SIT Nurse Educator, Marie Meyer and Head of Faculty for New Media, Arts, Business, and Computing, Trades and Technology, and Telford Campus, Hamish Small, spent five days (20 to 24 May) in Gdańsk, Poland to participate in the Powiślańska Academy of Applied Sciences International Week. The event brought together over 60 guests from more than 25 countries, supported by Erasmus+ group - the European Union's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
Mr Small and Ms Meyer spent the week mixing with academic staff from universities around the world to connect with colleagues across the business and health disciplines, build international partnerships, and strengthen relationships with Powiślańska Academy of Applied Sciences.
Ms Meyer recalled one of her highlights of the trip was having the opportunity to teach in a Polish university classroom and engage directly with students. “This provided valuable insight into different teaching approaches and encouraged open discussions about nursing education and healthcare systems in Poland, New Zealand, and other participating countries,” she said.
“It was interesting to see both the differences in how healthcare is delivered and the many common challenges faced across countries, including workforce pressures, an ageing population, and preparing students for increasingly complex healthcare environments.”
Ms Meyer said the week ran very smoothly, assisted by English being the primary language used throughout the programme. “This made it easy to communicate, collaborate, and build relationships with participants from a wide range of countries.”
Alongside the formal presentations and workshops, there were a number of informal networking opportunities that allowed conversations to continue and ideas to be shared.
A key outcome of the trip for SIT was the development of new international connections with educators and healthcare professionals. Their discussions focused on expanding collaboration through opportunities such as student and staff exchanges, study abroad programmes, internships, and shared teaching and research initiatives.
“Our Polish partners also expressed a strong interest for us to introduce them to our wider international network (China and Australia), to create further opportunities in strengthening global partnerships and to explore future collaborations across nursing and business.”
Ms Meyer pointed out growing the international relationships have the potential to provide valuable learning experiences for SIT students and staff while strengthening SIT's global engagement.
Ms Meyer also enjoyed the chance to experience Polish culture, describing Gdańsk as a colourful, beautifully restored city with a rich history.
“Walking through the city provided an appreciation of its historical significance, from its communist-era influences to its impressive post-war reconstruction, making it a fascinating place to visit both professionally and personally.”
Mr Small noted there was a high level of interest about Southland as a study destination during the trip. “Our visit to the Powiślańska Academy of Applied Sciences extends on SIT’s growing European partnerships with significant interest in Southland, New Zealand, as a destination for Euro-based study abroad students, and continual collaboration for our staff globally.”
Powiślańska Academy of Applied Sciences Director for International Affairs and Erasmus+ Programme Coordinator, Paulina Osuch, said one of the greatest benefits of
meeting the SIT representatives was the opportunity to establish personal connections with colleagues from the other side of the world.
“Although our Rector had previously shared valuable insights following her visit to SIT in September 2025, speaking directly with Marie and Hamish provided a much deeper understanding of New Zealand and its higher education environment.”
Ms Osuch said she found it fascinating to learn about both the similarities and differences between Poland and New Zealand—not only in terms of higher education systems, teaching approaches, and internationalisation, but also in relation to culture, everyday life, and societal values. “These conversations broadened our perspective and highlighted how international cooperation enables us to learn from different experiences and practices.”
Ms Osuch thought the meeting also strengthened the university’s motivation to further develop collaboration between the two institutions. “It reinforced the importance of building long-term international partnerships based on mutual understanding, knowledge exchange, and cultural appreciation,” she said.
Deputy Erasmus+ Programme Coordinator, Mateusz Grądzki, said he had received very positive feedback from International Week participants who valued the opportunity to experience cultural exchange in a truly international environment.
“Having representatives from different parts of the world in one place allowed them not only to build new professional and personal connections, but also to look at education, teaching and international cooperation from perspectives different from their own.”
Mr Grądzki added the guests also appreciated the chance to share experiences and good practices with colleagues from different academic and cultural backgrounds.
“I think this is one of the greatest strengths of an International Week - it creates a space where people can learn from each other beyond their own institutions and national contexts, while at the same time establishing contacts that may lead to future cooperation.”