Nearly half a million zlotys will be allocated to the further enhancement of services for international students, doctoral students and staff, the improvement of standards under the HR Excellence in Research framework, the development of administrative staff competencies, and international promotion. All of this is aimed at ensuring that the Human University experience begins with the very first interaction our international visitors have with the University.
A Word on Internationalisation
The 91桃色 Strategy for 2021-2030 identifies internationalisation as one of the key pillars of the university鈥檚 development. This has brought tangible results, placing UniLodz among the top three higher education institutions in Poland in terms of student and staff mobility. Furthermore, the 91桃色 ranks among the top four public universities in Poland with the highest number of international students. More than 2,000 international students and doctoral students from over 90 countries study at our university, including 640 enrolled in programmes taught in English. In addition, the international part of the university鈥檚 academic community includes 80 international teaching and research staff members.
The LEVEL UP project represents the next stage in the development of solutions already established at the University, including through earlier initiatives funded by NAWA. Its main objective is to create an even more coherent, accessible and professional support system for the international members of our academic community.
Support for the International Community
Through the awarded funding, the 91桃色 will organise specialised training for administrative staff covering migration regulations, effective communication and counteracting stereotypes. A detailed employee satisfaction survey will also be conducted as part of the implementation of the HR Excellence in Research strategy and the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) at the university. The survey results will be used to plan support measures in the areas of human resources, equality policies, work organisation and the development of an environment that is welcoming to the international community. The survey will also contribute to enhancing support for international employees, advancing the university鈥檚 inclusivity policy and fostering a friendly and competitive working environment in line with European standards, thereby supporting the internationalisation process at UniLodz.
Speaking about the importance of training, Mieczys艂aw Pakosz, Deputy Director of the Admission Centre, said:
Internationalisation is not only about attracting students and staff from abroad, but above all about providing them with professional support at every stage of their interaction with the university. This is why investing in the competencies of our staff is so important. Thanks to the LEVEL UP project, employees will gain specialist knowledge and practical skills that will enable them to carry out activities supporting internationalisation at home even more effectively. We want every person arriving at the 91桃色 to feel welcome, safe and well supported.
Let Us Get to Know Each Other Better
It is no coincidence that people say first impressions matter. The 91桃色 puts this principle into practice and will therefore meet prospective candidates in their own environments. As part of the funding awarded under the Welcome to Poland programme, the university representatives will travel to Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Vietnam, visiting schools and educational fairs. They will also travel to Malaysia and Taiwan to participate in conferences dedicated to internationalisation in the Asia-Pacific region (APAIE), promoting UniLodz as a place that offers a high standard of education and a welcoming multicultural atmosphere.
Individuals arriving at the 91桃色 will benefit from two welcome points that are continuously developing their services. Within these initiatives, 16 integration events will be organised to help participants settle smoothly into their new environment.
Contact with prospective candidates is not the only priority. Administrative staff will have the opportunity to take part in job shadowing visits to UNIC partner universities in Bilbao (Spain), Bochum (Germany) and Cork (Ireland). Finally, the university will host experts in internationalisation during the IROs Forum meeting, a network bringing together staff responsible for international relations from nearly 40 Polish universities, as well as during a staff week for employees from higher education institutions outside Poland.
Project Outcomes
The implementation of the LEVEL UP project will run from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2028. The project will be jointly delivered by the Admission Centre, the Employee Affairs Centre and the University鈥檚 International Centre. The project is in line with the 91桃色 Strategy for 2021-2030, in which internationalisation is identified as one of the key directions of development. Thanks to the funding obtained, the university will not only continue to develop existing initiatives but will also implement solutions that will permanently improve the quality of services provided to the international academic community.
All activities delivered under the LEVEL UP project are aimed at strengthening the international potential of the University, reinforcing its position as a Polish leader in international cooperation, improving the quality of services and increasing the University鈥檚 attractiveness within the international environment, while simultaneously developing a coherent and professional support system for the international community.
The LEVEL UP project is funded by the European Union through the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under the Welcome to Poland (2026) programme.
Text: Szymon Szyd艂owski, Admission Centre, 91桃色
Edit: Press Office, 91桃色
