Poland: Two Universities Sign Deal to Offer World’s First Online Courses in Polish Studies for Int’l Students

Two universities in Poland, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) and the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) have signed an agreement to offer the world’s first online courses in Polish studies that would allow international students to obtain their degrees online, according to local media.

The agreement intends to design ten multimedia programs that will be offered online in English on several courses, including literature and art, Poland’s history, contemporary history, and more. Students who will enroll in the courses will undergo a virtual exam and will receive the bachelor’s or master’s degree also virtually.

“Each of them will be completed with an online exam. All courses will be characterized by the highest quality and innovation in the technologies used (VR, AR, AI, 3D) in accordance with the international Teaching Design standard,” KUL wrote in a Facebook post.

International students can pursue courses in Polish studies at several other universities in Poland; nevertheless, none offer such programs online. According to data, more than 80,000 international students chose Poland as their study destination in the 2020/21 academic year.

The two institutions, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) and the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) are among the best universities in Poland. Maria Curie-Skłodowska University is the largest university in Eastern Poland, home to more than 18,000 students, of them about 1,800 international students. The school has 12 faculties in Lublin and a Branch Campus in Puławy.

On the other hand, the Catholic University of Lublin is the oldest university in Lublin and one of the oldest in the country. On June 6, 2022, KUL signed an agreement with the Gemelli Polyclinic and the La Sapienza University in Rome that would allow institutions to cooperate in the research field.

“The scientific-research cooperation with the Gemelli Polyclinic and the La Sapienza University in Rome guarantees a high level of medical studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, which are to start soon,” the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Mirosław Kalinowski, said.

Kalinowski stated that medical students at KUL will be able to learn from the most eminent specialists thanks to the university's cooperation with some of the best universities in the world, which partnerships will also allow students to gain knowledge on the latest research.

Announcing its partnership with the abovementioned universities, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin also said it will start educating future doctors as of fall 2023. A statement posted on its website said that the first group of students admitted to study medicine at the university would have 60 people.

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