From 9 to 13 of October 2023, at the University of Bielsko-Biala was held the International Week addressing the topic of Education that develops competences and skills of the students.

Our University was visited by representatives of various higher educational institutions from: Bulgaria (University of Veliko Tarnovo), Czechia (University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice), Estonia (Tallinn University of Technology), Germany (Technische Hochschule Brandenburg), Hungary (University of Sopron), Malta (University of Malta), Slovakia (Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra), Slovenia (Business school Erudio), Spain (IES Gabriel Miró, IES Antonio Serna Serna, University of León) and Türkiye (Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Konya Technical University, Malatya Turgut Ozal University, Pamukkale University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University).

The main goal of the event was to deepen the international co-operation with the partner universities, establishing new contacts with higher educational institutions, developing joint student exchange programmes, as well as exchange of experience in the scope of education and discussing the best practices.

Within the framework of the International Week, there was a series of workshops and panels concerning distance learning, development of digital competencies, university activities regarding improving qualifications through short-term trainings and aimed at adapting the study offer to dynamically changing labour market. The University of Bielsko-Biala was represented mostly by the Erasmus+ programme coordinators, researchers and teachers of the faculties and employees of the International Relations Office, who presented the educational offer and scope of research interest areas of the faculties. During the event, there was also a possibility to learn about the educational offer of foreign universities participating in the International Week.

As an effect of the meetings, two courses of BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) type, intended for the students of the University of Bielsko-Biala and the partner universities, have been developed: “The key competences in the early childhood education” (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) and “Biofuels and Biochemicals from Waste Materials” (Faculty of Materials, Civil and Environmental Engineering). These short-term training programmes, within the framework of the mixed mobility of the Erasmus+ programme, are to be realised as soon as in November and December 2023. Moreover, a three-month interfaculty holiday traineeship programme has been prepared, starting in June 2024.

The event was organised by the Institutional Coordinator of the Erasmus+ Programme, mgr. Aleksandra Hasior, and International Relations Office, and was financed by the Erasmus+ programme funds.

We cordially thank the authorities of the University, of all faculties and all researchers and teachers who got involved in the organisation work, the workshops, and taking care of the guests of our University.