Over the course of two days, representatives from the National Agency of the Erasmus+ Program and the European Solidarity Corps will be providing information about funding opportunities for international projects. The next calls for proposals under the Program, whose 2023 budget is estimated at nearly €3.4 billion, have already been scheduled for February and March.
TUL Rector, professor Krzysztof Jóźwik, who attended the opening of the Erasmus+ InnHUB Łódź, explained that
‘the hub will provide a link between the Agency and the Łódzkie and Świętokrzyskie Voivodeships. Mobility is only one aspect of the Erasmus+ program. The range of opportunities it provides is much broader and varied’.
Bartosz Stawiarz, director of the FRSE Office for Cooperation with the Regions, said ‘There is something for everyone'. The Erasmus+ program promises great benefits not only for Poland and Europe, but also for the world, with 150 countries already participating and the budget for 2021-2027 of €30 billion available for institutions, universities, schools, companies, associations and local government agencies to support innovation.
Erasmus+ also enables participation in educational projects, building and strengthening international cooperation networks, and fostering synergies between business and academia. ‘We believe in the potential of regional innovation centres’ Bartosz
Stawiarz argued,
‘They are intended to set example hoe Erasmus+ can be utilized to increase innovation across various sectors of the economy, stimulating others at the same time to get involved and take advantage of the opportunities the program offers’.
The Erasmus+ Innovation Centre InnHUB in Łódź shall primarily focus on funding opportunities for innovative projects to build an education system fit for the times and supporting development of professional competences for people of different age.
‘We want to provide support for our communities in adapting to the needs of the economic environment and the changing job market’ Rector Krzysztof Jóźwik explained.
Professor Jóźwik believes that the university social responsibility is realized not only through providing for the younger generation, but also for those who have long left the walls of the university. As an example, the rector referred to Bełchatów district, where rapid retraining and reskilling of thousands of people may be required due to the power generation transformation. The Erasmus + InnHUB in Łódź can be instrumental in effecting it.
Centre for International Cooperation director, dr inż. Dorota Piotrowska went on to add that
‘this initiative will lead to the development of a new learning ecosystem. Innovation worked out in the process shall be applied to different levels and different groups of learners. One innovation resulting from an international project e-close has already been introduced: a system of 'digital badges' awarded to confirm that a learner has achieved a small set of competences validated by the university.