From October 2023, Sofiia Shypa, a fourth-year bachelor’s student majoring in Management of Organizations at Lviv Polytechnic National University, has been studying at the Wroclaw University of Economics under the Erasmus+ student academic mobility programme. Education is free of charge, and the European Union pays a scholarship and covers the student’s travel expenses.
Sofia says that for her this is an opportunity not only for education, but also for personal development and the discovery of new opportunities:
«I visited Wrocław before my academic mobility and immediately fell in love with the city. The similarity with Lviv is striking, although it is not surprising, since Wrocław and Lviv are connected historically. That is why the adaptation to the new place was quick and imperceptible.
One of the most difficult aspects of my stay in Wrocław was the fear of speaking English. Due to the lack of practice and the worry of saying something incorrectly, it was difficult for me to start a conversation or make acquaintances. At the first meeting with the other programme participants, all worries dissipated, and I realized that it is important to just talk. In fact, there are many people who are also afraid to speak English, all with different levels of language proficiency, but all communicate, help and support each other. The atmosphere of support and friendliness is impressive, daily communication with students and teachers from different countries of the world helps to improve language skills, so I felt the result immediately. The university also offers the opportunity to attend Polish language courses. I took advantage of this opportunity, because knowledge of the Polish language not only helps to broaden my horizons, but it is also an integral element of life in Poland. Knowing the basic phrases will help and make your stay here easier.
Studying at Wroclaw University is more difficult than in Lviv, but very interesting. This is due to the fact that all classes are held in English, so I have to spend much more time preparing and learning the material. It requires more concentration and self-discipline. In Poland, the curriculum is more focused on developing practical skills through various projects. In Wrocław, projects are the main part of learning (group and individual projects are planned), and students are given enough time to complete them, so it is important to properly manage time and meet deadlines.
The Erasmus+ programme is not only about learning, but also about new experiences, acquaintances, meetings and continuous development. Despite the academic load, there is still time for travel and self-development. During my mobility, I traveled a lot in Poland, visited new cities, studied their culture and history. It is important to note that the great advantage of Wroclaw is its location: in just a few hours you can be in other European cities.
Moving to Wroclaw was a challenge for me that gave me the opportunity to test myself and my skills in a new environment. Every day here is a new opportunity. My stay in Wrocław continues, and every day here brings new impressions and discoveries. This is an experience I would recommend to any student. Although it is not always easy, my impressions and experience are invaluable. The Erasmus+ programme is a step into a world of new opportunities, and I am grateful to be a part of this program».
It should be noted that Sofiia’s participation in the program was made possible thanks to the efforts of the employees of the Department of Management of Organizations, the Institute of Economics and Management, Lviv Polytechnic, – the Head, Professor Oleh Karyi and Professor Oleksii Druhov, as well as due to the responsible work of the employees of the Center for International Education of our University.
In 2024, students of the Department of Management of Organizations will be able to go to the University of Latvia and study there under the Erasmus+ academic mobility programme.
