Study visits - NAWA

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  • Strategic Partnerships ProgrammeStrategic Partnerships Programme
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    In 2024, we made three study visits to sister agencies in Europe.

    These included discussions on the process of developing similar strategy documents at SAIA in Bratislava, OeAD in Vienna and DAAD in Bonn. The purpose of meetings with foreign agencies dealing with internationalisation is to learn about best practices that can be adapted in the Polish system of science and higher education.

    In September 2024, the first incoming study visit of sister agency Rannis from Iceland took place.

    For 2025, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange has a number of further activities planned related to the construction of the Polish strategy for the internationalisation of science and higher education, including further study visits.

     

    SAIA

    A study visit of the NAWA to the Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA), which is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) implementing programmes and providing services to strengthen civil society and help internationalise higher education, education and research in Slovakia, took place in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 17-18 October 2024.

    SAIA, together with Slovak stakeholders (including ministries, NGO's, higher education institutions), launched the Slovak Strategy for Internationalisation of Higher Education and Science in 2021. Official work on the strategy started in 2019, followed by two years of consultations, culminating in the entry into force of the strategy.

    NAWA's study visit to Bratislava was an important step in the development of the Polish strategy for the internationalisation of higher education and science. During meetings with representatives of the Slovak agency SAIA, which successfully implemented its strategy, the processes that accompanied its creation and implementation were discussed.

    The visit was divided into three thematic blocks, during which experiences and knowledge were exchanged.

    The first block discussed the internationalisation strategy at national level. The process of developing an internationalisation strategy at national level was discussed in detail, focusing on the example of Slovakia. Participants were able to trace the history of the evolution of this strategy and the key elements influencing its formation.

    Another thematic block was devoted to communication aspects. Activities carried out in social media and on the SAIA website were discussed, as well as strategies for communication and promotion of the agency's activities both at the strategy development and implementation stages. Issues related to the funding of internationalisation strategies and mechanisms for promoting Slovak science and higher education internationally were also presented. Various national internationalisation policies and their impact on the development of the scientific and academic sector were also discussed.

    Within the third thematic block, legislative issues related to the internationalisation of resources in higher education and science were addressed. Michal Fedak - Executive Director of SAIA and Karla Zimanová - Deputy Executive Director, presented the National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation 2030 and the support mechanisms for Slovak researchers and their mobility.

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    DAAD

    On 18 and 19 November 2024, another study visit of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange in Germany took place in Bonn, where we visited the German DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). During the visit, the new internationalisation strategy developed by the German Federal Government and the Länder was presented. The current strategy for the internationalisation of German universities entitled Internationalisierung der Hochschulen in Deutschland Strategie der Wissenschaftsministerinnen und Wissenschaftsminister von Bund und Ländern (2024-2034) replaced the previous strategy adopted in 2013 entitled Internationalisation of Education, Science and Research - A Federal Government Strategy.

    There was a discussion about the new challenges facing not only German but also global internationalisation: global political, technological and social changes that require new approaches to internationalisation.

    The consultation process for the strategy, which started in early 2023 and lasted nine months, was also discussed.

    Best practices were also shared during the meeting. Topics and recommendations for building the Polish strategy were discussed. Important aspects such as synergy with the labour market and its needs were highlighted as this is crucial for internationalisation and helps to maintain a high retention rate of foreign researchers and students, funding issues for university activities were also clarified and attention was drawn to issues that cause Germany to update its own strategy: geopolitical, social, environmental, sustainability, equal opportunities and digitalisation.

    The development of the new DAAD 2030 strategy, national support for European universities and a focus on marketing strategy were also discussed. The presentation outlined activities to promote Germany as one of the most attractive study destinations in the world.

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    OeAD

    On 27 and 28 November, the last study visit of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange in Vienna to the Austrian agency OeAD (Österreichs Agentur für Bildung und Internationalisierung) took place. During NAWA's visit to OeAD, sustainability in higher education and science was discussed as a key thematic priority.

    Attention was drawn to the need to reduce the environmental impact of academic mobility and the global responsibility of universities. In this context, the importance of long-term green strategies, the promotion of low-carbon transport and the introduction of additional travel days and higher subsidies for greener modes of transport were highlighted. There are also plans to create a book of good practice and organise green events. Under the new guidelines, travel time should be treated as working time and reporting on sustainability measures will become a legal obligation.

    In the context of green travel, a higher subsidy is foreseen for those choosing environmentally friendly modes of transport. It is expected that for routes up to 500 km, priority will be given to rail travel. The Erasmus programme plans to promote the Interrail Pass, and green travel has been included in its implementation guidelines and in the European Solidarity Corps Green Strategy. An important element of support for sustainability will be SALTO Green, a resource centre dedicated to this topic.

    The visit also discussed the ‘Study in Austria’ campaign, which aims to link study and research and strengthen the role of OeAD grantees as ambassadors of international cooperation and network builders. In the context of the internationalisation strategy, attention was drawn to its genesis, resulting from the university's bottom-up initiatives, and its revision in 2020. The document has been developed in a dynamic and accessible way so that it takes no more than 20 minutes to read. The strategy takes into account the commitments arising from the UN Agenda 2030.

    Among the strategy's objectives are to develop an understanding of science and democracy, to build a European identity and to promote internationalisation at university level, which includes openness to different backgrounds and language learning. There is an emphasis on digitalisation, green internationalisation, equal opportunities and active participation in democratic life. There is also an initiative to increase mobility among science (STEM) students, who tend to remain less mobile. Special attention was given to supporting refugees, highlighting language and social barriers and the need to avoid stigmatising them.

     The last issue discussed was research risks, threats and security in international cooperation. The challenge of balancing open science and research security and the need for responsible internationalisation was pointed out.

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    RANNIS

    On 06 September 2024, NAWA hosted a study visit by sister agency Rannis from Iceland. The delegation included almost 60 people from the organisation, headed by its director Ágúst Ingthórsson.

    A meeting was held between representatives of NAWA and the Icelandic agency Rannis as part of the cooperation for the internationalisation of higher education and science. The main topic of discussion was the internationalisation strategy and how to implement it in practice. The discussion covered key areas of the two institutions' activities, including programme offerings for students and researchers, promotional activities and administrative and legal aspects related to the implementation of international academic projects.

    During the meeting, special attention was paid to initiatives supporting the mobility of students and researchers. Programmes addressed to various groups of beneficiaries were presented, including: offer for students - including scholarships and programmes supporting academic mobility, as well as special initiatives for developing countries and programmes dedicated to Ukraine and EU4Belarus; and support for researchers - opportunities for bilateral cooperation, joint research projects and participation in the European programme Horizon Europe.

    Activities related to the process of recognition of academic and professional qualifications under the ENIC/NARIC system and the Euraxess initiative, supporting researchers' mobility and career development internationally, were also discussed.

    An important aspect of the discussions was the issue of promoting Poland and Iceland as attractive destinations for students and researchers from all over the world. Communication strategies and promotional activities aimed at both individuals and academic institutions were addressed. The possibilities of strengthening cooperation between universities and research institutes of both countries and increasing their visibility in the international academic community were also considered. The Rannis Agency presented its ideas and activities as part of the ‘Study in Iceland’ programme.

    During the meeting, issues related to the functioning of NAWA's IT system were also discussed, including the IT tools used, cooperation with OPI and standards and requirements for project implementation. The subject of monitoring the effects of NAWA's development strategy was discussed, including the measurement of the impact of the Agency's activities on the development of Polish science and the economy, and the preparation of reports on Poland's academic cooperation with selected countries. Programme evaluation procedures and other mechanisms for monitoring and optimising the Agency's activities were also presented.

    The meeting between NAWA and Rannis was an important step towards building an effective strategy for the internationalisation of higher education and science. The issues discussed open up new possibilities for cooperation between Poland and Iceland, both in the context of support for students and researchers, as well as international promotion and effective management of academic programmes.

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    DZS

    A study visit by the Czech agency DZS (Dům zahraniční spolupráce) to the NAWA headquarters in Warsaw took place on 25-26 February 2025. The delegation was headed by DSZ director Michal Uhl and his deputy Roman Klepetko.

    The DZS represents the Czech Republic as an attractive place to study and conduct research. Among other things, the visit discussed the Czech internationalisation strategy and the agency's activities to promote the country. DZS promotes the Czech Republic through its ‘Study in Czechia’ campaign, with 9 out of 10 students rating studies there as high quality.

    This campaign aims to promote the Czech Republic, Czech culture and the Czech language. The Czechs are investing in internationalisation and demographic projections show that foreign students are key to the country's development. The ‘Study in Czechia’ campaign encourages people to choose the Czech Republic as a place for study and an academic career.

    The Agency runs programs for alumni, including Czechia Alumni, which involves 12 ambassadors and a newsletter informing subscribers about upcoming events. The Agency also employs 13 Czech language lecturers who work in 10 countries around the world, with the largest number of Czech professors teaching in Poland and France.

    DZS also publishes the quarterly magazine Mozaika and collaborates with experts on the development of an internationalization strategy aimed at achieving 30% internationalization within five years.

    During the visit, it was noted that the strategy implementation process includes consultations with the academic community and relevant ministries, taking into account issues such as migration policy, trade, and alumni cooperation. The Czech side emphasized the importance of a flexible strategy with regular updates every 2–3 years to avoid stagnation and obsolescence. They also stressed the need for a fair approach to funding and rewarding international activities, where prestige plays a more significant role than financial gratification. Additionally, attention was drawn to matters related to the security of the education system and crisis management.

    DZS actively promotes studying in the Czech Republic, particularly in Central and Eastern European countries as well as in Central Asia. The DZS office in Brussels functions as an information hub, supporting academic institutions in project implementation and in securing EU funding. The promotion strategy is based on 10 criteria, including safety, economic stability, and the academic potential of a given country.

    In the context of demographics, forecasts indicate a significant labor shortage in the Czech Republic by 2039, making the recruitment of international students a key element of both educational and economic policy.

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