics, Management and Law of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, went through. For a year, they were not just students, but ambassadors of Polytechnic in the heart of Europe, studying under the Erasmus+ credit academic mobility program at University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna. Their impressions of their studies are vivid stories about how practical education changes thinking, how life in one of the most comfortable cities in the world – Vienna – inspires, and how international experience gives confidence and opens up new horizons.
Karyna Kalnyk, a second-year student majoring in Marketing, says:
“I have already completed the 2nd semester at University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna. This semester was full of new experiences, traveling and warm weather!
At the beginning of the semester, Erasmus Student Network organized a Welcome week, where we had the opportunity to get acquainted, find friends and attend interesting events. Various events were held throughout the semester, from picnics by the river to museum visits and trips to different countries, so we were never bored during our studies and could always find something to do.
Life in Austria is very comfortable. Vienna has a very convenient public transportation system, so you can get from one corner of the city to the other easily and relatively quickly. I would also like to mention the cultural life of the city. Every season, various fairs or festivals are held on the main square, for example, a film festival is starting soon, where everyone can watch different movies for free. You can also often attend various Ukrainian events, for example, in January I attended a performance of Kyiv Theater.
In Vienna, you can live even with a basic level of German, almost everyone speaks English and tries to help you.
The learning process is different from what we are used to, because BFI Vienna is an applied institution where the main emphasis is on practical skills. The learning atmosphere is very relaxed and inspiring. We often did group assignments, which allowed us to interact with different people. The teachers try to make each class interesting by using real-life examples from global companies. For example, during one of the classes, we pretended to be CEOs of Louis Vuitton and had to think of solutions to specific problems of the company.
Studying at University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna has greatly improved my communication skills, I have integrated living on my own and have learned a lot of economic English terms.”
Tetiana Holub, a second-year student majoring in International Economic Relations, shares her impressions:
“My Erasmus+ study in Austria has come to an end – an exciting journey that will always remain in my heart.
It was an incredible experience that opened up many new opportunities and provided me with valuable knowledge.
For 10 months, I immersed myself in the world of economics, finance, accounting, and investments and, at the same time, had the opportunity to combine my studies with travel – during this time I explored five different countries! Each trip is a separate story filled with new experiences and inspiration.
Although it was not easy to find close friends at first, I met sincere and kind people who supported me and helped me in important moments.
In the second semester, it became easier to study – I got used to the learning system, understood the rules and teaching approaches. I was especially impressed by the teachers: they were open, friendly, positive and inspired by their work. Communication with them inspired me to learn and develop even more in different directions.
Today I feel confident in my knowledge and can proudly say that I have achieved a lot. The education I received at the Fachhochschule des BFI Vienna opens up prospects for me in a variety of fields.
The Austrian education system is different from ours – it puts a lot of emphasis on independent learning, and students work on significant part of the material at home. At the same time, some subjects have strict attendance control: if you miss more than 30% of classes, the number of attempts to pass the exam is reduced. But there are also nice bonuses, such as the opportunity to take the exam three times, which is really convenient and motivating.
During my travels, I was amazed by the cultural diversity of Europe: the architecture of Milan was amazing, the prices in Budapest were a pleasant surprise, and the beauty of Prague was simply breathtaking. And this is only a part of the places that will remain in my memory for a long time.
I am sincerely grateful to National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” for the unique opportunity to study abroad, to develop my knowledge and skills, to get to know the world and myself.
Thanks to this chance, I was able to realize my dream of studying in English at a European university.”
The stories of Karyna and Tetiana are a vivid proof that academic mobility is not just an opportunity to study in another country, but a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Their experience in Vienna demonstrates how immersion in a new cultural and educational environment builds independence, develops communication skills, and opens up a global perspective on the chosen specialty.
Poltava Polytechnic is proud of its students, who represent the university with dignity in the international arena and inspire others not to be afraid to take a step forward. The administration of Polytechnic will continue to actively support the aspirations of young people to integrate into the world educational space, because a modern specialist is a specialist without borders.
“Every time our students return from mobility programs, I see in their eyes not only new knowledge but also new confidence. The stories of Karyna and Tetiana are stories about the courage to dream and act. They prove that the world is much closer than it seems, and that language and culture are not barriers, but rather bridges to new opportunities. My main message to students is: don’t wait for the perfect moment. Come, take an interest, prepare your documents. We are here to help you take the first step towards your great European adventure,” says Anna Pavelieva, coordinator of international activities at Poltava Polytechnic.
You can read about Tetiana Holub and Karyna Kalnyk's first impressions of participating in the academic mobility program here.
You can learn more about the experience of studying at this university last academic year by Mariia Bovkun, a student of Poltava Polytechnic, here and here.
It should be noted that Poltava Polytechnic teachers can participate in academic mobility programmes and internships, and students of Poltava Polytechnic have the opportunity to study abroad under the grant programmes 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 on current internship, teaching and academic mobility programmes abroad, please contact the International Relations Department (room 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the Coordinator of International Cooperation of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation Anna Kostiantynivna Pavelieva (email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +3-8-(095)-91-08-192).
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National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
