The National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA, Polish: Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej) has awarded WUST with funding for three grants, which will help to improve the process of our university’s internationalisation shortly.

Funding under the SPINAKER – Intensive International Education Programmes programme has been awarded to two projects submitted by Wrocław University of Science and Technology:

• “New international curricula at the Faculty of Architecture using remote and hybrid learning formula – CREATE" (funding of 743 thousand PLN),
• “International remote and hybrid learning programmes implemented as part of summer and winter schools – SWITCH" (funding of 631 thousand PLN).

With the support of NAWA, 24 new or adapted courses in English will be launched at the university with international students in mind. The courses will be implemented in the form of summer and winter schools. Students and PhD students who qualify for the programme will participate in events delivered remotely or under the hybrid model. Those to come to Wrocław will receive a scholarship to cover the costs of their stay.

– It’ll be a great opportunity for them to enrich their experience by taking part in the summer school – believes Anna-Maria Rogalska, head of the Department of International Cooperation. – We hope that when the participants of the programme get to know more about what our university offers, but also about the culture of Poland and the benefits of living in Wrocław, they will choose to continue their education at Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

Eight faculties are involved in the project: Architecture, Chemistry, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Management, Mechanical and Power Engineering, Electronics, and Microsystems and Photonics. 

The whole process is coordinated jointly by the Department of International Cooperation and the Projects Department. The grants will run until October 2022.

The aim of the SPINAKER programme by newly launched NAWA is to internationalise Polish tertiary education and science institutions and by financing projects aimed at:

• increasing the interest in the educational offering of Polish science and higher education institutions among foreign students and doctoral students;
• increasing the participation of foreign students and doctoral students in educational programmes conducted at Polish universities;
• expanding the offering of intensive international curricula, including those delivered remotely.

A university open to new cultures

WUST’s third project which NAWA decided to finance is the "International Centre of Wrocław University of Science and Technology –  a University Open to New Cultures". Our university will receive almost 400 thousand PLN for this project under the “Welcome to Poland” programme. It aims to improve the quality of services provided to foreign students, doctoral students, and teaching and research staff, as well as to facilitate their bonding with one another and settling in in our city.

The project aims to increase the extent of staff communication with foreigners, change attitudes and increase bonding between Polish and foreign students, dispel stereotypes, shape attitudes of openness and tolerance to a greater degree, facilitate the functioning of the foreign community in the country and at the university, which are new to them, as well as strengthen the image of WUST as a university that offers high-quality education and space to fulfil ambitious aspirations.

 – We’re going focus on the so-called internationalisation at home, i.e. the bonding of foreign students with the academic environment as well as the community of Wrocław as a whole – explains Anna-Maria Rogalska from the Department of International Cooperation.  – Also, it’ll be our first time to go out into the city space and invite all residents of Wrocław to participate in our events – she adds.

WUST employees and students will have an additional opportunity to take part in workshops developed with their specific needs in mind, covering subjects such as cultural differences. They will also attend film screenings, with the repertoire to be selected by our foreign students, or take part in photo competitions, trips in the region, and cultural events. 

Again, the initiative is coordinated by the Department of International Cooperation together with the Projects Department.  The programme will run until May 2023.

The aim of the "Welcome to Poland" project is to internationalise Polish higher education and science institutions by financing projects related to developing their ability to internationalise as well as host and look after foreign students, doctoral students, and teaching and research staff, promoting these institutions in the international arena, in particular through the promotion of Polish higher education and science institutions abroad and cooperation with foreign graduates.