The Erasmus+ Program creates opportunities to establish partnerships that would otherwise be extremely difficult to initiate and implement. A prime example of such cooperation is the partnership between the University of Lomza and Kanagawa University – an institution located in Yokohama, Japan's second-largest city. Despite the distance of nearly 8,500 kilometers, this partnership has been steadily developing since 2020.
In June 2025, two representatives of our University traveled to Japan: Zbigniew Dziekoński from the International Relations Department and Professor Wojciech Korneta. From June 23 to 27, they spent a week at Kanagawa University – one of our most important partners in Asia. During this visit, our representative participated in two meetings with students of the partner university, presenting the educational offer of the University of Łomża, introducing Polish culture and the Podlaskie region, and discussing the advantages of studying in Łomża. The meetings generated significant interest, with many questions about life in Poland and opportunities for exchange within the Erasmus+ Program.
During the visit, Zbigniew Dziekoński also had the opportunity to learn about the host university’s operations under the guidance of Mr. Simon John, Program Coordinator at the International Center of Kanagawa University. These meetings provided insights into Japan's system of international student recruitment and the organization of academic mobility. They also enabled the exchange of best practices related to supporting international students. The program included campus tours and visits around Yokohama.
The visit coincided with "Vietnamese Week," organized by the International Center – a week dedicated to Vietnamese culture, during which students showcased their traditional clothing and music and served national Vietnamese dishes in the university canteen. This event confirmed how strongly Kanagawa University emphasizes internationalization and promotes cultural exchange among students from different parts of the world.
Another important point of the visit was attending classes conducted by Mr. Atsuro Tatsuno and a meeting with Ms. Hitomi Seike, during which future directions for cooperation were discussed. The talks focused on opening mobility opportunities for Kanagawa University students at the University of Łomża and preparing the conditions for future exchanges of Łomża students to Japan.
The visit was also an opportunity to experience Japanese culture more closely. The representatives of our University visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Kamakura, and Nara, discovering the cultural heritage of Japan – from temples and historic sites to the daily life of local residents.
The visit to Kanagawa University was not only of formal importance but above all allowed for the establishment of closer, more personal relationships between our universities. We are confident that this growing partnership will bring tangible benefits to both students and staff of both institutions, and that cooperation with the Japanese university will contribute to further improving the quality of education at the University of Łomża.
