Inauguration of the Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme

msz.gov.pl

Scholarship policy is a key area of Polish development cooperation and the Stefan Banach Programme is one of its flagship projects. The aim of the programme is to provide access to education in areas important for the construction of an efficient state and the development of the economy. The programme also serves to promote the idea of bringing partner countries closer to Poland and the European Union.

In the 2017/2018 academic year, 83 persons received scholarships (8 for undergraduate degrees, 51 for masters programmes, 24 for doctoral studies). The most students, 54 in total, came from Ukraine while 23 came from Belarus.

During the inauguration of the next edition of the programme on Friday December 1st at the PGE National Stadium, Deputy Foreign Minister Marek Magierowski announced that as a result of the review of the priority countries from 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to increase the territorial coverage to include five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The ministry will also strives to provide optimal conditions for learning in Poland. To this end, funds will be provided to increase scholarship rates.

“I am very glad that out of the various opportunities and areas of study available to young, talent people, you have chosen to study at Polish universities. I am convinced that your stay in Poland will be inspiring for you, and the time and work you invest in learning will bring results in the form of future professional success.” the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at the opening of the Scholarship Programme Congress. 

“I also hope that you will be ambassadors of Polishness in your circles,” he added.
The Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme has been implemented since the 2013/2014 academic year as an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. From October 1st 2017, the National Academic Exchange Agency (NAWA) has been coordinating the programme.

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As part of development measures, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs finances two scholarship programmes aimed at citizens of developing countries: the Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme and the Ignacy Łukasiewicz Scholarship Programme. In 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocated PLN 5.2 million to this cause.

Recipients of the Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme are educated, among others at the University of Warsaw, the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the Warsaw School of Economics, the University of Silesia in Katowice, the University of Economics in Krakow, the University of Economics in Wroclaw as well as at the Warsaw University of Technology.

MFA Press Office