The meeting was held at Collegium Maius of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The scholarship holders were welcomed by Prof. Ryszard Naskręcki, the Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation, Mariusz Wiśniewski, the Vice-Mayor of Poznań, and Witold Horowski, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Poznań.

The opening lecture on “Economic Transformation in Poland after 1989 – Consequences and Regional Challenges” was given by Prof. Paweł Churski. The Kirklanders had also an opportunity to listen to Prof. Anna Michalska’s lecture on the “Role of Women in Building the Civil Society”, learn about activities of the Better World Association, and meet Michał Łakomski, the Plenipotentiary of Mayor of Poznań for smart city, who presented them with experiences and plans for the city development based on new technologies.

The meeting was also a place for the this-year’s Kirklanders to share experiences with two alumni from Ukraine, Mykhailo Kashyn (2006/07 round) and Alona  Revko (2017/18 round). They discussed the opportunities to use their knowledge gained and contacts established in Poland, and Mykhailo Kashyn conducted a workshop on preparing grant projects.

Furthermore, the meeting participants attended the concert by the Air Force Representative Orchestra to celebrate the 100th anniversary of University of Poznań.

Traditionally, the meeting was an opportunity to strengthen the contacts established among the Kirkland Scholarships holders studying at universities in five cities in Poland – Poznań, Wrocław, Lublin, Kraków, and Warsaw.

The objective of the program, implemented since 2000, is to share Polish experiences in transformation with representatives from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia during two-semester complementary studies at Polish universities. In 2016, the offer was extended with one-semester course for academics – the Kirkland Research Program.

The program is currently addressed to candidates from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus as well as Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Under individual study programs, the scholarship holders study selected aspects of economics and management, public administration and business, law, social and political sciences.

This-year’s scholarship holders come from Ukraine (30 people), Belarus (4 people), Russia (3 people), Armenia (3 people), Georgia (2 people), Kazakhstan (1 person), and  Kyrgyzstan (1 person).