Review on Erasmus+ ICM mobility at IPC

 I would like to thank the Polytechnic of Coimbra for granting me an opportunity to visit the university on Erasmus+ ICM scholarship program. Special thanks goes to Catarina Marques from the International office, who assisted with filing and signing all the required documents as well as contacting the Portuguese consulate in Russia to consider the visa applications as soon as possible.

When my colleagues and I arrived at the green modern premises of the university building, we met the colleagues from the International office and discussed various forms of partnership they had from universities of other countries. We were the first staff from Omsk to come to their university as for many years they had hosted the Russian colleagues and students from Penza. We spent some time talking about the bachelor and masters’ programs the Polytechnic university offers with focus on agriculture and green technologies, which was obvious from the neighboring facilities full of plants and trees. The next day, the presentation about the university was given by Maria Joao Cardoso, Pro-President of Polytechnic University of Coimbra and Institutional Coordinator of International Relations, who gave a glimpse at the international projects they had had so far and was hopeful that the common ground would be found for some cooperation in future. We discussed what training programs at our both universities are similar and what are different ones. Thus, Marketing and International Business, Management, Media Studies and Tourism are taught at both our universities.

We are grateful for the warm reception at the host university and the mobility grant kindly provided to us.

Moreover, Coimbra itself is a beautiful city with enchanting architecture and cozy narrow streets enjoyable to walk along and do sights. The riverside is beautiful too. As it is a university city, it was really great to walk through the university grounds and listen to live street concerts of the students. The city is good for getting familiar with ancient libraries and classic university. I was really impressed with welcoming people, warm atmosphere, gorgeous views. I wish I could go to this city and sunny Portugal again some time in future! I do hope that there is always an opportunity for exchanging the best practices around the world, build partnerships and achieve common goals.

 Natalia Gatsura,

Head of Linguistics and Translation Department

at Dostoevsky Omsk State University