Sofia Babich, a first-year student of the “Marketing” program at Yuri Kondratyuk National University, Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic, completed her participation in the significant Erasmus+ Youth Exchange titled “Only Tolerance”, marking a crucial stage in her professional and personal growth. The exchange took place from December 1 to 9, 2025, in the picturesque Polish village of Biały Dunajec, nestled in the heart of the scenic Tatra region. The project's main conceptual framework aimed to consolidate the principles of tolerance and deep respect for diversity, and to stimulate constructive international dialogue among young people from different countries.
The exchange brought together active youth from four participating countries: Romania, Poland, Ireland, and Ukraine, ensuring a high degree of cultural enrichment throughout the entire program. Over nine days, the young leaders worked in mixed international teams, where the exchange of professional and life experiences became a daily practice, helping everyone better understand and integrate their colleagues' cultural specifics.
The academic part of the program was rich in specialised training sessions and practical workshops designed to develop communication competencies, strengthen critical thinking skills, and enhance the effectiveness of teamwork. Special attention was given to integrating elements of the theatrical arts, which were used as a tool for deconstructing social stereotypes and developing the ability to articulate one's position. Through active engagement in role-playing games, improvisation sessions, and various creative exercises, participants demonstrated significant progress in developing empathy, strengthening self-confidence, and fostering openness to all forms of intercultural dialogue.
In parallel with the training work, intercultural evenings played a significant role in team cohesion. These events served as platforms for representatives of each country to present the richness of their national heritage, including elements of national cuisine, traditional music, and dance, thereby fostering an atmosphere of sincere mutual respect and strong friendship – the foundation of true tolerance.
Sofia Babych’s participation in this Erasmus+ project is a clear confirmation of the university's successful strategy for international cooperation and for promoting students' personal growth. It is worth noting that organisational support and coordination from the Ukrainian side were provided by the non-governmental organisation NGO “Vzayemopomich”. This experience not only equipped her with practical skills but also confirmed the fundamental thesis that learning without geographical or cultural borders opens up the broadest opportunities for the development of active and responsible youth ready for the challenges of a globalised world.
Recently, Pavlo Yavtushenko, a second-year Master’s student specializing in 014 “Secondary Education (English Language and Literature)”, became a participant in the Erasmus+ training course titled “The Power of Sportsmanship”, Poltava Polytechnic Student Valentyna Mytsenko Participated in an Erasmus+ Training in Poland, a master’s student at Poltava Polytechnic participated in an Erasmus+ youth exchange in Malta; Poltava Polytechnic teachers studied innovative digital tools and artificial intelligence in STEM education in Estonia; and a future translator took part in an Erasmus+ youth exchange in Georgia, where she learned to counter discrimination and stereotypes.
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 contact the International Relations Office (office 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua).
