-For decades, Poland has funded free university education for young people from all over the world. University candidates are first sent to annual courses preparing them to take up studies in our country. The National Agency for Academic Exchange Programmes (NAWA) selects universities through a tender or competition procedure and commissions them with the organisation of the course. The curricula, experience and potential of the universities are evaluated, as well as the cost of the project. Last year, we won a public tender. This year, a competition for the implementation of a programme has been organised - says Roman Tarnowski, Head of the University of Lodz Polish Language Centre for Foreigners .
He adds:
Last year alone, we hosted people from 49 countries. In our courses we put great emphasis not only on the very language learning, but also on getting to know Polish tradition and culture, as well as on integration.
This year is an unusual one for the Centre, not only because of the pandemic restrictions regarding the safety of classes, but also because of its relocation. The Centre is returning to its former premises at ul. 16/18 Kopcińskiego. The building has been thoroughly renovated. There are new classrooms with better equipment than the previous ones.
Some of our equipment has already been placed in the new classrooms. We are just waiting for the building to be accepted so that we can start work. We will begin the new academic year in the new premises - explains R. Tarnowski.
The University of Lodz Polish Language Centre for Foreigners was established in 1952. Throughout its history, it has educated students from over 80 countries of the world and all inhabited continents. The number of students has fluctuated between 350 and 600 in different years, not counting the participants of language courses for international exchange students such as Erasmus, Erasmus +, Mobility Direct, etc.
The School’s primary activity involves organisation of preparatory courses for higher education at Polish universities in all fields of study and specialisations. We are the only institution of this kind in Poland where not only Polish language teachers but also teachers of subjects related to given fields of study work on such a great scale. Students not only undergo language training but also expand their subject matter knowledge under the supervision of Polish language teachers as well as mathematicians, physicists, biologists, geographers and historians. People from countries of the former USSR, often of Polish descent, for many years have constituted the largest group of students; however, there are also students from more distant countries such as Indonesia, Angola or Colombia.
University of Lodz is one of the biggest universities in Poland. Its mission is to educate top-class scientists and specialists in numerous fields of humanities, social sciences, natural and exact sciences as well as health sciences. UniLodz cooperates with business, both at the staff level by providing qualified employees as well as at the scientific level, by offering its know-how to enterprises from various areas of economy. University of Lodz is an academic institution open to the world – the number of its international students is constantly growing, while its Polish students, thanks to Exchange programmes, get to know Europe, Asia and travel overseas. The University is a part of Lodz, it operates for and with the community of Lodz by getting involved in many socio-cultural projects.
Source: Polish Language Centre for Foreigners, UL
Redakcja: Centrum Promocji UŁ