Bialystok University of Technology Co-Creates the Across European University. Inauguration in Chemnitz

The goal of the Across European University is to enhance educational, research, and international cooperation standards among universities from nine countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Italy), as well a partner university in Lviv.

– Together with our partner universities, we aim to develop standards in education, scientific research, and cooperation with the economic environment, – says Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology. – We want to compete with these European standards to truly position ourselves among globally-minded, advanced universities. We have new study programmes, joint degree programmes, and make efforts to establish dual diplomas. Student mobility, faculty exchange, and the sharing of research infrastructure are increasing, enabling the creation of modern solutions tailored to an evolving reality.

Students of Bialystok University of Technology will gain new opportunities for development.

– Students will be able to select courses from a vast catalogue of English-taught classes that interest them—courses that, for example, lead to micro-credentials and earn them ECTS credits as part of their study programme, – explains Assoc. Prof. Dorota Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at Bialystok University of Technology.

– Students will also participate in scientific conferences, internships, and exchanges related to conducting research, – adds Assoc. Prof. Monika Kalinowska, DSc, PhD, from the Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences. – They will have the opportunity to take modular courses at other partner universities, attend online classes, and participate in summer and winter schools. This is a chance to acquire unique skills and experience in an international environment.

Research Collaboration and International Grants

Academic staff will have the opportunity to undertake joint research projects and apply for international grants.

– Thanks to Across, we will be able to apply for funding from the Horizon Europe programme and develop projects that were previously beyond our reach, – says Prof. Marek Krętowski, DSc, PhD, Eng., Vice-Rector for Research at Bialystok University of Technology. – The University of Girona in Spain, the University of Udine in Italy, and the University of Perpignan in France are institutions with significant traditions and achievements, and I am convinced that together we can accomplish much more than we could individually.

The meeting in Chemnitz was also an opportunity to identify key areas of research collaboration.

– First, we need to determine the common research areas for the nine partner universities, and then select those that will be most crucial for us. We have already identified our first partners: the University of Craiova, Nova Gorica, and Banja Luka, – says dr Ewa Zapora from the Department of Silviculture and Forest Utilization at Bialystok University of Technology.

Joint research in environmental protection, biotechnology, and natural products is also planned.

In Chemnitz, the first-ever meeting of the Rectors’ Council of the European University Across took place, where Prof. Gerd Strohmeier, Rector of Chemnitz University of Technology, was elected as chairman.

– We discussed financial matters and the management structure. Another important step was the establishment of the Executive Board, to which two vice-rectors from Bialystok University of Technology—Prof. Dorota Krawczyk and Prof. Katarzyna Halicka—were appointed, – emphasizes Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology.

Participants also discussed the next steps in implementing the Across project.

– Bialystok University of Technology is engaged in all 16 project tasks. We are leading several of them, which means we will oversee and coordinate international teams, – says the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation.

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The staff mobility was funded through the “Across – Transborder European University” project.

The project itself is financed by the European Union through the European Social Development Fund 2021-2027 (FERS) as part of the NAWA program, “Support for European University Alliances,” under project number FERS.01.05-IP.08-0219/23.