Internationalisation is one of the cornerstones of Lodz University of Technology’s strategy in the areas of research, education and other activities carried out in cooperation with its socio-economic environment.
It is confirmed by over 30 years of active operation of the International Faculty of Engineering (IFE) – an innovative university-wide unit offering 17 fields of study taught in foreign languages.
In 2017, the University established the International Cooperation Centre, whose main task is to dynamically implement the University’s internationalisation strategy and to strongly position TUL as an innovative academic centre on the European Higher Education Map. Since 2023, the “TUL Welcome Point” has also been operating at the University as a one-stop service point for international students and staff, created under the “WelcomeTULodz” project carried out within the Welcome to Poland programme.
TUL is currently developing these activities by joining the “Łódzkie for International Researchers” project implemented together with other key universities in the region (University of Lodz and Medical University of Lodz). The aim of this initiative is to create a long-term strategy to support international researchers, doctoral candidates and their families, among others by developing administrative competences, sharing good practices, supporting residence legalisation and employment procedures, and building a coherent network of institutions. The project also includes the preparation of comprehensive support tools (such as a guide for researchers or a mobile assistant), integration activities and the development of a joint strategy for a friendly academic environment in the Lodz region.
Currently, over 530 international students are enrolled at TUL for a full cycle of studies, and slightly more than 500 students per year choose Lodz University of Technology as their mobility destination within various exchange programmes. TUL students can take part in many forms of mobility and can also obtain a double degree under partnership agreements with prestigious universities in Europe and worldwide. TUL is among the leading universities in terms of student exchange in the Erasmus+ programme and proudly holds the title of a “Mobility-Friendly University”.
It is also the national leader in the number of students going on long-term international summer internships within the IAESTE programme. Since 2000, Lodz University of Technology has served as the national coordinator of the Baltic University Programme, bringing together more than 30 universities in Poland.
TUL’s international cooperation is based on over 470 agreements with partners in more than 80 countries, including MoU agreements and initiatives under the Erasmus+ programme. The area of education is also covered by international cooperation. Collaboration with foreign partners enables the exchange of experience and good practices with representatives of top universities in the world. Access to up-to-date global resources and the latest trends contributes to the implementation of modern learning methods at TUL and allows the University to adapt its curricula to the changing needs and challenges of the global labour market.
The University carries out numerous projects in cooperation with international partners. In 2017, IFE, in cooperation with the Embassy of France in Poland and the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), launched the prestigious long-term project “French Academy of Young Engineer” (FAMI), engaging young people in international projects based on modern technologies and societal challenges.
Lodz University of Technology is a member of the European Society for Engineering Education, which focuses on engineering education in Europe.
TUL holds 14 EUR-ACE® programme accreditations (EUR-ACE Bachelor Label and EUR-ACE Master Label).
It is the only university in Poland that has obtained the international French accreditation HCERES.
In 2022, two programmes delivered in English – Information Technology and Computer Science – received the prestigious ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation, and in 2023 two programmes offered at the Faculty of Chemistry (Chemistry; Chemical Technology) were awarded accreditation by the European Chemistry Thematic Network Association (ECTN).
The TUL Foreign Language Centre holds EAQUALS (Evaluation and Accreditation of Quality in Language Services) accreditation.
In 2021, Lodz University of Technology joined a European consortium of innovative universities. As the only university from Poland, it became a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). Within this network, TUL cooperates with 12 universities from the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Italy and Mexico, which enables scientific and research cooperation and a joint educational offer for students based on micromodules and challenges. ECIU, however, is much more than that. Its goal is to create a new model of a transnational European university based on challenge-driven education and strong cooperation with the socio-economic environment. More information can be found at eciu.p.lodz.pl and eciu.eu.
Internationalisation at TUL is also carried out through international mobility of academic teachers and administrative staff, which is of key importance for the development of professional competences of the University’s employees.