Bialystok University of Technology and FRSE open the Erasmus+ InnHUB Białystok Innovation Centre

22-11-2024

The Erasmus+ InnHUB Białystok Innovation Centre has been officially opened. The centre will provide support for international mobility to students, teachers, researchers, local governments, NGOs, and employers.

The primary role of the Erasmus+ Innovation Hub is to promote European educational programmes and opportunities for obtaining funding for projects aimed at modernising the education system. The InnHUBs also foster the development of professional skills for people of various ages and professions.

– InnHub Bialystok is primarily intended to serve the city, the region, and all potential beneficiaries of the Erasmus+ programme, – said Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of the Bialystok University of Technology.

– One of the key ideas of Erasmus is community integration, which will naturally occur here. It also involves internationalising all aspects of university and school activities, as well as the operations of many organisations eligible for Erasmus+ programmes. These are invaluable opportunities, and we intend to promote them, bring them closer to all interested parties, motivate and inspire participation in the programme. Erasmus+ is often associated with long-term mobility opportunities for students – one or two semesters at a partner university – or shorter stays for teachers and administrative staff. However, Erasmus+ encompasses a wide range of exciting activities that contribute to the development of teaching methods and allow us to standardise certain operational practices. Mobility is essential and unavoidable in our times, so we aim to make it attractive both for those leaving and for those returning.

The Erasmus+ Programme Innovation Hubs serve as regional offices of the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps.

– The choice of Bialystok University of Technology as the location for the Erasmus+ Innovation Hub was obvious, – stated Mirosław Marczewski, General Director of the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE), which serves as the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps. – The university is very active in terms of international cooperation! It has over 350 international agreements with partners across Europe and beyond. A major achievement is its involvement in the European University initiative. Bialystok University of Technology has secured a grant for collaboration between European universities. It also runs a secondary school, which is particularly relevant for Erasmus+, often thought to focus solely on higher education. In reality, Erasmus+ also encompasses school education, vocational training, youth education, and adult education, representing several sectors of the programme.

The official opening of the Erasmus+ Innovation Hub was marked by signatures from Professor Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology, and Mirosław Marczewski, General Director of the Foundation for the Development of the Education System.

– This is a significant day for Bialystok University of Technology, the city of Bialystok, and the entire region, – said Jacek Brzozowski, PhD, Governor of Podlaskie Voivodeship. – It is important that this, the eighth such centre in Poland, has been established at Bialystok University of Technology, and it will serve all those interested in benefiting from the programmes offered by Erasmus+. Previously, these programmes were primarily associated with the academic world. Today, the expanded offering makes these programmes accessible to pupils, students, local government representatives, and employees of NGOs. Poland’s accession to the European Union and the funds that have followed have been a tremendous driver of change for our city, region, and country. I firmly believe that the knowledge, experience, and skills gained by those participating in these new programmes – and their willingness to return and share their expertise – will contribute significantly to the growth of our region and city. My heartfelt congratulations to Bialystok University of Technology, and I look forward to seeing the success of those involved in this centre.

The InnHub Bialystok, located at Bialystok University of Technology, will be open to a wide range of audiences, including pupils, students, teachers, researchers, representatives of local governments, NGOs, employers, and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises. They will find support in utilising opportunities offered by European educational programmes, which could provide a crucial impetus for fostering innovation within their organisations.

Similar Erasmus+ Programme Innovation Hubs are already operating in Gdańsk, Łódź, Opole, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław, and Katowice.

The opening of the Erasmus+ InnHub Bialystok was accompanied by a workshop conference addressing the following topics: