Campus life [2020-09-30]

Welcome foreign students!

— Editors

60 foreign students start their studies at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń on 1st October as part of the Erasmus+ exchange programme. The NCU Department of International Cooperation has prepared the Orientation Week for them.

The Department of International Cooperation once again organizes an orientation week dedicated to incoming Erasmus+ students. Their number has been growing steadily for several years, but this semester, due to the epidemic situation, only a few dozen people have decided to be mobile. Some have chosen to study remotely, others have decided to postpone their participation in the program until the summer semester. Those we host now come from nine countries: Turkey, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Russia and Romania.

The Orientation Week is a series of meetings for foreign students. The program includes interesting lectures, classes and workshops showing different aspects of culture that foreigners may encounter during their visit to Poland. Guests learn a lot of practical information about studying at the University in Toruń, as well as about life in the city. For many of them studying in Poland is the first foreign trip in their lives, hence, the effort to prepare them for a few months’ stay.

This year, due to COVID-19, the Erasmus+ students' welcome gala was prepared in the Academic Centre for Culture and Art "Od Nowa", and the setting of the event was much more modest than usual. The guests were welcomed online by the President of Toruń, Michał Zaleski, and the Marshal of the Voivodeship, Piotr Całbecki. Jaroslaw Paralusz from the Municipal Guard in Toruń presented the most important safety rules. Students also got acquainted with aspects of the history of Toruń and Poland, and learned more about the city and the University. Earlier they took part in an online culinary show, during which they learned about traditional Polish dishes.

Subsequent events and trainings are planned in the coming days. The students will have psychological and intercultural workshops. Additionally, foreign students will be given the opportunity to participate in a short Polish language course.

The Orientation Week will end on October 6th with meetings with Erasmus+ coordinators at various faculties.