News

Emotional support is needed even more now. The project was submitted in mid-November 2021, when no one had expected Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its consequences.

When planning activities under the project, we mainly thought about the prevention of the effects of the pandemic and online education on the emotional health of students, including international students, whose situation was exceptionally difficult. Now, bearing in mind the dramatic situation in Ukraine and its impact on Gdańsk Tech students from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus and simply all those who have been particularly hard hit by the recent events, the project seems to be even more justified – says Anna Modrzejewska, Head of the International Relations Office. 

Gdańsk University of Technology is already actively supporting citizens from Ukraine – one of its dormitories was dedicated to the needs of refugees. A donation of items for its equipment and supplies was also organized. There are Polish language lessons held in the dormitory and a day-room for children, where art classes are organized every Tuesday. Additionally, IRO conducts Polish language lessons on the university campus for young people from Ukraine who would like to start studies in Poland. However, among the activities carried out so far, there has been no comprehensive emotional support program, which will now be possible under the Welcome to Poland project.

The project includes: psychological support for international students, peer mediation workshops for students and mediation workshops for administration staff, open seminars on coping with crisis situations, workshops on cultural differences and culture shock for international students and academic staff, mindfulness training for international students, yoga classes for students and staff.

Additionally, IRO’s team will take part in two study visits - in Great Britain where they will visit Oxford University and King's College in London and Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Both universities have professional emotional support centers for students and employees that employ specialists, including psychologists, coaches and the so-called cultural sensitive psychotherapists. The knowledge, experience and valuable know-how gained in Great Britain and Netherlands will be used in Gdańsk Tech project.