State Higher Vocational School of prof. Edward F. Szczepanik in Suwalki EXCHANGE STUDENTS GUIDE

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1 State Higher Vocational School of prof. Edward F. Szczepanik in Suwalki EXCHANGE STUDENTS GUIDE

2 Dear student, We hope this guide will give you the most useful information about our university. During your stay you will have an opportunity to become familiar with our Polish culture, language, tradition and life. The north eastern part of our country, where Suwalki is situated, is famous for its wonderful nature, climate and mixture of different cultures. Your time at the Higher Vocational School in Suwalki should be fruitful both from educational and cultural points. We promise to do our best to make you feel comfortable among us. We wish you every success. Prof. dr hab. Jerzy Sikorski Rector of Higher Vocational School in Suwalki

3 Suwalki Suwalki City is situated in north-east Poland, in the Podlaskie province, on the Czarna Hańcza River, in the proximity of the state border with Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. The city covers the area of 64,24 km², 74 % of which constitute green areas.suwalki has over 69 thousand inhabitants, it is the largest city of the region and second (after Białystok) largest urban entity in the Podlaskie province. The city is an important administrative (the seat of the urban and rural counties), economic, social-cultural, of communication and educational centre of the Suwalki region.

4 The region s values It is one of a few regions in Europe with such a number and variety of tourist values. Clean air, transparent water in lakes and creeks, together with large forest complexes attract more and more tourists every year. Here you can practice all fields of the qualified tourism, such as: hiking, canoeing, biking, sailing and also skiing in the winter. At present, here are more than 1000 km of marked out tourist routes for: hiking, biking, canoeing and even for horse riding, for those tourists who enjoy resting and discovering the nature. The Suwalki region enchants with landscapes, pure nature, soothing silence and peacefulness. It is remarkable area admired in every season of the year; a place which we miss and to which we return.

5 Higher Vocational School in Suwalki Higher Vocational School in Suwalki is one of the newest universities in Poland, it was founded on 21st May The school offers a great variety of study courses. About students constitute the University s student population, studying full time or part time getting the bachelor. Higher Vocational School in Suwalki has the right bases to be the best school in the region. All didactic rooms are equipped with overhead projectors, multimedia projectors and a good sounding system. The school provides all the students with computer rooms with an Internet connection. The main mission and strategy of Higher Vocational School in Suwalki is said to make the school more international due to a good geographical localization of the city and finally transforming Higher Vocational School in Suwalki into European University of Borderland.

6 Presently, our University offers education at the following Faculties: - Faculty of Humanities and Economy - Faculty of Polytechnic - Faculty of Health Care FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND ECONOMY Bachelor s degree study programmes: Economics; Finance and Accounting; English and Russian studies; Pedagogy.

7 FACULTY OF POLYTECHNIC Bachelor s degree study programmes: Civil engineering; Agriculture; Transport; Production management and engineering; Architecture and the urban planning.

8 FACULTY OF HEALTH CARE Bachelor s degree study programmes: Nursing; Paramedical studies; Cosmetology; Internal security.

9 Library Higher Vocational School in Suwalki has its own library with the book collection of volumes which are fitted for the didactic needs of the school and thematically covers the fields of studies such as: macro- and microeconomics, finance, banking, accounting, mathematics, management, information technology, ecology and environmental protection, agriculture, civil engineering, transport, fruit-growing and cultivation of plants, agro-tourism, chemistry, biology and physics. Polish and international literature as well as over 70 titles of magazines and scientific papers can be found in the library. An on-line catalogue and internet connections in the reading room help students make the best use of the library.

10 Studies at the Higher Vocational School in Suwalki Students from foreign universities who want to study at our University under the Erasmus programme must fill up the application documents and contact Erasmus Coordinator. Applications should be made through the home university and sent to the Erasmus Office no later than by July 31 for the winter semester and no later than by December 31 for the summer semester. Basic documents: - Application Form - Learning Agreement - Accommodation Form Academic calendar Autumn Semester Regular classes 1 October October 2013 Holiday break 1 November November 2013 Regular classes 4 November November 2013 Holiday break 11 November November 2013 Regular classes 13 November December 2013 Christmas Holidays 23 December January 2014 Regular classes 7 January February 2014 Exam Session 3 February February 2014 Spring Semester Regular classes 24 February April 2014 Easter Holidays 18 April April 2014 Regular classes 23 April April 2014 Holiday break 1 May May 2014 Regular classes 5 May June 2014 Exam Session 16 June June 2014 Holidays 1 July August 2014 Exam Session 1September September 2014 When the Erasmus student arrives at the Higher Vocational School in Suwalki should contact the Erasmus Coordinator in order to fill necessary formalities. Once at the Office, student should present the following documents: passport/id, a confirmation issued by the student s home university that student is an Erasmus Program participant,

11 an insurance against accidents covering the whole period of the student s stay at the university. It is necessary to have a health insurance and an insurance against accidents, valid for the whole period of the student s stay, purchased in the student s country of origin. In case of sudden illness or an accident, the student has a guaranteed health care, free of charge. Erasmus Coordinator should receive the Learning Agreement, unless the program of studies had already been sent. Erasmus students studying at the Higher Vocational School in Suwalki are entitled to receive a student identity card. In order to obtain such card one photo should be submitted to the Dean s Office. This card makes the student eligible for reductions on means of public transport, enables one to use libraries etc. Grading scale according to the ECTS LOCAL GRADE LOCAL DEFINITION ECTS GRADE 5 bardzo dobry/very good A 4+ dobry plus / better than good B 4 dobry / good C 3+ dostateczny plus /better than satisfactory D 3 dostateczny / satisfactory E 2 niedostateczny / unsatisfactory (fail) FX,F Registration of the residence Visa Requirements Registration of the residence is necessary for the Erasmus students willing to study in Suwalki for at least one semester. An EU citizen can enter Poland with ID document (a valid travel document e.g. passport, or another document certifying identity and citizenship). For stay up to 3 months no legalization of stay will be necessary. For stays exceeding 3 months, an EU

12 citizen will have to register in the Department of Citizens Affairs of the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki). The certificate of registering the residence will be granted to Union citizens who have health insurance and sufficient resources to cover their expenses without needing social security support. The certificate - once issued - will also entitle its bearer to take up work. Documents that have to be submitted by the student to the Voivodeship Office in order to obtain the certificate of registering the residence: copy of the travel document (passport or other ID document) health insurance document and its copy official letter of acceptance from the Polish university (with information about the planned period of study and awarded grant) Application for registering the residence (in Polish) Erasmus Coordinator will help students to obtain the certificate of registering the residence. Accommodation Higher Vocational School in Suwalki offers accommodation to all exchange students. If you want us to arrange the accommodation for you during the study period you should fill in the Accommodation Form as soon as possible. The Student Residence Hall comprise 122 rooms (4 apartments, 2 flats and 116 rooms) composed of double and triple rooms including bathrooms. The room size varies between 14,5 m² and 21,5 m². The rooms do not have their own kitchen; there are common kitchens on each floor. The rooms are equipped with beds, mattresses, kitchen wardrobe, wardrobe, desk and chairs. The accommodation is situated near the university campus, about 2,5 kilometers from the Higher Vocational School in Suwalki. Address of the Student Residence Hall Dom Studenta PWSZ w Suwałkach The Student Residence Hall ul. Szkolna Suwałki Poland

13 Medical Care Erasmus students should bring the European Health Insurance Card for the period of their study in Poland, which must cover health, accidents and hospital care. If you don t have the card with you, you might have to pay the whole treatment by yourself. In order to be able to claim the money back that you have paid, you should ALWAYS ask for a written diagnosis including stamp of the physician or hospital. Public transport Thanks to a remarkable network the local transport in Suwalki is very convenient. With a network of buses you can reach every part of the city and the surroundings. For using the local transport you have to buy a ticket and after getting on to mark it. A ticket price is 2,50 PLN (0,5 EUR) and 1,25 PLN (0,25 EUR) for students (the student s card is necessary). You can also buy a monthly ticket. Cost of living The costs of living in Suwalki are much lower than in other big cities in Poland. The average monthly cost of living per one student is approximately PLN ( EUR). 1 EUR = approximately 4,18 PLN The average cost of monthly living (excluding personal needs): accommodation in Student Residence Hall: 250 PLN (60 EUR) monthly food costs: approx. 700 PLN (167 EUR) public transport: 38 PLN (9 EUR) leisure, books: approx. 300 PLN (72 EUR)

14 Leisure in Suwalki The city of Suwalki offers a variety of leisure opportunities including culture and sport. Cinema There is one cinema in Suwalki including in the shopping mall PLAZA. Cinema Lumiere is situated in the centre of the city. Foreign films can be watched in the original language version with Polish subtitles. A ticket is approx PLN (3,60 5,20 EUR). Museums There are three major museums in Suwalki: Regional Museum in Suwalki Museum of Maria Konopnicka Museum of History and the Tradition of Soldiers of the Suwalki Region Sports Academic sports club is running the following sections: Tourist Body shaping Football Table tennis Volleyball Archery University sports centre Higher Vocational School in Suwalki offers its students access to a University sports centre included gym, fitness room, sauna, jacuzzi and solarium.

15 Swimming pools There are two swimming pools in Suwalki opened 7 days a week. There are many other sport centers in Suwalki where students can go ice skating, horse back riding, play tennis, soccer or basketball. Restaurants and pubs These are a few examples of places recommended by the students: Na Starówce, Restaurant ul. Chłodna 2 Einstein, Restaurant, pub, cafe ul. Kościuszki 82 Karczma Polska, Restaurant ul. Kościuszki 101 Rozmarino, Restaurant, pizzeria ul. Kościuszki 75

16 Da Grasso, Pizzeria ul. Pułaskiego 30 Dominium, Pizzeria ul. Dwernickiego 15 Fantasy Park, pub ul. Dwernickiego 15 Pub BRAMA ul. Waryńskiego 7 Klub&Pub 54 ul. Kościuszki 54 Piwiarnia WARKA, pub ul. Chłodna 2 Supermarkets Name Address Opening times Tesco ul. Kościuszki 103 Monday Sunday: 24 h Plaza Center ul. Dwernickiego 15 Monday Sunday: Lidl ul. Jana Pawła II/ Monday Saturday Podhorskiego Sunday: Kaufland ul. Kowalskiego 2 Monday Saturday Sunday: Obi ul. Armii Krajowej 35 Monday Saturday Sunday:

17 Address of the Higher Vocational School in Suwalki: Higher Vocational School in Suwalki 10 T. Noniewicza Street Suwalki Poland tel fax International Office Anna Poźniak Institutional LLP-Coordinator Ph.: Fax: Barbara Kacprzyk-Gnoza Erasmus Programme Coordinator Ph.: Fax: