What Happens When ECU Goes Global? Erasmus+ Trip Opens Doors for Students and Research

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What Happens When ECU Goes Global? Erasmus+ Trip Opens Doors for Students and Research

Monday, 14 April 2025

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When ECU School of Business and Law academics set off for Poland on Erasmus+ International Teaching Scholarships, they planned to share knowledge and build global connections, but they returned with even more than they expected.

The trip secured fully funded scholarships for ECU students, sparked new international research projects, and confirmed an upcoming visit from European university leaders to our Perth campus.

From Perth to Poland

In March 2025, Dr Violetta Wilk, Dr Jalleh Sharafizad, and Professor Kerry Brown travelled to the University College of Enterprise & Administration (WSPA) in Lublin, Poland, as part of the European Union’s prestigious Erasmus+ International Teaching Program.

Across five days, they delivered lectures, led workshops, and met with academic and industry leaders from across Europe.

But this was more than a teaching trip. It became a gateway to new opportunities for ECU students and staff.

Real Outcomes and Results

What began as a teaching opportunity quickly evolved into something more, opening new pathways for student mobility and research collaboration.

The visit delivered clear and exciting results:

Two fully funded Erasmus+ scholarships secured for ECU students, each valued at over €5,000, to study at WSPA in 2026.
Plans for up to six collaborative research projects involving partner universities in Poland, Iceland, Spain, Cyprus, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Two new teaching collaborations between ECU and WSPA under development.
An incoming visit from WSPA leadership, with the Chancellor, Rector, and Vice-Rector set to visit ECU’s Perth campus in May.

“This trip has been about building meaningful connections that go beyond the classroom,” said Dr Violetta Wilk, who first established ECU’s partnership with WSPA in 2022.

“We’re creating opportunities for our students to engage internationally, and for our researchers to collaborate on projects with real-world impact.”

A Week of Global Connections

During their time in Lublin, the ECU team connected with a diverse group of students, academics, and entrepreneurs. They delivered lectures to around 70 WSPA undergraduates, covering topics from business strategy to the current challenges in international business.

They also led professional development workshops for the Biz4Sis Women Entrepreneurs community, sharing insights into business resilience, social media marketing, and strategic growth.

Beyond the classroom, ECU academics met with representatives from organisations such as Baobab, a Polish non-profit supporting local communities, and Adventures for Students, an Icelandic mobility organisation, to explore future collaborations.

“These conversations were highly promising,” said Professor Kerry Brown. “There’s a genuine interest in working together, and we’re seeing real potential for projects that benefit communities across borders.”

A Growing Global Partnership

With WSPA’s senior leadership visiting ECU in May, discussions are already underway to expand joint research, teaching, and mobility programs.

For ECU students and staff, these developments are opening new avenues for international experience and collaboration.

As Dr Wilk puts it, “This is just the beginning. We’re excited about the future of this partnership and the opportunities it will create.”

School of Business and Law