The second day of the ‘Foreign Students in Poland 2025’ conference, organised as part of the ‘Study in Poland’ programme, is behind us. Over 300 participants took part in thematic sessions devoted to issues of internationalisation in higher education and the challenges it entails. This year's edition of the conference was part of two anniversaries: the 20th anniversary of the ‘Study in Poland’ programme, run jointly by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the ‘Perspektywy’ Educational Foundation, and the 55th anniversary of the University of Gdańsk.
‘”Horizon”, as we know, opens up possibilities,’ said prof. Teofil Jesionowski, Rector of the Poznań University of Technology, Chairman of the CRASP Science Committee, opening the 4th plenary session entitled ‘Key to the Horizon - how to increase the effectiveness of Polish universities in EU grant competitions?’. Referring to Poland's jubilee in the European Union and the Polish presidency in the EU, he invited the panellists to discuss the use of funds from the Horizon Europe programme by Polish universities. The panellists included: dr Tomasz Poprawka, Director of the Science Promotion Office of the PolSCA PAS in Brussels; Magdalena Bem-Andrzejewska, Director of the National Contact Point for Horizon Europe at the NCBR; Waldemar Dubaniowski, Director of the NCBR Office in Brussels; prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik, Rector of the Łódź University of Technology, Chairman of the NCPUT; and prof. Marek Pawełczyk, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, Chairman of the NCASP International Cooperation Committee.
The panellists discussed the unsatisfactory level to which Poland benefits from Horizon Europe funding. Issues raised included the relatively small representation of representatives of Polish science in Brussels, the shape of the system of financing higher education in Poland (and the related difficulties of creating programmes to support and motivate researchers applying for grants), or the resistance of some researchers to cooperate. Aspects of effective self-presentation of scientists and their presence at decision-making forums were also highlighted.
Dr Olena Akimova, Dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Law at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, acting as Coordinator of the IFU Project from Ukraine in her presentation entitled ‘Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute: Leading the Way into the Future with Educational Innovations’ outlined the challenges faced by her university in relation to the war - and the solutions put in place to respond to the needs of this unique situation, both from an educational (hybrid teaching system, new educational programmes) and social perspective (e.g. the development of research activities responding to the needs of the army or government administration, and psychological support for the academic community under the stress and trauma of war). She thanked for the support her country and the university receive from Polish society, the government and Polish academic centres.
Prof. Piotr Jedynak, Rector of the Jagiellonian University, invited the participants to the next edition of the conference, ‘Foreign Students in Poland 2026’, in Krakow.
The fifth plenary session ‘European Universities: Quo vadis? On the future of the European universities initiative from different perspectives’ was chaired by the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations at the University of Gdańsk, dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG, chairwoman of the KRUP University Internationalisation Committee. Among other things, they spoke about the fifth anniversary of the European University of the Seas (SEA-EU) consortium.
‘I am glad to see that, in principle, in most European documents, alliances of universities are an inseparable element of the development policy of European higher education,’ said prof. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler at the beginning of the session.
Participants in the discussion included prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for International and Domestic Cooperation at the University of Silesia (a member of the Transform4Europe alliance), Magdalena Sikorska, Secretary General of EUNICE AISBL (involved in the EUNICE4U project), prof. Ewa Gruszczynska, Vice-Rector for International Relations at SWPS (a member of the ERUA alliance), prof. Michał Markuszewski, Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk (member of the ACE2-EU alliance) and prof. Rafał Witkowski, Pro-rector for International Cooperation of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (member of the EPICUR alliance).
They discussed the challenges facing universities in European alliances. According to Magdalena Sikorska, there are currently 65 such alliances. Issues such as the future of funding (especially in the context of mobilising university funding), the legal status of such alliances or experiences in cooperation with social and business stakeholders were raised. Ways of dealing with the alliance fatigue effect, i.e. the weariness that appears after the initial euphoria of cooperation, were discussed. Prof. Ewa Gruszczynska and prof. Michal Markuszewski drew attention to the challenges faced by non-public and branch universities. ‘We do not want to be an elite. We want to turn our universities into European universities,' stressed prof. M. Markuszewski. According to the panellists, the best way to make the alliances sustainable is to give them legal personality. The discussion also recognised those involved in internationalisation processes - including administration. Prof. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, among others, spoke about the fact that every alliance is based on people, their vision and energy.
‘Internationalisation 2025 day by day - issues, reports, announcements’ was the topic of the sixth plenary session. It was chaired by dr Julia Łysik, coordinator of the ‘Study in Poland’ programme, International Affairs Director of the Educational Foundation ‘Perspektywy’.
Speakers from partner organisations were invited to take part in the discussion: Jarosław Narkiewicz, President of the Council of the World Polish Diaspora, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania; dr Joanna Jancz, Head of the Team for the Promotion of Higher Education Abroad, NAWA, Anna Nieczaj, President of the National Representation of PhD Students, Aleksandra Różańska, Director of the ‘Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit’ and Anna Kowalczyk, President of the Erasmus Student Network.
They discussed the challenges of integrating the Polish community in various regions of the world and presented the activities of organisations that try to meet the needs of our compatriots, e.g. in terms of student exchange. Dr Joanna Jancz talked about the calendar of international events prepared by NAWA, and Aleksandra Różańska presented the ‘technical and female’ side of internationalisation on the example of two programmes aimed at combating gender discrimination: ‘Her Tech Venture’ and ‘Women in Tech Summit’. Anna Nieczaj introduced participants to the challenges faced by doctoral students, emphasising the need for good quality psychological support. Thanks to Anna Kowalczyk, conference participants also had the opportunity to learn about the results of the ESN report, presenting the perspective of students in the context of ERASMUS+ international exchange. The session culminated with a presentation of 20 years of the ‘Study in Poland’ programme, presented by dr Julia Łysik.
The conference concluded with a closing session entitled ‘Challenges of Internationalisation of Higher Education in Poland’. Speakers included prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski - Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. dr hab. inż Marek Pawełczyk - Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, and Waldemar Siwiński - President of the IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence, President and founder of the ‘Perspektywy’ Educational Foundation.
Waldemar Siwiński thanked those involved in co-creating the conference: the Rector of the University of Gdańsk and the ‘Perspektywy’ team. He emphasised the value of broad contacts and joint articulation of important issues.
Prof. Marek Pawełczyk thanked the University of Gdańsk for this year's excellent conference and the ‘Perspektwy’ Educational Foundation for 20 years of the programme, which grows stronger every year and brings great results. ‘I congratulate these successes and hope that in the years to come the development of internationalisation will flourish in Poland. We face many obstacles, but we are trying to overcome them. I think the presence of many eminent people at this event will help us to find solutions rather than difficulties.’
The Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Piotr Stepnowski thanked the organisers from the UG side for their efforts in preparing the event, as well as the Academic Cultural Centre and the Gdansk Academic Orchestra for adding splendour to the ceremony. He also thanked the ‘Perspektywa’ team for their fruitful cooperation.
‘I believe that the conference really enriched us. I hope that you leave Gdańsk with the conviction that, despite the difficult times and challenges of internationalisation, we will not be so easily defeated, whatever that ‘dragon’ is that we are fighting against,‘ said prof. Piotr Stepnowski.
