Pomeranian University in Słupsk at the “Polonia Meetings” in London
On 21-23 June 2024, representatives of Pomeranian University in Słupsk participated in the “Polonia Meetings” event series aimed at promoting the University among Polish youth living abroad. This time, the meeting took place in London.
The events in London started with a networking session with British universities at the headquarters of the British Council. During the session, representative organizations (including Universities UK International) provided an overview of the higher education systems and legal frameworks in both countries, while Polish and British university delegations presented their institutions and outlined opportunities for inter-university cooperation. Discussions behind the scenes allowed for detailed conversations about initiatives to expand further collaboration.
The meetings with the Polish youth was inaugurated at the Polish Literki Academy—a Polish school in Bromley. The delegation from Pomeranian University in Słupsk presented the educational offer of our University and answered numerous questions from the youth and their parents. The event culminated with a Sunday family picnic celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Polish Social and Cultural Association (PSCA) in London—the largest Polish community center outside of Poland. The picnic gathered hundreds of people and was an excellent opportunity for direct contact with university representatives, who promoted their research, educational, and community-oriented activities.
The “Polonia Meetings London 2024” event was organized by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London, and the Polish Educational Society. Our University was represented by the Rector, professor Zbigniew Osadowski and Vice-Rector for Development and Cooperation, professor Marek Łukasik.
Poles are the largest immigrant group in the UK, and Polish is the second most spoken foreign language in England and the third in the UK (after English and Welsh), with around 1% of the population using it daily. In 2018, the Office for National Statistics estimated the Polish community living in the UK at 905,000 people (including 832,000 born in Poland).
Over the past two decades, a new Polish generation has emerged in the UK, eager to maintain ties with Poland. According to British administration data, around 180,000 children from Polish families are currently enrolled in primary and secondary schools.
Source: Own materials, NAWA.