Poland in Armenia

Within the Kirkland Research Program, we offer a scholarship for a one-semester research stay in Poland during the 2025/26 academic year for candidates with a PhD degree who have an established academic position.

FIELDS:

• Economics and Management
• Administration / Management in Business, NGOs, Culture, Education, and Healthcare
• Public Administration (Central and Local Government Administration)
• Law (including Human Rights with Issues of Migration)
• Social Sciences (Social Psychology, Sociology)
• Political Science and International Relations
• Environmental and Climate Protection
• Security and Cybersecurity
• Crisis Management
• Development Policy and Humanitarian Aid
• Fields related to the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the war, e.g., urban planning, civil engineering, forensic science, etc.

Kirkland Research scholarship is a scholarship for a stay in Poland from mid-September to late January (first semester). Kirkland Research Program grantees have to participate in scientific seminars and to work individually under the supervision of an academic advisor; this work is to result in the preparation of a scientific article. The requirement for obtaining a diploma for completing the Program is a scientific article approved for printing by the grantee’s academic advisor and the presentation, during the January convention of grantees, of the results of this work.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

You must

• have citizenship and permanent residence in one of the countries covered by the Kirkland Research Program: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan; the competition is also open to citizens of Belarus or Ukraine residing in Poland for political reasons, who found themselves in Poland after January 2024.
• be under 45 years of age;
• have experience in research and scientific work - minimum 4 years;
• have at least two years break from participation in any previous scholarship abroad that was longer than 6 months; this cretarion does not apply to candidates from Ukraine of Belarus, staying in Poland since 2024
• have scientific achievements, including publications;
• have a knowledge of Polish or English at minimum B2 level. (In the case of having English at B2 level, Polish must be at least at A1 level) 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

• stipend paid for four months (2,700 PLN per month)
• accommodation provided during the four months stay in Poland
• reimbursement of travel expenses (arrival in Poland and return) according to limits set annually
• reimbursement of public transport costs
• scientific and didactic package up to PLN 3,500
• health insurance for medical outpatient care, treatment costs in case of an emergency, and civil liability insurance
• participation in additional training courses and Polish language classes.

SELECTION PROCESS:

The best candidates will be selected in a 3-stage evaluation process :
I. Review of applications with regard to eligibility criteria
II. Review of applications by experts in the fields in question
III. Interviews (planned for 2–25 April 2025)

The candidates who advance to Stage 3 will be notified by e-mail by the end of March 2025. Information on the final nominations will be e-mailed to the candidates in May 2025. 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

You must fill-in the on-line application form, that include the following:

• personal data questionnaire.
• description of the candidate’s scientific activity.
• research work project - justification for participation in the Kirkland Research Program, together with proposals for how the results of conducted research will be used (7500-12000 characters with spaces).

Two letters of reference (in Polish, English, or Russian) confirming the candidate's achievements and qualifications to date, and the usefulness of the research to be conducted through participation in the Kirkland Research Program in the candidate's further development and work in her/his professional or social field

A copy of the PhD diploma.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

A description of the program and detailed application instructions can be obtained directly from the following website: www.kirkland.edu.pl.
Application forms should be filled out on-line and include the following attachments in PDF: 2 letters of reference and a copy of candidate’s since degree, an introduction to the planned scientific article and the working paper.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Application forms and relevant documents should be received by the Program Office no later than: 1 march 2025 Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

• Inauguration of the Program and introductory course (8-10 days, mid-September 2025)
• Individual research work in one of the Polish academic centers: Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, or Lublin (from October 2025 to January 2026)
• Preparation of a scientific article
• Grantees’ conventions:
• Participation in a Polish language course (throughout scholarship period)
• Presentation of the grantee’s research work results (January 2026)

THE PROGRAM PATRON:

The Program is named after Lane Kirkland (1922-1999), the legendary trade union leader (AFL-CIO), member of the Polish-American Enterprise Fund Board of Directors, and promoter of the PolishAmerican Freedom Foundation. In the 1980’s, he wholeheartedly supported the Polish “Solidarity” movement. He also understood and supported the aspirations for freedom and democracy of other peoples of Central and Eastern Europe. He was awarded the highest distinctions, including the American “Medal of Freedom” and the Polish “Order of the White Eagle.” In 2022, he was posthumously awarded the "Medal of Gratitude" for his support for the Polish "Solidarity" movement

CONTACT:
Leaders of Change Foundation
www.leadersofchange.pl
L. Kirkland Scholarship Program
Al. Jerozolimskie 133 m. 56, 02-304 Warsaw, Poland
E-mail: kirkland@kirkland.edu.pl
www.kirkland.edu.pl

POLISH-AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATION (PAFF) - Program Founder The Foundation began its program activities in 2000 with the dual intention of consolidating the results of the transition begun in Poland in 1989 and sharing the Polish experience of transformation with other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In Poland, the Foundation pursues its goal mainly through programs aimed at equalizing educational opportunities and improving the quality of education, as well as supporting civic activity at the local level, especially in rural areas and small towns. Between 2000 and 2024, the Foundation allocated more than $270 million for its activities while raising nearly 288 for foundation programs from other sources. The Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program, implemented from2000, is a long-term endeavor for the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, and has been administered by the Leaders of Change Foundation since 2016. Additional information about the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and its programs can be found at: www.pafw.pl

LEADERS OF CHANGE FOUNDATION (FLP) – Program Administrator The Foundation was established in February 2016 by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. The main activities of the Foundation include the administration of the long-term programs financed by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation: the Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program and "Study Tours to Poland" Program. The Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program and Study Tours to Poland Program were transferred to the new Foundation, together with their experienced teams who have been responsible for their creation for many years. A combination of programs with similar profiles, and the participation of new people in their co-creation constitute an opportunity to expand and enrich our activities. We would like to have a broad offer addressed to those who are willing to benefit from the experiences of active people from East Europe, the Caucasus region, and Central Asia. In collaboration with academic centers and institutions in the public and NGO sectors, we also hope to offer some new forms of internship and research stays in Poland. We gather together people who believe in the power of change. Additional information about the Foundation is available at www.leadersofchange.pl