Erasmus+ Program
In 8, February – 7, May the third year students of the Faculty of Finance and Economics majoring in “International Economics” Svitlana Festych, Nataliia Ivoniak and Olga Pakon studied in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, as participants of Erasmus+ Program.
Higher School of Economics and Management in Public Administration in Bratislava is a private educational establishment. Studying process lasted 13 weeks. 11 of them were classes, and 12 – 13 – an exams term. A class lasts one hour and a half with 10 – 15 min break and one big break for 50min.
The girls studied 2 days per week and had three classes per day. But, there were “breaks” between classes, so leaving for classes in the morning, they came back home in the evening. They studied 4 courses and had a course of Slovak language. Studying process was conducted in English. Only “Finance of an enterprise” was conducted in Russian, as the lecturer was from Kharkiv. Our students studied together with four Ukrainians from Kyiv, 2 Russians from Stavropol and 2 Portuguese from Lisbon. According to our agreements the girls visited only chosen classes which very often didn’t correspond in time with the classes of other Erasmus+ Program participants.
As for the educational process itself, a lot of attention was paid to the solving of practical tasks and objectives. Each particular course was conducted by the lecturer in his/her individual manner; it wasn’t any commonly applied manner. If it was the course of «International statistics datàbasås», it was conducted in computer class to give us an opportunity to analyze web-pages and different sites of leading world organizations and to get acquainted with them in such a way. Other courses were conducted with the support of presentations performed at the interactive screen and we could analyze and discuss on spot, and also we had printed variants. Seminars and workshops were also conducted in different manners, as each lecturer evaluated our work in his own way. We were offered certain practical or analytical tasks and also projects in forms of presentations by the lecturers. We obtained some points for this work and they were added to our final marks. Many lecturers gave points for attending classes.
The girls have mentioned that the education process in Bratislava is differed from ours by the quantity and quality of materials. Lecturers there don’t see a need to analyze or study the whole text-books in particular subject. He offers studied, analyzed, and already adopted material.
In the last week our students were officially awarded with the certificates of program participants and marks they have obtained. The attitude to our students was very good. Always open and kind lecturers and coordinators weren’t severe, but they usually were responsible. Our students didn’t feel any pressure and compelling.
In public places and in the environment as well they didn’t feel any exclusion. Slovaks are very calm, balanced and “not in a hurry” people. The girls felt very comfortable and at the end of the trip they got used to everything so much, that it was difficult to come back for their routine life.
Our students registered in regular and electronic library. There was a cafe on the ground floor, so they could have as lunch there (it is called «ponuka dna»), and as well different snacks, coffee or tea. This educational establishment is well equipped not only with all facilities for study, but also with all necessary for the rest. At each floor there are soft sofas, tables and coffee machines.
At their free time the girls examined Bratislava with its sightseeing. They also used an opportunity to visit Austria, Budapest and Paris.
Our students are thankful for this opportunity to study abroad because they have got unforgettable memories and emotions and of course, useful experience
