“Internationalisation in the Face of New Challenges”
The conference “International Students in Poland 2026” has concluded at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. It is one of the most important annual meetings of communities and institutions involved in shaping the internationalisation strategy of Polish higher education.
Pomeranian University in Słupsk was represented by the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, professor Anna Babicka-Wirkus, who took part in debates devoted to current challenges and future directions in the field of universities’ international cooperation.
The conference was held as part of the “Study in Poland” programme, jointly implemented by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the “Perspektywy” Education Foundation. For many years, the programme has brought together around 60 Polish universities and has become a key element in promoting Polish higher education internationally.
Key topics discussed during the conference included building a culture of internationalisation at universities, strengthening Poland’s position as an educational brand, tools for increasing the attractiveness of academic offerings for international students, as well as opportunities and threats resulting from the dynamic changes in this area. An important part of the discussions also focused on implementing good practices developed in other countries.
Today, the internationalisation of universities is increasingly understood as more than just increasing the number of international students. The contemporary approach places emphasis on the quality of education, safety, and a long-term, coherent development strategy. At the same time, participants highlighted the importance of continuing and further developing nearly 20 years of achievements in the internationalisation of Polish universities, while taking into account new social, demographic, and geopolitical realities.