For higher education institutions internationalization is a sine qua non condition for their firm, long-lasting presence in a globalised world and in the times of demographic decline. The institutions themselves possess assets needed for fulfillment of this condition. The city of Lublin declares its commitment.
International position of universities demonstrates itself in various ways. Among others, universities in Lublin are perceived by foreign candidates (and by foreign students) as attractive. Higher education institutions participate in international studies and cooperation networks and engage in research topics of an international value. In this context higher education institutions are like a window on the world for Lublin. It means that thanks to them the city develops links with new knowledge as well as with young creative people who enrich local community with their culture. Young people establish long-lasting work-life relationships both with the city and with universities, which in the long term translates into creating further international relations.
Presence of higher education institutions in the international arena brings them both the prestige and the source of inspiration for positive changes. Lublin is historically predestined to be the city of strong international relations, especially concerning Eastern Partnership countries, due to their cultural and geographical proximity. Both permanent and occasional presence of foreign academics at universities in Lublin is also a vital factor contributing to the prestige of the city and higher education institutions. Experience of European Culture College (in an endeavour to become the European Capital of Culture 2016) confirms the importance of “visiting” lectures. Thanks to them it was possible to build unique relations with prominent scholars connected with reputable research centres and to create the image of Lublin. Promoting such initiatives is understood as one of the priorities both for the City of Lublin and higher education institutions.
Lublin is the city of young people. There are 5 recognised public universities and 4 respected non-public higher education institutions educating both Polish and foreign students. Thanks to big number of university students Lublin is viewed as the city of dynamic people. Their creative potential is employed by research centres and companies seeking innovative technologies. It is hard to imagine the development of Lublin without its academic spirit. Higher education institutions are the biggest employers of the city and 25% of its inhabitants are students. The presence of students and scientists influences almost every aspect of life of the city.
Currently, polish educational market deals with economic decline. Keeping the reputation of Lublin as the city of students with high intellectual capital is significant for its development. Project “Study in Lublin” is intended to be both a tool and support for higher education institutions in Lublin. It has been set up to help them maintain constant number of students and graduates. The project implies close cooperation of local government, business and higher education institutions. A website www.study.lublin.eu has been launched as one of the activities within the project. Foreigners may find there information concerning educational offer of higher education institutions in Lublin, scholarships, and procedures that foreign students need to follow before coming to Poland. The website is available in 4 languages: Polish, English, Ukrainian and Russian. In case of questions relating to studies in Lublin, scholarship programmes and legalisation of stay in Poland foreigners may visit the following social networking websites: www.facebook.com/studyinlublin and vk.com/studyinlublin.
Lublin is among the leaders in Poland in terms of the number of foreign students. At Medical University there are already 1,200 students, and at the University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska only a little less, because 1,113. The Medical University has been offering courses in English for 20 years. Students who come to study medicine in Lublin consist mainly of residents of the USA, Canada, Scandinavia, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia. All of them study Medicine or Dental Medicine. The university is planning to introduce a new course for foreigners - pharmacy in English. Programme of courses in English meets European criteria and corresponds with educational standards of the countries of origin of future medical practitioners.
In Lublin there are 37 university courses available in English. Apart from Medical University such universities as Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, College of Enterprise and Administration in Lublin, and Vincent Pol University in Lublin offer courses in English. The University of Life Sciences in Lublin preapares a real hit for foreign students - Veterinary Medicine in English. In the academic year 2014/15 there were 4,395 foreign students in Lublin in total.