Intercultural Collaboration for Sustainable Development – International Summer School 2025 at Bialystok University of Technology

The Summer School programme included four intensive thematic modules combining knowledge from the fields of social sciences, management, technology, sport, and sustainable development. Topics covered included intercultural communication, conflict resolution, leadership, and designing initiatives based on the principles of permaculture. This content proved highly relevant not only in an academic context but also from the perspective of future professional careers for young researchers.

– The Building a Sustainable and Diverse Team classes exceeded our expectations in terms of participants’ engagement, the atmosphere of collaboration, and the outcomes of the projects developed, said dr Justyna Kozłowska from the International Department of Logistics and Service Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering Management, Bialystok University of Technology. – The students and doctoral candidates formed an active, open-minded community. They especially enjoyed the workshops on cultural differences, which used simulation methods, as well as the design thinking method and the permaculture-based approach. The teaching staff also received very positive feedback – it was a diverse group in terms of nationality, specialisation, and experience.

A total of 24 participants took part in the event. The classes were delivered in the form of lectures, workshops and teamwork sessions, and were conducted by an international team of instructors from Bialystok University of Technology, the University of Banja Luka and the University of Zagreb. Participation in the Summer School allowed students to gain practical soft skills, learn tools for integrating diverse groups, and design local initiatives with sustainable development in mind.

Importantly, the integration continued outside the classroom – students spent time together after class, which contributed to effective collaboration and exchange of experiences.

The International Summer School at the Faculty of Engineering Management took place from 30 June to 9 July 2025. The coordinator was dr Justyna Kozłowska, and scientific supervision was provided by Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna Czerewacz-Filipowicz, DSc, PhD, Director of the Institute of Management and Quality Sciences at the Faculty of Engineering Management of Bialystok University of Technology.

This year’s edition of the International Summer School at Bialystok University of Technology offered three educational pathways. In addition to the “Building a Sustainable and Diverse Team” course, international students and doctoral candidates could also acquire specialist knowledge in modern technologies and sustainable construction during the Summer Schools organised by the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences: “Effective Solutions for Sustainable Buildings” and “Solutions for Sustainable Cities”. All Summer School courses were implemented with the support of funding from various sources, including the Erasmus+ Programme (support for projects under the Blended Intensive Programme) and the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), through the PROM Programme and the “Support for European Universities” initiative.

The International Summer School project at Bialystok University of Technology is coordinated by the team of the University’s International Relations Offices.
This interdisciplinary educational programme supports the mission of the ACROSS European University, of which Bialystok University of Technology is a partner alongside nine other institutions.

by mz

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