The objectives of the annual consultation meeting of the ‘Study in Poland’ programme were to discuss current issues related to the internationalisation of Polish higher education institutions and the recruitment of foreign students, as well as to present the latest data on foreign students in Poland. The meeting took place on July 8, 2025, at the Warsaw School of Economics.

The University of Gdańsk was represented by the Rector, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, as well as representatives of the International Office: Magdalena Sawicz (Director of the Office) and Dominika Brulińska. The agenda included an analysis of trends and statistics on foreign students, identification of key recruitment markets and opportunities for developing research cooperation, and a debate on the settlement potential of migrants and the role of foreigners in compensating for the decline in the number of candidates from Poland. An action plan for the ‘Study in Poland’ programme was also adopted.

‘As every year, we met with representatives of universities from all over Poland to discuss the internationalisation of higher education at the ’Study in Poland‘ consultation meeting. This year's meeting took place at a special moment - during the recruitment process conducted for the first time under the new visa law,’ said UG Rector prof. Piotr Stepnowski.

Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, together with the Turkish Ambassador to Poland, Rauf Alp Denktaş, led a panel discussion on the importance of Polish-Turkish academic cooperation and the growing interest of Turkish students in Polish educational opportunities.

Turkey, a country with strong demographic potential, a high level of educational mobility and growing interest in studying abroad, is one of the most promising areas of development for Polish universities. Data from the POL-on system and ‘Study in Poland’ reports indicate that in the 2023/2024 academic year, over 4,700 people from Turkey studied in Poland, which places this country in third place in terms of the number of foreign students, just behind Ukraine and Belarus. This is a significant qualitative and quantitative leap, demonstrating the growing prestige of Polish universities in the eyes of young Turks.

The First Forum of Rectors of Poland and Turkey, which will be held in Ankara on 21-22 September 2025, is intended to help strengthen cooperation between Polish and Turkish academic centres. The Second Forum of Rectors of Poland and Turkey will be held in May 2026 in Gdańsk.