Thirty-six scholarship holders from 10 countries in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia have begun their studies in Poland. The 26th round of the Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program was inaugurated in Bydgoszcz Higher School of Economics.
The scholarship holders and invited guests, including the program coordinators and animators, were welcomed by the WSG authorities: Prof. Marek Chamot, Rector of WSG, Doc. Magdalena Bergmann, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Prof. hon. Krzysztof Sikora, President of WSG, Dr. Agnieszka Mazur, Program Director of Polish-American Freedom Foundation, and Agata Wierzbowska-Miazga, President of the Leaders of Change Foundation.
“The Kirkland Program is much more than just one or two semesters spent in Poland at one of the universities; it is, above all, a life-changing experience. By joining this scholarship program, participants become part of the Kirkland family, embracing its core values. These include the pursuit of professional development and continuous self-improvement, as well as openness, respect, and tolerance towards other people, regardless of their nationality, beliefs, religion, or gender,” said Agnieszka Mazur, PAFF Program Director, welcoming the guests.
Subsequent speeches emphasized the message of the Kirkland Program, which is the development of the countries of the Region based on mutual experiences, and above all, encouragement to draw on the experience and successes of Poland’s political transformation and integration with the European Union. Based on the positive example of Bydgoszcz, the role played in the development of every modern state by equal and fair support for all regions of the country and every city and community, regardless of their distance from the capital or size, was highlighted.
The scholarship holders in Poland were also welcomed by Col. Zdzisław Darosz, representative of the Commander of the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center, stationed in Bydgoszcz, also emphasized the role of cooperation in the region and, in the Polish context, pointed to the role played by local authorities, alongside state authorities, in ensuring security and conditions for the development of citizens.
Inaugural lecture “From Maps to Holograms. How modern technologies revolutionize the visualization of the past” was given by Associate Professor Ewelina Gdaniec, Vice-Rector for Education at WSG, showing how modern technologies and artificial intelligence serve not only to change the teaching of history, but also, in general, to reach students and the general public with knowledge.
During a 10-day orientation in Bydgoszcz, which aims to prepare scholarship holders for their stay in Poland, Kirkland scholars took part in workshops on Polish culture from different periods, participated in artistic events, met with local government officials and entrepreneurs, and explored Bydgoszcz and the surrounding area from a tourist perspective, but also with regard to the role that decentralization and European funds have played in the development of this part of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province over the last 35 years.
The Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program, implemented since 2000, aims to share Poland’s experiences in political transformation with representatives of countries in the region. This takes place during two-semester supplementary studies at Polish universities, and since 2016, the offer has been expanded to include one-semester studies for researchers – Kirkland Research. Currently, the program is addressed to candidates from Ukraine, Belarus, as well as Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. As part of individual teaching modes, Kirkland scholarship holders deal with selected aspects of economics and management, public administration and business, law, social and political sciences. The initiator and founder of the program is Polish-American Freedom Foundation, and the implementer is the Leaders of Change Foundation.
This year’s group of scholarship holders includes 32 Kirkland Program and 4 Kirkland Research participants, including: 6 people from Armenia, 2 from Ukraine, 5 from Belarus, 12 from Georgia, 2 from Uzbekistan, 2 from Kazakhstan, 2 from Azerbaijan, 3 from Kyrgyzstan, 1 from Moldova, and 1 from Tajikistan.
Each year, approximately 45 scholarship holders participate in the program. Between 2000 and 2025, 1,109 people from 13 countries completed the program (1,053 Kirkland Program scholarship holders and 56 Kirkland Research scholarship holders), including: 580 from Ukraine, 195 from Belarus, 75 from Georgia, 69 from Russia, 53 from Armenia, 35 from Kazakhstan, 26 from Moldova, 21 from Kyrgyzstan, 15 from Azerbaijan, 10 from Uzbekistan, 8 from Tajikistan, as well as 12 from Lithuania and 10 from Slovakia.
