During the five-day educational trip, the second, third and fourth-year students at the Faculty of History visited the Polish capital of Subcarpathia – Rzeszów (Ryaszów) where they had the opportunity to learn the cultural values of a European state and to establish communication with their Polish colleagues.
Rzeszów was awarded the honorary award of Ukraine “City-Savior”. It was very important for students to visit the city which became a shelter for many Ukrainians, including students, from the first day of Russia’s full-scale and brazen war against Ukraine.
The organizer of the trip was candidate of historical sciences, associate professor of the Department of History of Ukraine, DDPU Ivanna Luchakivska. The trip lasted from July 11 to 15, 2022. The opportunity was provided by the University of Rzeszów with the kind assistance of Rector Sylvester Chopek.
The first spot on the map of the fascinating journey was the city of Lancsut and its pompous palace. Lanczut Castle, or as the locals call it, the Potocki Palace, one of the best-preserved architectural structures of this type not only in the Carpathians, but also in Poland. This castle and park ensemble in eastern Poland captivates with its grandeur at first glance. The students were greatly impressed with what they saw in the palace and it inspired them to further research.
The students also visited the archeological laboratory of the University of Rzeszów, where they were warmly welcomed by Master Sylvia Jędrzejewska. The students were given a tour of the storage of important archeological finds – ceramics, fragments of costume jewelry, documents found on the outskirts of Rzeszów. The students were introduced to the advanced technologies of archaeological research, taught to use the tools necessary for research.
The University of Rzeszów is the largest modern institution of higher education in south-eastern Poland where great attention is paid to the professional development of students. As a kind gesture, Ukrainian students had the opportunity to meet with the vice-rector for academic work and student affairs Professor Elżbieta Rokosz. At the round table, the students were introduced to the concept of education based on scientific research conducted by outstanding specialists and is aimed at the acquisition of practical skills by students, takes into account the global trends in the development of science and various needs of the labor market. In return, Drohobych University students shared their experience of higher education in Ukraine.
Afterwards, the students visited the Rzeszów University library which immediately impresses with its scale. The three-story complex has a collection of 790,000 books with access to more than 21,000 titles of electronic journals and 220,000 titles of books in electronic form, which makes it an invaluable source of educational material in preparation for seminars.
On the third day, the students had a meeting with the mayor of the resort town of Rymanow-Zdroj Wojciech Farbanets, who supports Ukraine and Ukrainians in every possible way during the difficult war time. Mr.Farbanets helps financially, organizes charity fairs to raise funds for the front line, takes care of Ukrainian students and accepts refugees from our countries. His generous love and devotion to the Ukrainian people can be felt in every detail. After the meeting in the town hall, the mayor personally conducted a tour of the resort town of Rymaniv-Zdroj. The students tasted the medicinal water, visited the art gallery and got acquainted with the works of Polish artists.
Later in the day, the historians went to the city of Syanok, where they had a tour of the Museum of Folk Architecture, known as the “open-air museum” – one of the most valuable museums of wooden architecture and folk culture in Europe. The students paid special attention to the wooden synagogue where the ancient Torah is kept. The open-air museum gave grounds to compare Ukrainian and Polish cultures and once again helped to make sure that Ukraine is a European state in all its manifestations, primarily in culture, language, and traditions.
Such academic mobility contributes to establish internal and external integration links, makes it possible to acquire new competences, increase the effectiveness of scientific research, and also enrich the individual experience of education seekers.
Project participants: Yuliya Senysko (IP-42B), Roksolana Altunina (IP-31-B), Olha Klysa (IP-21), Sofia Shmorhun (IP-22B), Vasylyna Tanchyna (IP-42B), Olha Khomyn (IP- 21B).
