What factors determine the choice of Ukrainian youth in favor of Polish universities? According to the Main Statistical Office of Poland, in the last academic year, only in programs leading to a diploma, there were 20,693 Ukrainians in Polish universities. Seven years ago, there were only 2,831. At that time, master's programs dominated. Over time, more and more Ukrainians began to enter Polish universities right after school.
As Zerkalo Nedeli writes, one of the reasons for the rapid growth in the number of Ukrainian youth in Polish universities is the active policy of the Polish government and the educational institutions themselves, which is aimed at internationalizing education. Polish universities are experiencing a decline in the influx of applicants due to the demographic trough and the departure of Poles to study in Western Europe and North America. Since 2006, Polish universities have been recording a gradual annual decrease in the number of their students. Since then, this figure has decreased by 28%.
Therefore, attracting foreign students is seen as a source of additional funding. Private educational institutions are particularly focused on this. There are 306 of them. They are the most actively advertised in Ukraine, using the services of a wide network of recruiter intermediaries.
“By the way, the majority of Ukrainians enter private universities – 60%. And that is a negative signal. In the Polish educational market, there is still a belief that private educational institutions are synonymous with low-quality education. They are quite weak compared to state ones, in particular such giants as the universities of Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Lublin, Torun, Gdansk. They especially lose in terms of scientific work, without which it is extremely difficult to maintain a high quality of educational services,” emphasizes Yegor Stadny, an expert at the Center for Society Research.
Another notable trend is that social sciences are in the greatest demand among Ukrainians: economics, management, PR, etc. “Two-thirds of Ukrainian students enroll in such specialties. For comparison, only one-tenth enroll in engineering specialties, which include IT. This ratio does not reflect the division by sectors in Poland or Ukraine as a whole. Social sciences prevail in many countries, but not to such an extent,” notes Yegor Stadny.
Moreover, those who study social sciences and humanities, especially in private universities, are called “future unemployed” in Poland. Polish authorities are already openly speaking about the inexpediency of studying such specialties due to the oversaturation of the labor market.
However, aggressive marketing still influences Ukrainian youth. The price, which depends on the university, city, and specialty, also determines the choice. Overall, education in Poland is the most affordable for Ukrainian students among all desired countries of study.
“First of all, there are many opportunities for Ukrainians to study for free. Those who have received the Pole’s Card are equal in rights to Polish citizens. For them, full-time studies at state universities are free. By the way, the number of Ukrainians of Polish origin in Polish educational institutions is growing noticeably. If seven years ago there were about 700 of them in full-cycle programs, then the last known figure for the 2013/2014 academic year was almost 2,000 people. Also, there are almost two dozen various scholarship programs for Ukrainians, covering not only the cost of studies but also expenses for accommodation, food, etc.,” says Yegor Stadny.
So, on the one hand, Poland is acting out of its own interests, and on the other hand, the rapid growth in the number of Ukrainians in Polish universities is driven by the motivation of Ukrainian youth themselves, by demand. Unfortunately, there are no studies that would represent the motives for studying in Poland of all Ukrainian students. However, some trends from the surveys available to us can be traced.
This year, Dr. Piotr Długosz conducted a social survey among Ukrainians studying at the State Higher Eastern European School in Przemyśl and the private Higher School of Informatics and Management in Rzeszów (250 respondents). Most of them are from Western Ukraine (60%). There were also students from Central Ukraine (34%) and the East (6%). The average certificate score is 9.5.
“When asked what motivated Ukrainians to come to study in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, most students answered that they want to obtain a European-style diploma. In second place is the opportunity to see the world. Many pointed to the absence of corruption in Polish universities. A significant factor for the majority was easier employment after studying in Poland, as well as career growth. Next come a higher level of education and teaching, the opportunity to better realize oneself... The factor of safety – distance from war – also appeared in relatively frequent answers. Some respondents directly indicated that studying is an opportunity to go abroad,” says Dr. Piotr Długosz.
In this study, students were also asked to evaluate the learning conditions at universities in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The highest rating was given to the technical equipment of educational institutions – access to the Internet, computerization. In second place is the work of dean's offices and the attitude of teachers towards students. Ukrainians rated the level of teaching at the universities lower.
A red signal for Ukraine is the following indicator. "Only 13% of surveyed students at the private University of Rzeszów and 16% at the state university in Przemyśl intend to return to Ukraine after graduation. Most of them stated that they do not believe in positive changes in their homeland, that the state continues to be ruled by oligarchs, and that the Maidan has been nullified," emphasizes Piotr Długosz. Approximately half want to stay in Poland. 41% of private university students and 23% of state university students plan to migrate to another country. The most common destinations are the USA, as well as Germany and England.
A study of motivation for studying abroad was also conducted among school graduates from the border Drohobych district of Lviv region (584 respondents in 2013, 400 in 2015). The executors were sociologists from the Department of Law, Sociology and Political Science of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University. According to the survey, the priority for educational mobility is a Polish university.
"As follows from the survey results, the intentions to continue education abroad are extremely pronounced in the educational plans of graduates. Potential educational mobility is about 30%. A significant role, of course, is played by the specificity of the border region.
Moreover, the number of respondents who say they will apply to a foreign university is growing. This year, 9.5% of graduates have finally decided to enroll in foreign universities, while in 2013 this figure was 6.3%. It should be noted that the average academic score of these students is 9.6, and about half of them are straight-A students," says Doctor of Sociological Sciences Svetlana Shchudlo. "As for motivation (the question was answered by all who wished to study abroad), the dominant factors were easier employment after studying abroad, career growth, and the opportunity to see the world. Fewer graduates highlighted a higher level of education. Even fewer mentioned the desire to obtain a European-style diploma. Also cited were the opportunity to better realize oneself, develop abilities, and a higher standard of living abroad. Many respondents noted the absence of corruption in foreign universities. The desire to ensure safety due to the war was also mentioned among the motives."
Globalization processes will only contribute to the departure of Ukrainian youth to study abroad. Poland's strategy will also encourage them to enroll in Polish universities. President of the educational foundation "Perspektywy" Waldemar Siwiński predicts that by 2020 the number of foreign students in Poland will increase from more than 30,000 to 100,000.
Will Ukraine be able to harness the potential of Ukrainian youth acquired abroad? Will students with European diplomas want to cooperate with their homeland if they often view accessible foreign education, not always of the best quality, as an opportunity to emigrate?