Internationalization of Polish universities - development directions and challenges
31.01.2025
On January 30-31, the University of Gdańsk hosted a conference “Foreign Students in Poland 2025”, dedicated to the internationalization strategy of higher education. The event was accompanied by a meeting of the Presidium of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools of Poland. The session was attended by Deputy Ministers Karolina Ziolo-Puzhuk and Andrzej Szeptycki, who stressed the importance of internationalization for the further development of Polish education and science.
New challenges and developments
The conference discussed the current challenges of international academic cooperation. Special attention was paid to visa problems that affected the process of recruiting foreign students for the 2024/25 academic year. It was noted that after years of rapid growth in the number of foreign students, the challenge was to improve the quality of education and research and attract the most talented candidates to Polish universities.
20 years of the “Study in Poland” program
The event was also an opportunity to summarize the 20th anniversary of the “Study in Poland” program, run by KRASP and the Educational Foundation “Perspectives”. Thanks to this program, Poland has become a more recognizable destination for foreign students, and Polish universities have become more popular. Participants to the meeting stressed that the future of internationalization depended on effective measures to improve the quality of education and promote international research cooperation.
- State security is unquestionably the most important goal of the current government, especially in the context of the current geopolitical situation. Developing the right tools to better control the influx of people from third countries is a priority. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is striving to develop the most effective regulations to eliminate the disadvantages in this area that have occurred in recent years. We have been working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration to put a smooth system in place. We believe that changes should be made in a spirit of mutual dialogue, including in consultation with the academic community” - said Deputy Minister Andrzej Szeptycki.
Leaders in internationalization of higher education recognized
The event also included a gala at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theater during which individuals and institutions of particular merit to the internationalization of Polish higher education were honored. The “Stars of Internationalization 2025” awards were presented to those who have contributed to the promotion of Polish universities around the world with their work. In addition, the winners of the “INTERSTUDENT 2025” competition were announced, recognizing the best foreign students studying in Poland.
The meeting of the Presidium of KRASP and the conference “Foreign Students in Poland 2025” provided an opportunity for a broad discussion about the future of internationalization of Polish universities. The exchange of experience can become a stimulus for the development of new solutions that will strengthen Poland's position as a respected academic center on the international stage.