On January 29, the winners of the first edition of the Academic Internationalization Star / Internationalization Stars were awarded. The mission of the Award is to promote people with outstanding achievements in the internationalization of Polish universities. The award is granted jointly by Polish institutions and organizations involved in supporting the internationalization of Polish universities.
Polish higher education boasts a rapidly growing number of foreign students, there are already about 70,000 foreign students (in 2010 there were 17,000). Such an increase was possible thanks to the involvement and efforts of university staff at all levels. The "Stars of Internationalization" prize will promote their experiences and promote "good practices" in this area.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education Jarosław Gowin and chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, prof. Jan Szmidt had the honorary patronage over the Award. Candidates were reported by universities, student organizations, university employees and students.
The winners of the "Stars of Internationalization 2018" in each category were:
In the category " Research Star"
- the prize was awarded to dr hab. Dominik Antonowicz from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
In the category "Management Star"
- the prize was awarded to dr Magdalena Popowska from the Gdańsk University of Technology.
In the category "Teaching Star"
- the prize was awarded to dr Monika Kopytowska from the University of Lodz.
In the category "Star of Marketing - Marketing Star"
- the prize was awarded to Ewa Kiszka from the Medical University of Gdańsk.
In the category "Rising Star"
- the prize was awarded to Emilia Wojtczak from the Poznan University of Technology.
Prof. dr hab. Jan Krysiński from the Lodz University of Technology received a special prize - "Distinguished Star" for the overall achievements in the field of internationalization.
Professor Krysiński, four-time rector of the Lodz University of Technology (elected in 1990-1996 and 2002-2008), former chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Technical Universities, was awarded in particular for the creation of the unique International Education Center of the Lodz University of Technology, operating since 1992 and providing education for 8 fields of study in English and French. The profiles and achievements of the winners can be found at: www.gwiazdyinternacjonalizacji.pl
The jury was composed of: prof. Jan Szmidt, chairman of KRASP, Juliusz Szymczak-Gałkowski, director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, dr Zygmunt Krasiński, director of the Horizon 2020 NCP, Liliana Lato, president of IROs Forum, Agata Lech, president of the Erasmus Student Network, dr Paweł Poszytek, general director of the Foundation Development of the Education System, dr Bianka Siwińska, managing director of Education Foundation Perspektywy, Tomasz Tokarski, chairman of the Students' Parliament of the Republic of Poland, prof. Marek Tukiendorf, chairman of the Commission for International Cooperation at KRASP, rector of the Opole University of Technology, Łukasz Wojdyga, director of the National Agency for Academic Exchange.
Education Foundation "Perspektywy" - a multi-annual program of international promotion of Polish universities "Study in Poland" co-operating with KRASP was responsible for the organization of the Secretariat of the Award.
The gala of the first edition of the prize was held on January 29 in Gliwice, during the conference "Foreign students in Poland 2018". Conference website: www.studyinpoland.pl/konferencja2018
The winners received special statuettes and diplomas. The British Council and the Foundation also funded trips to key international conferences on internationalization: Going Global 2018 (Kuala Lumpur) and NAFSA 2018 (Philadelphia).
Source: „Perspektywy” Education Foundation
More information: Anna Wdowińska, tel. +48 609 999 514, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.