Young Poles from Vilnius and the surrounding area could study at Lithuanian institutions, but their knowledge of Lithuanian was not good enough. That is why Poles in Lithuania clearly emphasized the need for a university that would be available for young people from Polish families wishing to study in their native language and promote their own culture.
Bringing an idea to fruition
The first Polish University in Vilnius after postwar Sovietization was founded in 1991, operating under the Latin name Universitas Studiorum Polona Vilnensis since 1998.
Unfortunately, the university, which was part of the activity of Association of Polish Scientists in Lithuania, has not been legalized by Lithuanian authorities. Entry of Lithuania and Poland to the European Union in 2004 opened new opportunities in higher education. During the formation of the European education market, a law allowing the establishment of EU foreign university branches in Lithuanian was created.
In 2007, at the initiative of the Association of Polish Scientists in Lithuania, the branch (Faculty of Economics and Informatics) of the University of Białystok (UB) in Vilnius started operating in the capital.
'According to the population census of 2001, only 63 out of 1,000 Poles (above 10 years old) had higher education, while the national average in Lithuania was 126 people. All national and ethnic minorities in Lithuania, except the Roma minority, were close to the national rate. The low rate of higher education of the Polish minority was reflected in the level of prosperity and increased growth of pathological phenomena in the regions of residence: unemployment, low standard of living, lack of faith in their own abilities, crime, and alcoholism. The last census of 2011 showed that the index of education level of Poles in Lithuania increased to 138, and the national average was 212. Therefore, we believe that the offer of the UB branch in Vilnius, addressed mainly to Poles, will reduce differences in the level of education and improve the overall situation of the Polish minority. It was a powerful argument,' explained the genesis of the appointment of a Polish university in Vilnius, PhD Jaroslav Volkonovski, the dean of the Faculty of Economics and Informatics the University of Białystok in Vilnius.
According to PhD Jaroslav Volkonovski, the establishment of a foreign university in Lithuania was not an easy matter. According to the Lithuanian law, this institution is the first branch of a foreign university in Lithuania and the first faculty of a Polish university outside its borders. The branch in Vilnius is part of the University of Białystok and it is its 9th faculty.
'Polish politicians from the then ruling Law and Justice party were convinced by statistics regarding the level of education of Poles in Lithuania submitted by us. But we had to tell Lithuanian authorities to let us create an institution which will contribute to improving the worst indicator in Lithuania, otherwise we proposed them to eliminate the differences between us, citizens of the same state, by their own means. Since the Lithuanian part does not bear any costs related to the activities of our university, but only makes profits from taxes, the proposal could not be rejected. Therefore, I believe that the establishment of the branch in Vilnius is a great success for the University of Białystok, for Polish and Lithuanian diplomacy and for Polish minority in Lithuania,' stated Volkonovski.
Helping Białystok
When establishing the Polish educational institution, it was important to make a good a choice of fields of studies that would raise interest of Lithuanian Poles, as well as of Polish university that would like to set up a branch in Lithuania. Initially, negotiations were conducted with several universities, inter alia: Warsaw School of Economics, University of Gdańsk, Academy of Podlasie and the University of Toruń.
'The University of Białystok was mostly interested in our proposal. We conducted a survey among students of 11-12 grades in 40 Polish schools in Lithuania in terms of interests and expectations. They were different but mostly young people were thinking about studying economics and computer science in Polish. With the support of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania and Association of Polish Scientists in Lithuania we submitted the proposal to the University of Białystok to establish the Faculty of Economics and Informatics in Vilnius,' said Volkonovski.
Final decision of Lithuanian authorities was made in August 2007, when the local universities have already finished their recruitment process. Nevertheless, on 1 October 2007, 177 students have started the first academic year at the Polish university in Vilnius. Currently, there are 450 students studying at the branch. The university has been accredited for a further period of activity.
At the beginning of its activity, the uFaculty attracted many graduates of Polish schools in Lithuania. During the first two years the UB branch was not even able to accept all the people willing to study there. In the following years of operating the university had to face the consequences of demographic decline. Therefore, age limits for students were not applied.
'Our university is somehow a family university. There have been cases when children and parents studied here, other family members too,' pointed out proud Volkonovski.
Master studies on-site
After some time the need to establish Master degree studies on-site emerged - an alternative for Masters studies offered at various universities in Poland. Poland offered 25 scholarships per year, but graduates of the branch preferred to finish studies in Vilnius. It turned out that young Polish people in Lithuania are strongly related to their families and places of residence, which was a clear indication that the university authorities have to seek for an extension of studies. However, it was difficult to meet staff requirements. The minimum staffing for graduate studies is 12 lecturers - 6 doctors and 6 professors.
'Despite organizational and administrative difficulties (the branch received the permission to run Master degree studies in Economics only on 15th September 2014) we managed to start the Master studies and find 50 candidates in just two weeks,' stated Volkonovski.
Bachelors of any Lithuanian university (social and technical sciences) or college (economic sciences) can join Master degree studies in the branch of the University of Białystok.
It should be emphasized that both Master and Bachelor degrees are paid; however, students pay only for the maintenance of material basis of the university. The fee for Bachelor studies is 434 euros per year, Master - 724 euros.
Difficulties with headquarters
The university has been using the rented premises in Kalvarijų Street 135 already for nine years. The area of the premises is approx. 1000 m2. However, there is no locker room, buffet or room of physical education, therefore students use recreational centers paid for by the branch. In addition, the branch uses one of the rooms of the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius, while the building in Aguonų Street 22 is designated for various types of conferences and meetings. The biggest problem of the branch is exactly the lack of own headquarters suitable for a modern university that meets the expectations of the XXI century. One of the solutions would be purchase of a land plot in Vilnius and construction of a modern university building.
According to PhD J. Volkonovski, he was repetitively appealing to the current Polish government for help in terms of headquarters for the university. Unfortunately, the problem has not been solved yet.
'We were told that because universities in Poland lack students, we should educate our youth in Poland. However, such a solution would deprive the Vilnius Region of the most talented young people. I hope that the PiS government will support us in our efforts now,' said PhD Jaroslav Volkonovski.
European Studies in the branch in Vilnius
The emergence of European Studies in the branch of the University in Białystok was a huge success. According to our interlocutor, the main reason for the introduction of European studies was the need to strengthen the pro-European value system in our region. Various integrative processes occurred on the Old Continent in last decades.
'Europe has something to be proud of, but it also has problems that should be solved. One of these challenges is the problem of refugees. The issues of eastern Ukraine, mass Russian propaganda disseminated in a sophisticated and highly tendentious way also raise anxiety. Better understanding, knowledge and strengthening of pro-European values are very important to the communities of the Polish minority in Lithuania in order to eliminate such problems. European Studies will serve exactly the purpose mentioned above,' claimed the dean. Volkonovski was also very happy that this year's limit of students of the European Studies has been almost reached..
'According to our research, too little of young Poles work in the institutions of state administration in Lithuania. This area would be a great place for the graduates of the European Studies,' he added.
Staff situation
A sensitive issue of the UB branch in Vilnius is the lack of local professional personnel. The defense of an academic title is a matter of great and long-term efforts; therefore not many people are opting for this path in their career.
Great teaching and research support comes from 25 lecturers arriving from the University of Białystok and from other universities: prof. Władysław Homenda from Warsaw University of Technology, prof. Walery Starowojtów from Belarusian State University in Minsk, prof. Tadeuš Lozovski from Vilnius University, Dr Germanas Budnikas from Kaunas University of Technology.
Career perspectives of graduates
The university offers great opportunities for graduates of Polish schools in Lithuania, but not
everyone fully exploits it: only half of the students obtain a diploma.
'According to the current news, 473 students finished their studies successfully, while approx. 500 were removed from the list of students. It often occurred because of the family reasons, lack of motivation to learn,' said the dean.
'The positive side of our activity is that those who are mostly determined are able to find work in the labour market. Despite the worries of Lithuanian authorities regarding the knowledge of the state language, graduates easily find occupation in Lithuania, because they learn technical and professional terminology also in Lithuanian. Many graduates started their own businesses and created vacancies not only for themselves but also for others,' he emphasized.
Another fact proving the success of the graduates is that only four graduates of the Faculty, that makes up 1 percent, have registered in the employment exchange in the period of recent 8 years. To compare, the unemployed graduates of the Vilnius University constitute 6,4 percent, graduates of the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University- 8, 4 percent, graduates of the Vilnius College - 10 percent. University diplomas are accepted and recognized by Lithuania and other EU member states.
Life of the UB student
Students are motivated to study: 10 percent of the best students of the UB branch in Vilnius receive Rector's scholarships of 400-550 PLN per month. About 120 students receive a grant of 1,000 euros per academic year from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland for good educational results. While students from poor families can count on social grants of 110 euros per month from the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania. Students of the Faculty have Lithuanian student cards that allow them to enjoy all the rights and privileges of students across the country.
There are two Scientific Groups at the Faculty - Economists Scientific Circle of F. von Hayek and Scientific Circle of J. von Neumann for Students of Informatics. Every year the students of the Faculty participate in the student exchange program Erasmus. Moreover, students' self-government organizes various festivals each year, e.g. Juwenalia. There are also other interest groups like theatre, volleyball, basketball, football, martial arts Niat Nam.
It is necessary to wish a lot of good changes for the Faculty for 2015/2016 academic year - new premises, good personnel, and a lot of academic luck!
Iena Mikulevič
"This project is co-financed from the funds granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland."
