Engineering without borders: preparing for the global labour market
International Staff Week (ISW) is a recurring multi-day event organised by Bialystok University of Technology under the Erasmus+ Programme. The event is addressed to staff members of partner universities from around the world.
The main objective of International Staff Week is not only to strengthen international partnerships, but above all to enhance the educational offer in a meaningful way, ultimately benefiting students. Today’s labour market requires young engineers to be flexible and capable of thriving anywhere in the world.
– At Bialystok University of Technology, we educate engineers who should have no difficulty finding their place in a multinational and multicultural working environment – emphasises Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Rector of Bialystok University of Technology. – Engineering is a profession that transcends borders, and some of our graduates will also pursue their careers outside our country. We prepare them for these international challenges already during their studies. This is supported by cooperation with partner universities, including the exchange of teaching experience, as well as by creating opportunities for our students to complete part of their studies at a foreign university or participate in the increasingly popular Blended Intensive Programmes. All of this is made possible through international cooperation, which we further strengthen during International Staff Week.
New horizons
For many participants, the May visit to Bialystok University of Technology was their first encounter with Podlaskie and our university. Throughout the week of workshops and presentations, they had many opportunities to learn about the university’s research potential and establish direct contacts with BUT researchers.
– We welcomed more than 40 guests from over 20 countries, so the representation is truly impressive – said Assoc. Prof. Dorota Anna Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at Bialystok University of Technology, at the opening of the event. – In most cases, these are first-time visitors to our university who come to learn more about it, connect with potential collaborators and explore our modern laboratories.
Running in parallel with International Staff Week was a meeting of one of the working groups (Task 2.3) of the Across European University. Participants worked together on developing a mobility catalogue for members of the Across consortium.
In addition to administrative and educational sessions, participants of the 16th International Staff Week also had an opportunity to attend prestigious scientific events:
- the International INNOBuild 2026 Conference on sustainable construction (read more: INNOBuild 2026 Conference at Bialystok University of Technology. International debate on sustainable construction)
- the International Conference on Advanced Hybrid Lightweight Materials and Technologies for Global Circular Economy LIMACON 2026 (read more: LIMACON 2026 – international conference at Bialystok University of Technology)
A cultural melting pot at the heart of the campus
Traditionally, one of the most popular and visually impressive elements of the 16th International Staff Week programme was the Cultural Stands exhibition in the foyer of the BUT Centre for Modern Education. Representatives of dozens of foreign universities showcased the cultural richness of their home countries. Visitors could explore traditional costumes, regional delicacies, interesting facts and information materials. The atmosphere of dialogue and openness was infectious.
– We are delighted with your hospitality and with the campus itself. We would like our students to be able to come here, and we hope to establish regular student and academic staff exchange programmes. This is our first visit to Bialystok University of Technology and we are very impressed – shared Prof. Ebenezer Owusu from a university in Ghana.
Representatives of other European countries expressed similar views, for whom Białystok proved to be an extremely positive surprise.
– I am deeply impressed by Bialystok University of Technology. It is a modern university with extensive infrastructure, located in a beautiful city – says Jurgen Mesaj from Mediterranean University of Albania. – It is an excellent place to meet representatives of other foreign universities and a great opportunity to exchange contacts, inspiration and opinions. I hope that, apart from gaining new knowledge, I will leave with many valuable international connections with colleagues working in similar areas at their universities.
Practical workshops and important debates
On 20 May, participants of the 16th International Staff Week had an opportunity to take part in the specialist workshop “Across Culture in Cooperation”, organised by the Department of Mobility and International Agreements of Bialystok University of Technology.
– We focused on practical skills that facilitate cooperation and communication in international and intercultural teams composed of representatives of nine universities within the alliance – explained Grażyna Jakimiuk, MSc. – In long-term international cooperation, the best approach is one based on collaboration, where each party has a voice and consensus is reached jointly. Although this is the most time-consuming method, as it excludes the authoritarian imposition of solutions, it delivers the best results in the long run. The conclusions developed here will certainly contribute to improving the quality of project management at our university.
On the same day, a hybrid debate entitled “Women in Science/STEM” was held, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Joanna Mystkowska, DSc, PhD, Eng. (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) and Romuald Ziółkowski, PhD, Eng. (Faculty of Engineering Management). During the event, researchers from Poland, Egypt, Moldova and Nigeria discussed their career paths, their passion for technical disciplines and effective ways of overcoming cultural stereotypes. (read more: Women in Science and STEM. International debate of the Across European University at Bialystok University of Technology)
A global future being built in Białystok
In addition to intensive work at the faculties, meetings with university staff and delivering lectures to Bialystok University of Technology students, guests from around the world had an opportunity to discover the charm of Podlaskie, explore the region and learn about Polish traditions.
The 16th International Staff Week demonstrated that in today’s scientific community, geographical distance is no barrier to cooperation. What truly matters is a shared vision, openness to others and the exchange of knowledge. Discussions on new partnership agreements, dozens of newly established contacts and plans for joint research projects constitute valuable capital that will continue to benefit Bialystok University of Technology for years to come.
Participants of the 16th International Staff Week included university leaders, academic teachers and staff of international relations offices from: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Georgia, Spain, the Maldives, Morocco, Mauritius, Moldova, Mozambique, Germany, Nigeria, Portugal, El Salvador, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
The 16th International Staff Week at Bialystok University of Technology was organised from 18 to 22 May 2026 by the Department of Mobility and International Agreements of Bialystok University of Technology (International Relations Offices of Bialystok University of Technology) under the Erasmus+ Programme. The project was co-funded by the European Union.
Prepared by Monika Rokicka
See photos from the event:
