Erasmus Days at SPbGASU: how to gain new competencies abroad
At an online meeting held on October 15 within the framework of the International Erasmus Days (Erasmus Days), students and teachers of SPbGASU were told about the university's participation in academic mobility programs with the support of the European Erasmus + program. Participants of previously held student and teaching exchanges, representing various faculties of SPbGASU, shared their personal impressions of the trips abroad.
Opening of the online meeting
Director of the National Office of Erasmus+ Olga Oleynikova addressed the participants of the event. According to her, Russia is one of the leaders in international exchanges: more than 10 thousand Russian students and teachers participated in the program, and more than 8 thousand foreign citizens came to study at our universities.
Speech by Olga Oleynikova
"The Program has strengthened mutual trust between project participants, which, of course, contributed to the implementation of the Bologna Process and the formation of a single European higher education space, which includes the Russian Federation," she said.
Irina Lugovskaya
"SPbGASU has been participating in the program since 2015 and is determinedly working to expand its network of partner universities. At the same time, our students have many opportunities to study abroad - not only within Erasmus+, but also through double-degree programs. Strong international relations attract new entrants, significantly increase the competitiveness of SPbGASU among other universities," said Vice-Rector for International Relations of SPbGASU Irina Lugovskaya.
Head of International Cooperation Department Svetlana Petrova told about Erasmus+ program.
Svetlana Petrova
“Erasmus + is a European Union program aimed at supporting cooperation in education, vocational training, youth and sports. International academic mobility is one of the most important areas of the program. The short-term Erasmus + International Credit Mobility program provides generous opportunities for participation in academic exchanges for students, postgraduate students, faculty and staff from all over the world. Mobility is carried out within the framework of bilateral agreements between universities from the European Union and partner countries (including Russia). Mobility implies short-term studies (semester) at a foreign partner university with subsequent recognition of the learning outcomes at the sending university.
Mobility for students typically lasts between 3 and 12 months. The student is allocated a grant, the amount of which is 750-850 Euros per month plus compensation for travel expenses. Mobility for teachers involves giving lectures at a foreign partner university in the amount of at least eight academic hours per week for a period of five days or more.
At the moment, SPbGASU has seven partner universities in the Erasmus + Academic Mobility Program:
Bulgaria: University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy
Great Britain: Birmingham City University
Germany: Leibniz University of Hannover
Spain: Madrid Polytechnic University
Lithuania: Vilnius College of Technology and Design
Poland: Bialystok Technical University
Estonia: Tallinn University of Applied Sciences.
✔ “Students admitted should be in no earlier than the second and no later than the last year of study, have good studying record, and speak English. In some cases, proficiency in another language is encouraged if it is taught at the host university. Personal achievements are also taken into account. Competitive selection is carried out by a selection committee from among representatives of SPbGASU. After that, the International Relations Office nominates candidates and sends information to the foreign partner university.
Language testing takes place at SPbGASU. The university acts as a guarantor that you speak the language at a level sufficient to study at a foreign partner university. IELTS, TOEFL and other certificates are not required,” Svetlana Petrova said.
The International Relations Office publishes announcements of all open competitions on the university website in the "Announcements" and "International Cooperation News" sections, as well as on the social networks of SPbGASU. "Stay tuned for updates in order to receive timely information about the conditions for participation in programs, terms of study, documents required to apply," she recommended to students and teachers.
Erasmus Days in SPbGASU
“Participation in the academic mobility program under the Erasmus + program is a chance not only to gain new knowledge in a foreign educational environment, but also to improve command of foreign languages, make new friends, and gain invaluable experience,” Svetlana Petrova believes.
This statement is echoed by the reviews of students and teachers of SPbGASU who have become participants in the program. So, the Master’s degree student of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Polina Voitenko noted that she had made many friends, got acquainted with foreign architectural sights. Master's degree student of the Faculty of Architecture Tatiana Popova was able to significantly improve her level of English proficiency. Nikolay Podoprigora, associate professor at the Department of Land Transport Technological Vehicles, said that he managed to get to know a large number of colleagues from different countries, and Dmitry Yaroshutin, a senior lecturer at the Department of Roads, Bridges and Tunnels, considers the experience of working in a different cultural environment to be indispensable. Yuri Stolbikhin, Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor at the Department of Water Management and Ecology, called his trip one of the best moments in his professional career.
Full video recording of the meeting is available following the link.
Text: Tatyana Petrova
Photo: Sergey Klishis
✔ Learn more about the Erasmus+ program