Poland signs scientific cooperation agreement with Oman
Minister Lena Kolarska-Bobińska signed an agreement establishing cooperation in the areas of science and higher education with the Sultanate of Oman.
This is the first such agreement adopted with an Arabic country. Similar agreements are being negotiated with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The Ministry will soon enter into negotiations with Saudi Arabia as well. Countries from this region are keenly interested in cooperation with Polish universities.
There are 36,000 foreign students studying in Poland today. Since 2007, this number has increased by more than 20,000. However, students from outside Poland account only for 2.3% of the total number of students, whereas the average for OECD countries is 6.9%.
'Polish universities have enormous potential. Due to Poland's location in the heart of Europe and competitive costs of studying, the number of students from around the world choosing our universities has recently increased. This is the time for higher education institutions to focus on preparing an attractive academic offer and the infrastructure needed to enrol foreign students', emphasized Professor Lena Kolarska-Bobińska. 'The Ministry of Science will continue to support academic centres in their efforts, but universities themselves need to open up to the world as well', said Minister Kolarska-Bobińska.
On her official visit to Oman, Professor Lena Kolarska-Bobińska was accompanied by Professor Wiesław Banyś, President of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, and Professor Jerzy Woźnicki, President of the General Council of Science and Higher Education.
The signing of the scientific cooperation agreement with Oman will enable several dozen students to come to Poland to study and to serve internships every year. Polish students involved with Arabic Studies will be able to improve their language skills and explore the culture in Oman. Furthermore, such cooperation will not only facilitate an exchange of researchers, but will also help in conducting joint research projects and organizing scientific conferences. In turn, Polish academic teachers will assist lecturers from Oman universities in raising their qualifications.
There are presently 24 students from Oman studying in Poland, with the majority of them at the Warsaw University of Technology. Another 17 candidates are currently working on their English language proficiency and will begin studying next year.
Around 800 students from Arabic countries are studying today at Polish universities of all types. 'Universities from the Middle East are becoming important partners for Polish universities and scientific research institutes. The Ministry of Science will shortly sign similar agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Soon, we will enter into negotiations with Saudi Arabia', announced Professor Kolarska-Bobińska.
About 4.3 million people study outside their homeland worldwide, and the international higher education market, which is worth more than USD 100 billion, has become an important branch of global economy. Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom are today at the forefront of global academic competition, attracting the majority of foreign students.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has undertaken a number of initiatives to enhance the internationalization of Polish universities. This is one of the key priorities. Since 2012, the Ministry has been running the Ready, Study, Go! Poland campaign aimed at supporting Polish universities in all activities that contribute to increase levels of internationalization. The online portal is an official website launched by the Ministry to promote studying in Poland among foreigners. The portal includes a database where users can find study programmes offered in Poland in foreign languages; it also provides information on the principles of Poland’s higher education system and practical instructions on how to prepare for one’s departure to Poland. The portal is already available in six languages. Work on other language versions, including Arabic, is presently underway. 'As part of the campaign, we will also help universities to develop academic curricula in English and train administrative staff in providing foreign students with proper care', promised the Minister of Science and Higher Education.
