The programme ‘Spinnaker – Intensive International Curricula’ is a novelty in NAWA’s offer for Polish universities and scientific institutions. It responds to their needs with regard to creating intensive international curricula that can be carried out remotely.

‘On account of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and research institutes have found themselves in a new situation, to which they have to adapt the forms of educating Polish and foreign students and doctoral candidates. The “Spinnaker” programme addresses those needs. It enables the creation of intensive international curricula that can be carried out also remotely or in the form of blended learning, i.e. combining intramural and remote education,’ says Dr. Grażyna Żebrowska, Director General of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange. ‘I am certain that “Spinnaker” will increase the attractiveness and expand the offer of Polish universities and scientific institutions that provide education. I also trust that it will help raise interest in their offer among foreign students and PhD candidates,’ Dr. Grażyna Żebrowska adds.

An intensive international curriculum is a short (between 30 and 150 didactic hours) form of education for students or PhD candidates from abroad, carried out in the form of e.g. summer or winter school, specialist courses, trainings or study visits, or visits from foreign professors. 

Funding for the implementation of a single project under the ‘Spinnaker’ programme can amount to between PLN 100,000 and PLN 800,000. Each applicant may submit a maximum of three applications. The programme budget is PLN 12,000,000.

The call for applications in the first edition of the programme will be open until 15 December 2020.