Poland is launching a scientific cooperation program with four countries

This is a program for which we have allocated a specific amount as a pilot: PLN 12 million for the start - Minister of Science Marcin Kulasek told PAP.

The head of the ministry explained that the choice of partners was not accidental. Türkiye and South Korea belong to the G20 group and are associated with a high level of innovation. Poland, in turn, has long-standing academic ties with Vietnam. After the war, many young Vietnamese studied in Poland, and after returning to the country, they promoted Poland - recalled the minister.

In the case of Uzbekistan, the following are important, among others: demographic structure. It is a country with a very young society, the average age of which is clearly lower than in Poland.

We talked to all representatives of the ministries of these countries about the opportunities offered by the program. We mainly focus on scientific and academic exchange and joint research projects. I think this is the beginning of something good, said the minister.

Polish-Vietnamese research station

One of the elements of deepening relations with Vietnam will be the creation of the Polish-Vietnamese Scientific and Research Station of the Polish Academy of Sciences. On the Polish side, its partners will be the University of Warsaw and the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.

PLN 1.6 million is to be allocated for the launch and construction of the facility. Its subsequent maintenance will cost approximately PLN 1 million per year.

Kulasek also recalled the agreement signed during the October visit of the Polish delegation, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, to Vietnam. The agreement increased the scholarship exchange limit from 20 to 50 people. The costs of Vietnamese students coming to Poland are to be covered by the government in Hanoi.

A new solution is to allocate 10 places per year for studies conducted in a foreign language. The choice of specific universities in Poland will depend on the demand and capabilities of universities in conducting classes in English.

Universities in the face of demographic decline

The minister pointed out that the internationalization of universities will be particularly important in connection with the forecasted demographic decline. Although the current cohort of high school graduates is still large, the number of university applicants is expected to decrease in the coming years.

According to Kulasek, foreign students choose Poland because of the level of education and research, as well as lower costs of living than in many Western European countries.