NAWA – a new partner in Polish-American cooperation in the area of higher education
Participation in the prestigious NAFSA conference, meetings with American and international partners, talks with Polish scientists and representatives of Polish associations abroad as well as participation in the internationalization panel are just some points of the NAWA delegation programme in the United States.
Between 27 May - 2 June 2018, NAWA's delegation with Director Łukasz Wojdyga and Deputy Director Zofia Sawicka is participating in prestigious NAFSA fairs and conferences which this year take place in Philadelphia. NAFSA is the world’s largest non-governmental organisation dedicated to international education. Each year, the NAFSA conference and fairs gather over 10,000 participants from 150 countries around the world. The Polish delegation includes 18 higher education institutions which present its offer on the Polish national stand organised by NAWA. The importance of internationalization and international partnership for Poland was mentioned during a special event on the Polish stand, which was opened by the Polish Ambassador in the United States, Mr Piotr Wilczek, and Director of NAWA, Łukasz Wojdyga. The opening ceremony was attended by the representatives of the most important organizations operating in the area of higher education: NAFSA, EAIE, APAIE, International Institute for Education, representatives of national agencies of higher education, and also CEO of NAFSA, Esther Brimmer, Ph.D.
The NAWA delegation programme also provides numerous meetings and accompanying events. The NAWA Directorate is meeting with the most important partners and organizations from the United States, including the President of the Institute of International Education, Mr Alan Goodman, with whom the most important issues regarding future cooperation were discussed as well as with foreign partners, including Sabine Pendl, who from September 2018 will begin her term as President of EAIE. In addition, NAWA Director participated in a panel on internationalization and the NAWA offer at Villanova University in which Polish scientists, representatives of Polish associations, as well as of Villanova University and other institutions from Pennsylvania took part. The meeting co-organized by NAWA was also a great opportunity to present NAWA’s educational offer to the representatives of the Polish Diaspora, including polish scientists and Polish universities Alumni.
The NAFSA Fair and Conference last until 1 June. The NAWA delegation will also meet with the scientists and representatives of Polish associations during a meeting organized by the Kościuszko Foundation in New York, and also with the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York. On 3-4 June 2018, meetings are scheduled to be held in Chicago with representatives of universities in Chicago, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, as well as a meeting with Polish community media. NAWA’S visit is also a continuation of previous meetings of Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin, who visited United States in April 2018.