A celebratory event was held to mark the occasion, bringing together representatives from the education sector, public institutions and organisations supporting the development of educational initiatives. Among the guests were also representatives of the Lodz Academic Partnership.
During the press conference, attended by the Rector, Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik, the Vice-President of the city of Lodz, Adam Pustelnik, the Lodz Voivodeship Assembly Councillor Maciej Riemer, Mirosław Marczewski, Director General of FRSE, and the Director of the International Cooperation Centre, Assoc. Prof. Dorota Piotrowska, all the speakers emphasised the importance of the Erasmus programme and the new space in which it is popularised and promoted.
The newly created space aims to build a bridge between the Lodz community and the various sectors of the Erasmus+ programme, such as youth, sport and adult learning. The idea is to open up the university and the Erasmus programme to different groups and institutions in Lodz and the region, so that international mobility is not only available to students and academic staff.
The Erasmus+ InnHUB Regional Innovation Centres, already operating in eight Polish cities, have been successfully cooperating with universities, local government units, vocational training centres, schools, NGOs and businesses for years. As part of this cooperation, meetings, training courses, consultations and other events are organised during which the offer of the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps is promoted.
The event also saw the presentation of a new space - Welcome Point TUL, a unit supporting foreign visitors to the university. Its aim is to facilitate adaptation in the new academic and urban environment and to provide comprehensive information on paperwork, daily life and integration into the university community.
Prof. Piotrowska emphasised that by creating this place, we want to show that our university is an open and friendly space for talents from all over the world. Their presence enriches our community and contributes to the international development not only of Lodz University of Technology, but also of the entire Lodz region.
As part of the ceremony, an information meeting was held on key aspects of the Erasmus+ programme, the European Solidarity Corps and other educational initiatives supported by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE). Particular emphasis was placed on the region's internationalisation strategy and opportunities for cross-sectoral cooperation.
The opening panel discussion, which focused on the region's internationalisation strategy from the perspective of the Lodz Academic Partnership, was very interesting. The moderator was Mirosław Marczewski, Director General of FRSE, and the following shared their thoughts and experiences: the Rector of TUL, Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik, and the Vice-Rectors: Prof. Lucyna Woźniak of MUL, Dr. Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna Mąka-Malatyńska, and Dr. Tomasz Kawełczyk of the Academy of Fine Arts.