Integration tour to the Krzyżtopór Castle in Ujazd

Integrating international students with the local community and developing intercultural competencies is one of the key aims of the Erasmus+ program. The department of Staff development and International Cooperation organizes event and regional trips at least once a semester, which fulfill these goals.

On 22 of May 2025 took place the trip to the Krzyżtopór Castle in Ujazd, attended by the Vice-Rector of Science  dr hab inż. Rafał Jurecki prof.PŚk, the Erasmus+ coordinator for the Faculty
of Electrical Engineering, Automatic Control and Computer Science – dr inż. Dorota Wiraszka,
as well international students participating in the student exchange program under the Erasmus+, regular international students of Kielce University of Technology and Polish students who regularly assist students from other countries to settle at KUT and integrating to academic community

The main attraction of the trip was visiting the largest ruin in Europe – the Krzyżtopór castle. The students learned about the difficult fate of this magnificent building, and thus about elements
of Polish history. The group from KUT was officially welcomed at the castle gate by members
of the knights’ brotherhood. The students had the opportunity to watch a saber duel as well as dances from the castle heyday. They also tried hand and fencing and danced the 17th –century pavane
in the ruin of ballroom. Afterwards the group went to Opatów, where by visiting 12th-century collegiate church, the foreign guests had chance to learn about the town’s story and important residents, such as Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki.

The dinner was an opportunity to reword those who particularly support the Department
of Staff Development and International Cooperation in the integration of foreign students,
whether in educational process, such as dr inż. Dorota Wiraszka, or in everyday social integration process, like Polish Students of Kielce University of Technology  and members of students’ government:
Ms. Victoriia Oasdcha,  Mr Patryk Żółowicz, Mr Piotr Tkaczewski, Mr Mateusz Zelik. Their involvement and openness have allowed foreign students feel like full and equal members of the KUTs’ community. We warmly encourage other students to become active buddies for students from other countries, and to have the opportunity to practice communication in foreign language and gain new friends from over the world.