EUROPEAN

PROJECT SEMESTER

INTERNATIONAL FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF LODZ

International Faculty of Engineering

authors of texts:
MA Grażyna Budzińska
MA Joanna Auguścik

photographers:
Piotr Cylke
Jacek Szabela
Mariusz Kucharczyk
Grażyna Budzińska
Are you a student
Technical
of a
University
interested
in other cultures and
international
teamwork ?
1
 Do you have a good
command of

English?
Would you like to
develop your
communication
skills studying and
working in a multicultural

2 environment?
If yes,
join
the European Project Semester
run by the
International Faculty of Engineering,
the
Technical University of Łódź in Poland.

3
What is European Project Semester / EPS /?

The fast changing business environment, processes of globalisation as well as enlargement

of the European Union constitute real challenges for today’s graduates in engineering. Not only
do they have to be equipped with profound knowledge of engineering, be familiar with economics
and management but are also expected to function well in a multicultural environment demanding
international communication, teamwork skills and good command of languages.

The International Faculty of Engineering has started the EPS project in Poland in order to
createan opportunity for European young people to study and work together as well as exchange
experiences of different national and corporate cultures.

Within the framework of the EPS in Poland international student teams work on academic
inte-disciplinary projects which are carefully selected to match their specialities and capabilities as
well as to develop their intercultural communication and teamwork skills.
The language of communication is English.

4
How does it work?

The semester is divided into two parts. The first part comprises short intensive in-class courses
with international teachers. The other part is a project-based programme that focuses on knowledge,
initiative, creativity and responsibility of the students.

International teams of four to six members work together on interdisciplinary research

projects applying their knowledge and acquiring cross-cultural communication skills. The projects are
carefully prepared by the Technical University of Lodz academic staff and integrated into the state
required university curricula. The programme also contains numerous cultural and social activities
that enable its participants to learn about their cultural backgrounds as well as experience the Polish
culture.

5
 The EPS structure

The semester prepares the students for working in a

multicultural context while studying in a problem-based
project-organised scheme.
Its international and intercultural context lets
students exchange the variety of their experiences and
enables them to learn from differences in approach and
attitude due to various national backgrounds. In this way
the semester enriches academic education with a more
practical angle and prepares students for working in a
more global and cross-cultural environment of the future.

6
The following subjects, selected to support
projects, are part of the EPS programme:

• Teambuilding and Communication Skills

• International Business

• Project Management

• English Language

• Polish Language and Culture

7
Why EPS at the International Faculty of Engineering?

The IFE European Project Semester is unique in its character. Unlike other universities involved
in the EPS, the International Faculty of Engineering provides academic research projects, industrial
projects and business projects. The subjects of the projects are carefully selected from within
the framework of programmes offered by IFE: Mechanical Engineering and Applied Computer
Science, Telecommunications and Computer Science, Business and Technology, Computer Science,
Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Information Technology, Science and Technology as well as
Architecture Engineering.
During the last few years numerous projects have been successfully completed by international
students’ groups, among others:

“Development Strategy for New Centre of Lodz”,

“Marketing Study and a Draft Strategy for a Company

in the Steel Parts Industry”,

“Lightweight Gearbox- for which Markets?”,

“Nanotechnology for Energy Saving.

Nano-Products (System)-Concept Design”,

“Aerodynamic Noise Reduction of a Fan Rotor”,

“Co-branding in the Company”.

8
The IFE
European Project
Semester
is unique
in its character.

9
Who can participate?

To take part in the European Project Semester you should be a student with two years of completed
studies at a technical university which is either a partner of the Erasmus Programme or offers Bachelor
or Masters of Science degrees. However, the Technical University of Lodz is open for a discussion on
alternative student qualifications. It is important that students have a good working knowledge of
English in order to participate and contribute to teamwork as well as short intensive courses.

Take part in the

European
Project
Semester.
10
Assessment and Academic Recognition

The EPS provides workload and skills corresponding to 30 ECTS credits. Within the framework
of the EPS, project work accounts for 20 units, languages for 2 units each and short intensive courses
for the remaining 6 units.

Students are assessed based on the following:

• Observations of teamwork and individual students’ performance conducted by academic

supervisors as well as evaluation of the submitted documentation. Students are expected to
submit an interim and final project reports.
• Supervisors assessment of the final project outcome and execution
• Peer assessment
• Assessment of students participation in short intensive courses
• The exams completing short intensive courses
• The result of the final exam at which the report is discussed in detail with consideration to
both teamwork and individual contributions.

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 Theatres,
cinemas, concert halls,
higher
education institutions

with 115,000

students.
12
8
Lodz

In 19th century Lodz developed as a town of textile industry in the very centre of Poland. Nowadays
Lodz is the second largest city in Poland, famous
for its Film Academy and one of the longest
streets - eclectic Piotrkowska Street, part of
which is paved with bricks bearing names of Lodz
citizens. Piotrkowska Street is well known not
only due to its length and art nouveau mansion
houses but also thanks to more than a hundred
pubs, restaurants and café gardens.
In Lodz there is the greatest in Europe monumental complex of factory premises and residential
buildings called Księży Młyn, a unique Jewish cemetery and numerous museums. Here you can find

theatres, cinemas, concert halls, higher education institutions with 115,000 students as well as an
entertainment and trade centre called Manufaktura.

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Technical University of Lodz

Currently, it has more than 20 000 students on ten different technical faculties, anything from
electrical engineering through chemistry to textile marketing. The Technical University is ranked in
top five among national technical schools; its programmes are constantly updated to meet students’
expectations.
The University campus, located close to the city centre, makes it very easy to enjoy the unique
atmosphere and cultural
mix of the city. International
students are taken care of by
several students’ organisations
helping them to accommodate
in the new surroundings, and
make their stay in Poland an
unforgettable experience.

For more information visit:

www.p.lodz.pl

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8
IFE

The International Faculty of Engineering is a unique unit at the Technical University of Lodz,
in central Poland. IFE, as the name suggests, is the meeting place of students from abroad. This
interfaculty entity offers courses in
French and English in many different
fields. Classes are carried out in
small groups in newly equipped
laboratories, all in accordance with
the Bologna Process guidelines
as certified by ECTS label. As an
international student you may apply
either for Erasmus, EPS - European
Project Semester or other exchange
programmes. Graduates of IFE are well educated English or French speaking engineers, highly
appreciated by international institutions and companies. All courses at IFE focus not only on major
subjects, but also on organization and management as well as general, but crucial competencies
such as group work or communication skills.

For more details please visit our site:

www.ife.p.lodz.pl

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 This is a very good way
to develop skills
needed in
individual
as well as group work.

16
Students Say About Us

IFE offers a chance to participate in a one-semester programme called The

European Project Semester, and based on an interdisciplinary project in
international teams. This is a very good way to develop skills needed in
individual as well as group work. In my opinion, this project constitutes a very
useful bridge between the student and the professional environment.

Jean-Stanislas Russocki (ENSAM )

EPS is a great opportunity to work in a close team with like minded people
from all over Europe. There are a wide range of interesting projects available
to make sure that you will learn something useful. EPS will look great on your
C.V especially if you have ambitions of working abroad after graduating. The
department is really helpful and the social life amongst EPS participants is
great.

Sean McManus (University of Strathclyde Glasgow)

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 REGISTRATION
CThe European Project Semester at the International Faculty of Engineering
starts in the middle of February and ends at the end of June.
For further information and documents please visit our website
www.ife.p.lodz.pl or contact the International Faculty of Engineering.

Please send application forms with an enclosed CV

by fax
(48 42) 363 06 52

or e-mail
admin@ife.p.lodz.pl

to

The application deadline is 15 November.

18
 published by
International Faculty of Engineering
Technical University of Lodz
2011
 INTERNATIONAL
FACULTY OF
ENGINEERING

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF LODZ

Address:
ul. Żwirki 36
90-924 Łódź

e-mail:admin@ife.p.lodz.pl
tel.: (48 42) 638 38 00
(48 42) 636 53 08
fax: (48 42) 636 06 52 www.ife.p.lodz.pl