About Sustainable Construction and Urban Development during the International Summer School at Bialystok University of Technology

Students and lecturers from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Argentina, the USA, Croatia, Kazakhstan, India and Poland attended the International Summer School at Bialystok University of Technology.

– We are learning how to change the space around us to make it more user-friendly and accessible for people, as well as more environmentally friendly and respectful of nature – says Esteban Gonzalez Gomez, a student from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid in Spain.

The summer campus at Bialystok University of Technology is aimed at students from various fields: construction, energy, architecture, environmental engineering, or ecology. In addition to lectures and workshops, the participants explored Bialystok and the Podlasie region.

– I know the general goals of sustainable development from my studies, but here at Bialystok University of Technology, I am discovering their practical application in construction and urban space – says Abby Sinclaire Wilson, a student of the University of Bologna (Italy). – I also found out that Bialystok is truly a wonderful city and reflects what we are learning in class.

An international space for knowledge exchange

Bialystok University of Technology has been organising international summer schools on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals for nearly 8 years. The initiative brings together students and lecturers from many countries, making it a truly international and interdisciplinary space for exchange.

The initiative perfectly aligns with the mission of the European University ACROSS, which Bialystok University of Technology co-creates with higher education institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Italy, as well as a university in Lviv (Ukraine).

– A competent academic staff, great atmosphere, motivated students and kind hosts – all this makes me consider this educational project of Bialystok University of Technology a success – says Assoc. Prof. Miroslav Malinović, PhD, from the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy of the University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina). – I believe that our alliance within the European University ACROSS will further strengthen these efforts and that there will be even more participants at next year’s summer campus.

Sustainable development in education and research

The International Summer School at Bialystok University of Technology supports academic mobility and the development of competences in the spirit of sustainable development.

– In times of rapidly advancing technologies, we want to provide students with modern teaching methods – emphasises Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Rector of Bialystok University of Technology. – The Sustainable Development Goals, including the requirements for reducing the carbon footprint, energy efficiency or access to green areas in public spaces, are topics that need to be constantly developed and promoted. The demands in this area are increasing, but fortunately – awareness is also growing, and the vast majority of us are now choosing a more sustainable lifestyle.

Bialystok University of Technology is actively developing research topics related to sustainable development in construction and the concept of green cities. This aligns with the university’s overall strategy and the implementation process of the sustainable development mission called ‘My Green University’. Bialystok University of Technology is the first university in the region to systematically implement ESG standards. This demonstrates the university’s strategic approach to environmental issues, which also permeates scientific research.

Skills for the future

The programme of the 2025 International Summer School at Bialystok University of Technology included topics related to the design of sustainable buildings and urban spaces, presentations of innovative solutions used in different countries, and group work on real ecological challenges. Lectures and practical classes were delivered by an international team of experts, including researchers from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences at Bialystok University of Technology. Meetings were also held with representatives of companies that use environmentally friendly technologies: KAN-therm and FPP Enviro.

Participants also developed soft skills: intercultural communication, teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. They had the opportunity to discover the culture and cuisine of the Podlasie region. They visited Bialystok and Supraśl. They socialised through games and sports activities. They also tried to learn basic phrases in Polish during language workshops.

– The Summer School is not only about lectures, but above all about practical and project-based classes – emphasises Assoc. Prof. Dorota Anna Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., coordinator of the International Summer School and Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at Bialystok University of Technology. – We want students working in international teams to learn project-based thinking, creativity, the exchange of good practices, and openness to other technical cultures. All of this will be useful not only in their professional work but also in their further academic or social development.

Education in 3 dimensions

In 2025, the International Summer School of Bialystok University of Technology offered three educational paths:

• EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
• SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES
• SUSTAINABLE AND DIVERSE TEAMS

The university implemented them with funding from various sources, including the Erasmus+ Programme (support for projects under the Blended Intensive Programme) and the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange as part of the PROM programme and the ‘Support for European Universities’ initiative.

On-campus classes began on 30 June and lasted until 9 July 2025. Some classes were continued in an online format.

On the administrative side, the International Summer School project at Bialystok University of Technology is coordinated by the team of the International Relations Offices of Bialystok University of Technology.

(prepared by mr)

Watch a photo gallery from the International Summer School at Bialystok University of Technology.