Opening up Central European Higher Education to the World Warszawa April 2008

How to attract in-coming students and not to loose your own?

3Higher Education in Poland©KRASP Rapid growth of HE sector after 1989 source: Central Statistical Office, 2004 students [in thousands] % /912003/ % API = 12.9% API = 46.4% HEIs /912003/04 public private

Troubles Different HEI’s have different approaches to foreign students At present, more Polish students go abroad than students come to us Polish universities are poorly prepared to teach in foreign languages

Troubles Our universities are less attractive for studying than European schools which have been prepared to operate on a European scale for years Poor infrastructure In majority - poor laboratories Lack of scholarships for students Difficult language

Troubles HEI’s do not have strategic plans for internationalisation of studies HEI’s structure in Poland is different from that in a majority of European countries We have a complicated system of free and tuition fees studies Higher education in Poland is in an unstable situation (lower number of candidates, financing of private HEI’s)

Positives: International students are well received Developed and attractive students’ culture Lower costs of living

What is necessary? We should not imitate strategies of the Western countries. Identify the needs and explore the possibilities of universities (a questionnaire) Universities of different categories will report different needs.

What is necessary? The „FS” program should start at HEI’s which are able to: offer curricula in foreign languages at a good level attractive also for good Polish secondary school graduates (in order to hold the most talented ones in Poland, avoiding brain drain).

What is necessary? offer infrastructure on a European level (student dormitories, didactic laboratories, libraries) advertise studies in Poland

What is necessary? Creation of a national programme of higher education promotion Good, durable, thoughtful publicity abroad

Preferences at the Jagiellonian University Exchange of students with European universities Double/joint degrees Double/joint doctoral studies Exchange of young scientists Paid studies for international students

13Higher Education in Poland©KRASP Incoming – outgoing students (UJ) 488 cooperation agreements Sokrates/Erasmus 2005/2006

Karol Musioł