Guests of the conference include Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland; Dr Karolina Zioło-Pużak, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education; directors of institutions such as NAWA and FRSE; rectors and vice-rectors of public and private universities and people working for the internationalisation of science and higher education.
While opening the proceedings, Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk, pointed out that the conference is being organised at a special time not only for the Study in Poland programme (which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and the number of international students in Poland has exceeded the magic number of 100,000), but also at an exceptional time in terms of what is happening in the academy’s surroundings.
The so-called visa law is being processed, which we as a community are eagerly awaiting; the war in Ukraine is ongoing, international security is unstable, Poland has just taken over the presidency of the EU Council... These issues and many others pose huge challenges for us. And this is precisely what the conference slogan refers to, i.e. "Internationalisation in the face of new challenges"
– said Prof. Piotr Stepanowski.
Minister Andrzej Szeptycki explained that the so-called visa law, which is to be introduced in the spring of 2025 and will be in force already during admissions for the academic year 2025/2026, was to ensure the elimination of bottlenecks in the admissions of international students to Polish universities and to ensure that they are the best young people possible.
The last year was very dynamic for the academic community in this context, primarily due to the actions taken by the Polish government to eliminate existing irregularities related to internationalisation. The challenge for universities is to introduce such actions, thanks to which all students studying at a given higher education institution will constitute one integrated community, regardless of the language in which they study or their country of origin
– convinced Minister Andrzej Szeptycki.
Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska, President of KRASP and Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University, referring to the visa act currently being processed, pointed out that the academic community had a chance to cooperate in writing it: – Now we are waiting for this legal act with great hope, because we all want the path to obtaining a Polish student visa to be clear, transparent and fast. These are the three necessary conditions for the growing internationalisation of Polish higher education.
The conference consists of a number of sessions and thematic panels. Prof. Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, the University of Lodz Vice-Rector for Internationalization of science and Education, took part in the session entitled "Relations with international alumni as an important element of the university internationalisation process". The importance of building relationships with international alumni as a key element of the university internationalisation strategy was discussed. Participants underlined the role of emotions and bonds in creating lasting relationships with alumni, which can support the university's promotional activities and its recognition in the international arena. The topics of cooperation with the socio-economic environment, the role of alumni in building a network of connections with the labour market and their impact on increasing student employability were also discussed. Good practices in the field of contributing to the development of the university and its global position were presented.
Source: Study in Poland
Edit: Press Office, University of Lodz