Representatives of the European Information Centers Network of Ukraine learned about European education in Wroclaw
The purpose of the visit was to improve knowledge of the representatives of European Information Centers of Ukraine about European education, with Poland as an example.
During the week-long study visit, consultants of the European Information Centers visited organizations that implement European educational projects and exchanges, and learned about European education in Wroclaw University, Graduate School of Banking, University of Economics, Wroclaw University of Technology and Graduate School of Management “Edukacja”. Participants of the visit also met Ukrainian students that receive education in Wroclaw, with the assistance of “Teraz Wrocław” project, and participated in the discussion “Advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad”. They also had an opportunity to attend Employment Fair at the Wroclaw University of Economics, which provides students and graduates with information about directions of development of financial, IT and manufacturing sectors, and serves as a source of internships, training programs and employment offers for graduates in Europe.
Ukrainian guests learned about experience of educational institutions for school students, university students and pensioners in the office of “Teraz Wrocław” project, Meeting House named after Angelus Silesius and Wroclaw Center for supporting NGOs Sektor3.
It is worth mentioning that Promotion Bureau and Department of Public Affairs of Wroclaw Municipality provide great support to the implementation of European education and promotion of the city. Nadiya Sokolova, one of the participants of the visit, mentioned, “Attitude of the city administration to promotion of the city is really impressive. They not only carry out some activities, they have a complex strategy for promoting Wroclaw; they created a brand with a full set of different attributes, starting with the slogan “Wroclaw – the meeting place” and ending in a wide range of things that can be seen only in this city. And this indeed can be learned and used in Ukraine, in places we live”.
Nataliya Datchenko, coordinator of the European Information Center in Luhansk, member of the Network of European Information Centers and expert of the Sustainable Development Agency of Luhansk region, noted, “This study tour was very significant for me in that I realized what exactly “Teraz Wroclaw” project is doing and how educational institutions of this modern city Wroclaw work. It can be really testified that by choosing studying in Wroclaw, young Ukrainians choose the path of modern, deep European education. We were all impressed by the level of training of Ukrainian students, of different admission years, who study at different universities in Wroclaw. We could communicate with them during joint debates organized for our group. I was very impressed by one student of political science who has been studying in Wroclaw University for several years, by her conscious approach to her own studies. She seems to have not only a plan for her studies, but future career as a diplomat. It is a very European approach, to know why you spend your time and such efforts! The general conclusion I made after this study visit is that we need to talk about studying opportunities in Wroclaw. People are looking for such information. However, we should not underestimate the potential of Ukrainian educational institutions. For those who nevertheless chooses Wroclaw for obtaining higher education, I recommend to consult the project “Teraz Wrocław”. The project employs very professional and friendly people who are oriented towards providing free consulting help”.
Participants of the visit and representatives of the “Teraz Wrocław” project agreed that the next step in cooperation for the promotion of European education in Ukraine will be conduct of the Week of European education by the Network of European Information Centers, with information support of the “Teraz Wrocław” project, in November 2010. Detailed information will soon be available at http://ukrcei.org.
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Project “Study tour of representatives of European Information Centers to Wroclaw” is implemented by a non-governmental organization “Vinnytsia regional center of information “Kreatyv”, under the auspices of the Network of European Information Centers, with the financial support of the European Program of the International Renaissance Foundation, “Teraz Wrocław” project and Promotion Bureau of Wroclaw Municipality.
Network of European Information Centers of Ukraine is a voluntary association of European Information Centers that provide access to information resources and conduct education and information activities aimed at promoting knowledge on European integration of Ukraine. At present, the Network unites 15 centers, created with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation in 2005-2008, and a center based in Kremenchuk information center “European Club”. Web portal of the Network of European Information Centers of Ukraine – http://ukrcei.org, e-mail: ukrcei@gmail.com
“Teraz Wrocław” project is a non-profit project launched in 2006 on the initiative of the municipality and universities of Wroclaw (Poland). The main goal of the action is to invite young people from Eastern Europe to study at Wroclaw higher educational institutions, and inform about admission conditions and studying. Website: www.study-in-wroclaw.pl
