A festive meeting between students of Bialystok University of Technology and the President of Bialystok.
02-12-2025
President of Białystok Future engineers from countries including Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Algeria, Egypt, Italy, Macedonia, Peru, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique came to study at Bialystok University of Technology.
– I’ve been here for three months, and I must admit I really like it, – says Arturo Auiles Morilles from Spain, who is studying computer science at the Faculty of Computer Science at Bialystok University of Technology. – Studying at Bialystok University of Technology is a valuable experience. I think the idea of a Christmas meeting is a good one. I’m giving a presentation about Christmas in Spain, which is just as important in our culture as it is in Polish culture.
The song “Enta Omri” performed by an Egyptian student, team competitions in decorating a Christmas tree, gift-giving, a knowledge quiz, and sampling Polish cuisine. These are just a few of the highlights that graced the Christmas gathering. The event also featured interesting presentations on Polish and Spanish Christmas traditions, but the most important moment was the exchange of wishes. The president addressed special words to the young participants.
– International students are extremely important to Bialystok University of Technology, and to our city, – said President Tadeusz Truskolaski. – Białystok isn’t the largest city in Poland or Europe, yet students eagerly choose it in large numbers. I hope the hopes they bring with them will be fulfilled. I wish them many new friendships and interesting experiences from getting to know another culture. May they keep a piece of their heart for our universities and our city.
Over 370 international students are enrolled at Bialystok University of Technology. The “Christmas Meeting” is one of a series of integration events that, thanks to the festive atmosphere, allows them to become even more united with the academic community.
– The meeting aims to integrate local and international students, – says Marta Orpik from the Department of International Projects Erasmus+ and NAWA at Bialystok University of Technology, which organised the event. – During the “Christmas Meeting”, we have the opportunity to learn about the Christmas traditions of the countries our students come from. They are keen to participate because it’s an opportunity to learn about new cultures and people, share experiences, and build valuable connections.
The meeting held to mark the upcoming holidays is a tradition at Bialystok University of Technology, creating a space to build relationships based on mutual respect, openness, and dialogue.
– I believe you are not just guests, but a part of our academic community and the life of Białystok, – said Assoc. prof. Dorota Anna Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, addressing the students. – Events like the “Christmas Meeting” bring us even closer together, allowing us to truly experience the spirit of internationalisation.
The “Christmas Meeting”, held on 2 December, was attended by the academic community, city authorities, and participants of the International Staff Week. The 15th edition of this international event will take place at the university from 1 to 5 December 2025. Participants in the International Staff Week include representatives from university authorities, academic staff, and international cooperation offices worldwide.
Bialystok University of Technology ranks first in Poland for the number of students coming to study and do internships through the Erasmus+ programme. It supports the development of international academic cooperation and strengthens exchange programmes, creating a global network of partnerships. It is also part of the ACROSS European University.
The following attended the Christmas meeting at Bialystok University of Technology:
- Tadeusz Truskolaski, President of the City of Białystok
- Tomasz Klim, Deputy President of Białystok City
- Assoc. prof. Dorota Anna Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Vice-Rector for International Cooperation
- staff from the International Relations Offices of Bialystok University of Technology
- 200 students from Poland and abroad
- Guests from international universities participating in the 15th International Staff Week at Bialystok University of Technology.
A festive gathering of students from Bialystok University of Technology with the President of Bialystok was organised by the Department of International Projects Erasmus+ and NAWA, which is part of the University’s International Relations Offices.
The event was part of the “Action-Integration 2.0” project, coordinated and funded by the Welcome to Poland NAWA Programme.
Author: Magdalena Grzęda-Zajkowska
We invite you to view photos from the event:
