1. Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university; teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Melina Ahmetović, Deputy Manager, Student Affairs Office, International University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

 

2. Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3. Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

I decided to apply for Erasmus + in order to learn more about Erasmus + projects, exchange working experiences and meet new people and cultures.

 

4. Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

Mobility was great opportunity to meet people from other universities and find potential partner universities for future projects, as well as the detailed presentation and works shop regarding the mobility projects, what was very beneficial for development of future project at our institution.

 

5.Why would you recommend it to others?

 

I would recommend the program to others firstly because of the opportunity to widen the specter of understanding the others and sharing the experiences with the representatives from the other institutions around the Europe/world, and second thing is definitely meeting new people and visiting new places.

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Vladimir Sakhelashvili, Head of the administration, University Administration, Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani Teaching University (Georgia)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

I decided to apply in the Erasmus+ programme because I found it as an opportunity to strengthen contacts with the host and other partner institutions, staff in order to increase further cooperation; discuss and prepare various future inter alia ERASMUS+ activities.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

I liked the organization of the training which was of high standard. Provided detailed guidance to participants through the whole process of training from the KUL staff was of utmost importance.

I got to know to the good practice and problems regarding implementation of Erasmus+ project in the KUL what will help us to avoid obstacles and increase effectiveness of our cooperation in this sphere.

Crash course in Polish language and culture was amazing, had fun with other participants. Gained knowledge helped me to better communicate with locals. I took a lot of pleasant impressions with me about this wonderful country from the fascinating cultural programme.

Established contact with other participating Universities are invaluable. Hope to work with them to elaborate some interesting projects.

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

 

It is a unique opportunity to meet new people from different countries who work in the High Education sphere, get to know and share good practice and problems, experience, develop new initiatives with them.

It is an opportunity to gain a lot on personal and professional levels.

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Igal Sheinis, Vice President, Gordon Academic College of Education (Israel)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for

teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

• cooperation with academic institutions from all over the world
• sharing knowledge

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

• expanding horizons, new working relationships
• options for cooperation between academic institutions

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

• expanding our horizons and receiving new professional tools that can be used within the organization

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Shachar Tabib, purchasing manager, Gordon Academic College of Education (Israel)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

First to improve foreign skills, to meet new people, to recognize an academic institution outside my country’s borders, to recognize a different country and culture.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

First, I was privileged to meet amazing people from different countries and present them the college I represent during the exchange of the mobility team and to create an opportunity for future cooperation between the various institutions despite the distance between the two countries. I was also exposed to a different academic institution and a different culture.

 

5.Why would you recommend it to others?

 

I would recommend that in the Erasmus+ programme you have the opportunity to meet people from different countries and cultures, to meet other academic institutions around the world and to create international connections between the various institutions and the possibility of combining tours during the Erasmus+.

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Tatiana Savin, Vice-Dean, Faculty of International Relations, Political Science and Journalism, Free International University of Moldova (ULIM).

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

Erasmus+ program is an effective way to get new professional knowledge and skills, to learn from European partners’ experience, to make new contacts and interact with peers from abroad, and reinforce existent cooperation with John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

I have spent five working days at KUL and it was a fruitful experience. I met many people who are involved in similar activities and we could share our own good practices, exchange information, and discuss challenges we meet in the field. There is always room for improvement, and I think that together we could make a better work in the field of higher education management and content. We also focused on future common activities and tried to find ways to enlarge cooperation between our institutions.

 It was my plesure to take part in cultural activities organized by the partner university, and I am glad I got to know and understand Polish society and culture.

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

 

It was the first time I participated in the Erasmus + program and I can firmly declare that this is an effective way to exchange experience and make changes in the higher education in the EU’s neighboring countries. I will strongly recommend students and staff to apply for an Erasmus + mobility in order to enrich their knowledge, experience, and their professional horizon; to get new friends, to learn from others, and to understand European countries specific and culture.

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Marta Sydoruk, Head of International Relations Office, Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University (Lutsk, Ukraine)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3. Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

This is a great opportunity to establish more effective cooperation between both Partners, to know more  about our partner institution KUL, the structure and tasks of the IRO, and to improve knowledge of the Polish language and to get acquainted with the Polish realities.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

I exchanged of the experience and good practices connected with the student and staff international mobility. Particular focus was placed on cooperation within the Erasmus+ programme. KUL colleagues shared their experience concerning administration and management of the international learning mobility of individuals within Erasmus+ project. I compared Erasmus+ procedures at both universities and improved personal skills in terms of international cooperation. I have also enjoyed a wonderful cultural programme, thanks to well organized staff training week at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

 

I strongly recommend for others to participate in Erasmus+ programme. It is a wonderful opportunity for representatives from EU and non-EU countries to get a lot of new experience and spend time in friendly environment.

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Eduard Balashov, Director of International Relations and Fundraising Department, National University of Ostroh Academy (Ukraine)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

• To learn the best practices of Erasmus+ programme implementation at KUL (Lublin, Poland);
• To add to the internationalization strategy of my home University;
• To strengthen cooperation with KUL and the universities from other countries;
• To participate in the international week for staff training.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

• Excellent chance to learn different aspects of Erasmus+ programmes implementation from the leading University (KUL);
• Great opportunity to share own challenges and successes in implementation of Erasmus+ international mobility programmes;
• Fine occasion to establish new links to future cooperation with new international partners in many areas of common interest in higher education;
• Great possibility for the participant to culturally enrich themselves from the host University/ country (KUL/ Poland).

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

 

The Erasmus+ staff mobility for training programme fits exactly to the concept of internationalization of my home University. Such training week helps to discuss the problems and positive outcomes of the international mobility programmes and share own experience of their implementation in different countries. These activities allow Universities to learn from each other and share own best experiences. I consider such activities to be the invaluable tool for non-formal staff learning about the international aspects of higher education.

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Yaroslav Redkva, PhD, Associate Professor; Vice Dean, Research and International Relations; Head, Center for Slavic Studies, Philology Faculty; Polish Programmes and Erasmus+ Senior Coordinator at International Relations Office; Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (Ukraine)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

As Polish Programmes and Erasmus+ Senior Coordinator at International Relations Office at my home university, I had to take part in one of the European Union Universities that take part in Erasmus+ programme to implement the same measures in my home university so that our students and professors could take part in the programme.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

At John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, I gain positive experience about all programmes of Erasmus+ both for professors’ and students’ mobilities. I really liked a wonderful work of International Office at KUL, and specifically I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Tomasz Kostecki, Head of International Exchange Section of International Relations Office at university and his colleague Magdalena Kiczuk.

I had a number of meetings at the faculty of Humanities (Dean, PhD, Prof. KUL Magdalena Charzyńska-Wójcik, Vice Dean, PhD, Prof. KUL Dariusz Skórczewski); Department of Ukrainian Literature of the Institute of Slavic Studies (dr Albert Nowacki; dr Dagmara Nowacka); Director of the Institute of Polish Philology (Prof., PhD Mirosława Ołdakowska- Kuflowa); Section for Structural Funds of the Department of Research Support and University Development (dr Kamil Dębiński); Director of the Institute of Slavonic Studies (Prof., PhD Maria Mocarz-Kleindienst); Department of Polish (Prof. KUL dr hab. Henryk Duda, Department Head); Director of School of Polish Language and Culture (Cezary Ruta); Head of International Relations Office (Zdzisław Cieszkowski); Department of Commercial Administrative Law (dr hab., Prof. KUL Magdalena Pyter, Department Head) and others from whom I am very grateful. These people are very qualified professionals and it was my pleasure to speak to them.

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

 

Erasmus+ is a wonderful opportunity for both students and professors from EU and non-EU countries to visit, to exchange their experiences, their syllabi and do joint research, and of course, learn about the culture and language of the country they visit.

In my opinion, KUL is the university that can integrate and implement European programmes, including Erasmus+, and that is why it is duly called “Gate to the East”. This positive experience I shall implement in my university.

 

 

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Elizabeth T. Kenney, PhD. Executive Director, Center for Research and Creative Activities, Assistant Dean, Research and Graduate Studies. Salem State University (USA)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

We are very excited to participate in Erasmus+ because of the expanding possibilities for multiple types of collaborations and partnerships, from the individual level to the university and multi-university level, even beyond the exchange of students and faculty.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

First I have to say that the whole training experience excellent; extremely well-designed and well-run. It was particularly exciting to meet and train with participants from several different countries. We formed connections that will certainly result in new types of partnerships and exchanges at many levels. I became familiar with universities and programs of which I was not previously aware; additionally, I learned about the eagerness of university faculties and individual scholars to collaborate on research and publications.

For example, I will be following up by encouraging our faculty to collaborations with Social Sciences faculty at KUL for research and to consider submitting articles to their journals. I am better placed to encourage our faculty and students to engage in the exchanges.

The structure of activities allowed for good variety; I appreciated the combination formal presentations and information along with informal meals and opportunities to socialize. The KUL staff was marvelously helpful and supportive. I also learned to speak a little bit of Polish which I hope to use on another visit to Poland!  

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

 

This is an incredibly valuable opportunity to learn about new institutional opportunities, to exchange ideas and best practices with administrators from a variety of types of institutions. You will encounter possibilities that you might not have imagined and make personal and professional connections that might not be possible in another context.

 

 

1.Your personal data (students: name, surname/field of study/ home university;  teaching/training staff: name, surname/ position/ department/ home university)

 

Rev. Prof. Patrick Mwania Musau, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Tangaza University College (Kenya)

 

2.Which activity did you participate in (student mobility for studies, staff mobility for teaching, staff mobility for training)?

 

staff mobility for training

 

3.Why did you decide to apply in the Erasmus+ programme?

 

We are collaborating with KUL and Erasmus+ programme helped to facilitate the collaboration conveniently.

 

4.Your personal experience/what did you like about your mobility/what did you gain thanks to it?

 

It was an excellent experience. I learned a lot from our partners in KUL.

 

5. Why would you recommend it to others?

 

I would recommend it because it is a rare opportunity to improve teaching and research skills and administrative opportunities.