On 27 October 2025, an Internationalisation Day titled “Migration Policy and Internationalisation” took place at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. The event was dedicated to the role of migration policy in the internationalisation of higher education and science in Poland.
The event was organised in cooperation with the City of Lublin Office.
The Internationalisation Days cycle is a series of consultative events accompanying the work on the National Strategy for Internationalisation, providing a space to discuss challenges, problems, and good practices related to internationalisation.
Since 1 July 2025, the academic community has been operating in a new reality — new recruitment requirements and formal conditions are in force that affect the daily functioning of universities. During the meeting in Lublin, participants discussed how best to respond to these changes.
The NAWA Internationalisation Day in Lublin gathered representatives of universities, public administration, and organisations supporting academic mobility. The event was a space to talk about migration, recruitment of international students, and the role of internationalisation in the development of universities and academic cities. Speakers emphasised the importance of institutional cooperation and creating a welcoming environment for students from different countries.
Lublin was presented as a city with a strong academic tradition and a growing international student community. The need for long-term thinking about the competitiveness of Polish universities was highlighted.
A significant part of the conference focused on the recognition of foreign qualifications. The principles for submitting applications, changes in competences, and practical challenges associated with documents from outside the European Union were discussed. The scale of incoming applications and the impact of formal correctness on processing time were emphasised. Actions to streamline administrative processes, including the development of digital tools, were also highlighted.
Discussions with university representatives showed that internationalisation is not only about recruitment but also about integration, language and cultural support, and preparing students for the labour market. Differences in expectations among international students and their families were noted. The role of graduates, academic mobility, and international cooperation of academic staff was highlighted, and mobility programmes were described as tools that can be used strategically.
At the same time, visa and administrative barriers that make it difficult for students to come to Poland were noted.
The urban dimension focused on the benefits of internationalisation for local development. It was shown that cooperation between universities, local government, and social organisations builds the attractiveness of the city and produces real economic effects. The diversity of origins of international students and the importance of coherent integration efforts were emphasised, and it was stressed that the process of internationalisation requires stable institutional frameworks.
The final part of the event addressed social challenges faced by international students and migrants. Difficulties related to legalisation of stay, housing, the labour market, integration, and learning the Polish language were discussed. It was emphasised that support often reaches students too late, when problems are already serious, and attention was drawn to the young age of some students and their increased vulnerability to crises. The whole event was part of the broader consultations on the National Strategy for Internationalisation.
The meeting took place at the Faculty of Political Science and Journalism at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, ul. Głęboka 45, 20-612 Lublin.
The event was implemented as part of the project “Strategy for Internationalisation of Polish Higher Education and Science”, financed by the European Social Fund for Social Development (FERS), Action 01.05 – Skills in Higher Education.
Internationalisation Day Programme
- 09:00 – 09:30 – Participant registration
- 09:30 – 10:00 – Official opening
- 10:00 – 11:00 – Is It Easy to Be Recognised? On the Challenges and Good Practices in Recognition, Part 1
- 11:00 – 11:15 – Coffee break
- 11:15 – 12:15 – Is It Easy to Be Recognised? On the Challenges and Good Practices in Recognition, Part 2
- 12:15 – 13:30 – Lunch
- 13:30 – 15:00 – Discussion on Good Practices in Attracting and Welcoming International Students: Case Study — Lublin and Lublin Universities
- Moderator: Viktoriya Herun – Deputy Director for Academic Affairs and Economic Promotion, City of Lublin Office
- Panelists:
- Dr Mariusz Sagan – Director of Strategy and Investor Services Department, City of Lublin Office
- Dr Małgorzata Michalska-Nakonieczna, Professor, Vice-Rector for General Affairs, WSPA
- Małgorzata Czarnomska – Competence Development Office, UMCS
- Dr Celina Handzel – Head of International Education Office, Lublin University of Technology
- Agnieszka Wasilak – Head of Recruitment and Promotion, University of Life Sciences in Lublin
- Milena Kłoczkowska – Assistant Lecturer, Labour Law Department, KUL; lawyer, Homo Faber Association
- Moderator: Viktoriya Herun – Deputy Director for Academic Affairs and Economic Promotion, City of Lublin Office
- 15:00 – 15:45 – Coffee break and networking
- 15:45 – 16:00 – Closing