From August 8-18, 2025, during the 2024/25 academic year, I completed an internship as part of the Erasmus+ program. I chose Mendel University in Brno as my destination. The internship was held at the Faculty of Horticulture, Department of Horticultural Machinery, located in Lednice. The internship allowed me to learn new research techniques and refine my skills. I have been collaborating with the host university, along with my doctoral dissertation advisor, dr. hab. Arkadiusz Matwijczuk, a professor at the university. Our work resulted in the publication of one publication.

My on-site supervisor was Professor Patrik Burg. He showed me around campus, familiarized me with the laboratory, and discussed the techniques used there. I also learned about the topics explored by the Professor’s group, which concern the production of biofuels from agricultural residues. They primarily use a calorimeter to test the properties of their products. During the trip, I completed approximately 80 hours of practical work, during which I learned how to use the aforementioned device to test selected samples. I communicated in English on-site, which allowed me to develop my language skills.

The official currency in the Czech Republic is the Czech crown, which has an exchange rate of approximately PLN 0.2. The best way to reach the town of Lednice is by car. The journey from Lublin is approximately 720 km and takes about 8 hours. The cost of such a round-trip trip is approximately PLN 1000.

Once in Lednice, I stayed about 300 meters from the university. For 11 days, I budgeted about PLN 3,000 for an apartment with a kitchenette. The university is located in a quiet neighborhood and has a garden open to all residents. As part of the faculty’s field of study, landscape architecture, there are 11 demonstration gardens located near the university. Each one is related to a different theme (e.g., rose garden, water garden, or kitchen garden). During the academic year, field trips are held there.

The quality of life in the city is good. Lednice is a small town (approximately 2,500 inhabitants) located in the geographical region known as Moravia. The city often becomes a tourist destination due to its attractions – the Palace and numerous bike paths. Prices in shops and restaurants are similar to those in Poland.