On September 10-14, 2018 our higher school visited Rector of Banking University (Kiev) prof. Anzhela Kuznietsova who was invited by M.Sc. Magdalena Bojarska, the Head of the International Cooperation Department (PWSTE). The Banking University of the National Bank of Ukraine (Kiev) is a long-term partner of the the Bronisław Markiewicz State Higher School of Technology and Economics in Jarosław (PWSTE).

The visit of PWSTE was connected with the Erasmus + program within educational mobility of students and academic staff of European higher education institution cooperating with partner countries from other parts of the world. Due to inter-institutional agreements within the Erasmus + program, the academic staff as well as the administrative staff of PWSTE (Jarosław) have the opportunity to visit our partner universities located outside the European Union for raising their professional qualifications.

Realizing the above programme, prof. Anzhela Kuznietsova, Rector of Banking University (Kiev) has benefited from the Erasmus + program which was widened by the scope of its activities to countries outside the European Union as part of educational mobility of students and academic staff resulting from the cooperation of PWSTE in Jarosław with partner countries. The aim of visit within the Erasmus + program was to create a unique opportunity to improve skills due to experience exchange of a long-term partner higher education institution. Soft skills development, predisposition of working in an international group, as well as improvement of language skills played an important role. The improvement of qualifications needed in everyday work combined with the exchange of experience, as well as the extending of knowledge in the broadly understood internationalization of higher education institution is considered to be the main benefit of exchange. During the meetings it was discussed the ongoing and future cooperation in the field of youth exchange, as well as planning of joint events, seminars and publications.

On 27th February - 1st March, 2018 the State Higher School of Technology and Economics in Jarosław visited Elena Širá, PhD, a representative of Management Faculty of the University of Prešov in Prešov.
During staying within the Erasmus+ program, the guest met with the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Ryszard Pukała, PhD who on behalf of the Rector, prof. UG, dr hab. Krzysztof Rejman, handed over the diploma confirming participation in the Erasmus+ training program. Magdalena Bojarska, the Head of the International Cooperation Department and the Spokesperson of the Bronisław Markiewicz State Higher School of Technology and Economics in Jarosław was responsible for staying of the programme participant in PWSTE.

The academic staff members from PWSTE, Jarosław visit the University of Prešov in Prešov very often as part of the Erasmus + program and because of other events. We were also pleased to host a representative of our long-term partner institution.
Our higher school cooperates with the University of Prešov on many levels. The confirmation of it is the organization of international scientific conference “Unity in diversity. Intercultural education in the common area of the Polish-Slovak borderland”. The objective of conference (the leading partner was Slovakia) was presentation of the latest research results in the field of intercultural education against the background of regional conditions.

On March 12-16, 2018 the representatives of PWSTE had a possibility to host the Erasmus+ programme participants who represented Odessa National Maritime University. The cooperation with the above university was established in 2016.
The delegation came to our Higher School at the invitation of Magdalena Bojarska, the Head of the International Cooperation Department, responsible for staying of the programme participants in PWSTE. Carrying out the exchange programme Erasmus+, PhD Tetiana Kovtun, as the following representative of the academic staff, benefited from the Erasmus+ program, which extended the scope of activities to countries beyond the borders of the European Union within the educational mobility of students and academic staff resulting from the cooperation of the PWSTE in Jarosław with partner countries. The delegation also included Svitlana Glovatska, Head of the International Cooperation Department.

On 21-25 May 2018, another foreign scientific worker visited PWSTE in Jarosław, he took part in the exchange programme Erasmus+. This time, it was Emin Tas who represented the Faculty of Civil Engineering of Afyon Kocatepe University in Turkey. He came on the invitation of Magdalena Bojarska, the Head of the International Cooperation Department in PWSTE.
The main objectives of the visit included supporting the internationalization of higher education regarding cooperation between institutions in the field of student education.
While staying in PWSTE, Emin Tas visited the Institute of Technical Engineering where he was presented the construction laboratories: strength of materials, concrete laboratory (testing of physical properties of concrete).

I fell upon the idea of participating in the Erasmus + student exchange program when I was a first year student of the State Higher School of Technology and Economics in Jarosław. And I did not have to wait for the result, it was even better than I expected. I learned about the Erasmus + exchange program from the leaflets stuck on the PWSTE buildings. At first I decided to visit the International Cooperation Department and ask about the travel arrangements. At that time, I did not intend to participate in the above mentioned exchange program, but after getting basic information I was interested in it. A great incentive for the trip was the scholarship that every student received under this program, as well as a wide range of countries and higher schools where one can study for two semesters. I took a decision to participate in the above program immediately after the first conversation with the head of the International Cooperation Department. The thoughts about going to a warm sunny country, getting to know another culture and participating in classes along with foreign students got stuck in my head.

During the fifth semester I studied at the University of Azores in Portugal. It was due to the Erasmus + program operating in PWSTE, Jarosław as well as due to the International Cooperation Department, headed by Magdalena Bojarska. My expectations have been fully met. Everything was at the highest level. The island of San Miguel, where I lived, is a paradise on Earth and the best place for those who like to spend time actively and interestingly. The administrative center of the island - the city of Ponta Delgada, it is a very beautiful and comfortable town. I lived in a student home near the university.
Conditions in the dormitory were the best ones. Every person had a single room. Due to unique architecture the dormitory has a lot of architectural awards and the university itself is located in the middle of a large botanical garden. The atmosphere and campus encouraged us to keep focus and be optimistic.

During the “Epiphany”celebration – a holiday which is commonly known as the “Three Kings Day” (January 6) it was organized for the seventh time the Three Kings procession in Jarosław. Spiritual message was dedicated to all the town inhabitants. It was also dedicated to Józef Piłsudski and Tadeusz Kosciuszko who contributed to independence of Poland (the 100th anniversary). The holiday festivity began with a Holy Liturgy which was chaired by the guest of honor, Archbishop of Archdiocese of Przemyśl Józef Michalik. The festivity slogan was “God is for everyone”.
The beautiful biblical content of holiday confirms that God comes to everyone generously and with openness. The aim of the event was to promote Polish tradition and Christian values as well as to celebrate the Epiphany.
The Three Kings procession in Jarosław with its strong patriotic and historical theme included many historical aspects of Poland, where faith and love to Motherland shaped the national identity.
The main organizer of the above event is Archpriest of Jarosław, Prelate Andrzej Surowiec who has been coordinated the festivity for seven years.
During the holiday one could be amazed by colorful processions - European, African and Asian ones, which at the same time moved off the churches at noon and occupied the streets of Jarosław: Christ the King Church, Franciscan Church and Church of Divine Mercy. Each colored procession was led by one of the kings. The participants of the fourth procession of Holy Family with little shepherds and donkey were the quickest who came to the end.
The Blue African procession started from Franciscan Church led by King Baltazar. The Green Asian procession was led by King Melchior from the Church of Divine Mercy, while the Red European procession headed by King Kacper included the authorities of the province, district and town along with mayors; among the participants one could also see knights and youth with ribbons, as well as the representatives of health service, uniformed services and education system represented by Rector of PWSTE in Jarosław, prof. UG, dr hab. Krzysztof Rejman and Director of the Institute of Economics and Management, Ph.D. Tatiana Kozak-Syara, staff workers and a lot of students, including foreign students participating in the Erasmus + program.