Eight female students majoring in 035 “Philology” and 014 “Secondary Education” of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” have been successfully studying for the fifth month under the Erasmus+ credit academic mobility programme at the partner university “1 DECEMBRIE 1918” University of Alba Iulia (city of Alba Iulia, Transylvania, Romania). Future philologists shared their impressions of studying at a Romanian university.
Albina Hrun, a third-year student of the specialty 014 “Secondary Education” of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy says: “The Erasmus programme is always a great chance to expand your horizons, gain the necessary experience as well as priceless memories.
Our trip to Romania made an unforgettable impression on us. From the very first day, we were enchanted by the natural beauty of the country, its mountains and endless valleys. We came as a large group of 15 people (8 philologists and 7 female economists) to the city of Alba Iulia, located in Transylvania. The locals welcomed us very warmly, which helped us to get used to the new place faster. The “1 DECEMBRIE 1918” University of Alba Iulia is located in one of the most picturesque corners of the city, it combines within its walls the rich history of the area and the spirit of youth. The teachers use a communicative method in their work, which helps to improve the level of English, I feel that the language barrier has disappeared and I am no longer afraid to freely express my thoughts in English. As for the dormitory, the living conditions are very comfortable.
The training program includes not only a direct educational component, but also enrichment with cultural values. Thus, we had the opportunity to visit museums and historical reconstructions of the events of the Middle Ages. At the beginning of spring, we were supposed to hold a workshop dedicated to the holiday of Mărțișor – the Romanian celebration of spring. Together with foreign students, we made traditional decorations and got acquainted with the rituals observed by local residents on this day. After that, a welcome event was organized for us, during which we were greeted and given further instructions. Then, for the participants of the Erasmus+ programme, an introduction was held in the form of games and sports, where everyone had a chance to participate in some kind of sports activity together with everyone.
As for excursions, many trips to nature were organized for us, during which we had a good time with our peers from other countries and talked with foreign students. This allowed us to get acquainted not only with the local culture, but also to establish international relations with many other countries. It is worth mentioning such trips as the excursion to Panoramic. This place is located in the mountains, from where you can see the city in all its glory. We enjoyed the fresh mountain air and took a healthy walk. Next, according to the plan, there was a movie night, where everyone could watch their favourite English-language film and then share their impressions with friends.
One of the most memorable trips was a trip to Valisoara at the Castle, Coltesti, and Rimetea. These are all unforgettable places that amaze with their beauty and history. In my opinion, everyone should visit them. For the trip, the university allocated its own bus to make the trip faster and more comfortable for the students. We were also lucky to celebrate Easter together with all Erasmus+ participants. We attended a workshop where we were taught how to dye eggs traditionally in Romanian way. No one left the holiday without painted hands.
At the end of the programme, an Erasmus week was planned, where every day was filled with interesting and educational activities. On Monday, the Romanians presented their culture and traditions, it was interesting to dive deeper into this topic. Yet on Tuesday, we and other foreign students had the opportunity to tell about our countries, to represent the soul of our people. On Wednesday, there was a general marathon, in which everyone had the opportunity to participate and feel the competitive spirit. On Thursday, a “treasure” hunt awaited us together with all the other young people. A trip to nature and listening to our favourite music at a local club was planned for Friday.
In conclusion, I would like to say that everyone who took part in this programme will bring home unforgettable memories that will accompany us for life, experience that will help to better fit into society and climb the career ladder, and most importantly, friendship that started here, and hopefully will last for years. We have to thank the Poltava Polytechnic for this, for such an incredible opportunity to change one’s life and expand one's outlook. I express my sincere gratitude to our coordinator – Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation Anna Kostiantynivna Pavelieva, for her support and help in organizing this exchange program, for timely informational assistance and assistance in new endeavours, since thanks to this project and efforts, many people were able to fundamentally change their lives.”
Kateryna Dudina, a first-year student of the specialty 035 “Philology” shares her own impressions:
“Romania is a country located in South-Eastern Europe, known for its rich history, beautiful landscapes and vibrant culture. My impression of Romania is that it is a country full of contrasts, where modernity and tradition coexist in a unique way.
One of the first things that comes to mind when I tell others about Romania is its stunning natural beauty. From the rocky peaks of the Carpathians to the hills of Transylvania and the crystal clear waters of the Black Sea, Romania’s varied landscapes are truly breath-taking. This natural beauty is complemented by the country’s rich cultural heritage, which can be seen in its historic castles, monasteries and churches.
Another thing that amazes me about Romania is its people. Romanians are warm, friendly and welcoming, always eager to share their culture and traditions with others. Whether through music, dance or food, there is a deep sense of pride in Romania’s heritage shared by its people.
In conclusion, my impression of Romania is as follows: it is a country full of surprises and contrasts. Its natural beauty, rich culture and friendly people make it truly unique and worth coming to study here. These six months of stay in Romania opened up a whole world for me, I found many friends from other countries, learned a lot, improved my intercultural communication skills. I am infinitely grateful to my home Alma Mater for this opportunity!”
Oleksandra Nestoryk, a third-year student of the specialty 035 “Philology”:
“Arriving in Alba Iulia, each of us was excited and full of desire to experience new emotions and get unforgettable impressions.
First of all, of course, we got to know the city and our temporary home, which immediately gave us a feeling of comfort. Then there were meetings with new people, the university and teachers. Each of them made a great impression and we will always keep them in our memory.
Then active study under the Erasmus+ programme began. The teaching methods, the friendly attitude of the teachers towards us as well as the connection between the students became a revelation. The very fact that we receive and process information in English was already something new and impressive, all these emotions motivated and continue to motivate us to studies and work related to the university. I can separately mention our new friends from Erasmus+, they were never wrong in choosing activities and always found ways to give us new experiences.
Of course, this trip brought us together with people whom we can now undoubtedly call our friends. Remembering that we all come from different countries, cultures and families makes our relationships even more valuable because we learn from each other every day.
Romania is an incredible country. It takes your breath away when you encounter the beauty of its nature, when you walk along old streets, visit majestic castles, meet kind and open people, when you taste the most delicious pastries in the world and learn the details of the rich history of this country. Now each of us will have a place where we can come and really feel “at home”. I am extremely happy that I got the chance to study in Romania for a whole semester! Indeed, Poltava Polytechnic is a space of opportunities!”
Valeriia Syvak, a third-year student of the specialty 035 “Philology”:
“First of all, I want to thank the university for organizing such an exchange, as in this difficult time for our country, quality education is the most valuable investment in the future of the country!
During these six months in Romania, we had time to get acquainted with the culture, traditions, and mentality of Romania, as well as with other participants from different countries: Moldova, Algeria, Turkey, Palestine, Iran, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Greece, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Morocco, and now they all now know about Ukraine.
We like studying at the university, because thanks to the help of teachers and student volunteers, we quickly adapted. There is a different student evaluation system, and the teaching is different in general, the classes are a little different from what we are used to, so we have the opportunity to try something new and compare different education systems.
“1 DECEMBRIE 1918” University of Alba Iulia cooperates very actively with various universities around the world within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme, many Erasmus students come to them, and they also send many of their students abroad. I am glad that our university is also an active participant in the Erasmus+ programme, because it will help to spread information about Ukraine, and, of course, it will help us, students, to develop and realise ourselves.
Many interesting activities, workshops, excursions and bright events are organized for us, thanks to which we have the opportunity to get to know each other better. The university even has an “Erasmus+” youth organization led by the president and vice-president and volunteers, which was much unexpected for us.
Recently, we took part in “Erasmus+ Week”, during which we proudly presented our country. We prepared an interesting speech about our traditions, cuisine and picturesque places, sang a rousing song and conducted a quiz-test with small gifts that will remind everyone of Ukraine. During the whole week we had some events, concerts, quests and lectures, so we were never bored here.
We also try to travel around Romania, visit neighbouring cities and popular places.
We live in dormitories, which, by the way, are very comfortable. It's nice that the administrator always tries to help us solve some of our problems and always goes to meet us. The dorm has washers and dryers and they are free, which is great of course, each room has its own kitchen and bathroom, so there is no queuing or waiting.
Romania has opened up to us from another side, it is a picturesque country with friendly and hospitable people, and we are very glad that we have the opportunity to be here and now. Thanks to Poltava Polytechnic for such an incredible opportunity!”
Earlier, Poltava Polytechnic scientists successfully completed an internship under the Erasmus+ programme on the basis of a Romanian partner university, a philology student became a participant in a youth exchange dedicated to inclusion in Romania, female students participating in the Second International Virtual School shared their impressions of studying at a leading Polish university, and participants in the academic mobility programme in Greenland talked about studying and getting to know the cultural flavour of the country, female students of the specialty 076 “Enterprise, trade and exchange activity” study the activities of European business brands, studying under the academic exchange programme at a Romanian university, female Polytechnic students study under the Erasmus+ academic exchange programme at the Bialystok University of Technology.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
