Statement of the Association of Lublin Univerities on the Internationalisation of Higher Education, the Education of International Students, and Equality in Science

The authorities of the Universities affiliated with the Association of Lublin Universities, responding to disturbing manifestations of hate speech, aggression, and disinformation, feel obliged to present an accurate picture of the internationalisation of Lublin’s higher education institutions, an issue of importance both to the academic community and to the thousands of foreign nationals legally studying in Lublin.

For more than six centuries, Lublin has been a meeting place of cultures, religions, and nationalities. Among the city’s historical residents and visitors were Jews, Armenians, Tatars, Ruthenians, Scots, and Italians – each of these communities contributed its cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and knowledge. The Union of Lublin of 1569, one of the most significant events in the history of Central Europe, was possible precisely because Lublin was a place of dialogue and mutual respect among different traditions. The memory of this multicultural heritage carries obligations. We cannot build Lublin’s future by turning away from the values that have shaped the city’s identity for centuries.

Lublin is one of the largest academic centres in Poland. In the 2025/2026 academic year, more than 60,000 students are enrolled across all higher education institutions in Lublin (including private institutions), of whom approximately 13–15 per cent are foreign nationals from more than 50 countries worldwide. This proportion exceeds the national average of 8 per cent, yet remains fully within statutory limits and reflects the city’s attractiveness as an educational centre. International students are legal residents. They reside in Poland on the basis of student visas or temporary residence permits issued by the Voivode, have submitted recruitment documents verified by the universities, paid tuition fees and administrative charges, and their stay is continuously monitored by university international student offices and recorded annually in the POL-on system.

The recruitment of foreign nationals is conducted in accordance with strictly defined legal provisions, including the Law on Higher Education and Science, the Act on Foreign Nationals, regulations issued by the Minister of Science and Higher Education, and guidelines of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Claims of a systemic lack of verification are unfounded. Universities affiliated with the Association of Lublin Universities apply numerous requirements to candidates from outside the European Union, including: possession of a recognised foreign school-leaving certificate or diploma confirmed by the Director of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (a legal requirement since 1 July 2025); documented proficiency in the language of instruction at a minimum B2 level; verification of identity and the validity of travel documents; possession of a valid residence title (visa or residence permit); immediate notification of the relevant visa authority or the Voivode when a student is removed from the student register (Article 65(1ba) of the Act on Foreign Nationals); and the entry of international student data into the POL-on system (Article 343a of the Law on Higher Education and Science).

It is worth emphasising that Article 323a of the Law on Higher Education and Science explicitly states that international students may not exceed 50 per cent of a university’s total student population in a given academic year. None of Lublin’s public universities comes close to this threshold. Furthermore, in response to the communication issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 12 August 2024 concerning visa-related abuses, Lublin’s universities actively participated in ministerial consultations. The regulations introduced on 1 July 2025, which tightened recruitment criteria, were anticipated by our institutions and are being consistently implemented.

The internationalisation of higher education is a key indicator of institutional quality considered in all reputable academic rankings. The presence of students and doctoral candidates from various parts of the world enhances the quality of education, stimulates scientific research, and prepares Polish graduates to operate effectively in a globalised labour market.

International students bring measurable economic and social benefits to Lublin. They generate significant tuition fee income and contribute to the local economy through expenditure on accommodation, food, transport, and services. Some of them also undertake employment during their studies, helping to address labour shortages in local businesses. Equally important are the academic networks established during their studies, which often develop into future diplomatic, social, and commercial relationships between Poland and other countries. The presence of students, including international students, is also essential for the development of the academic environment as a significant sector of local education, the economy, culture, and sport. Nearly 10,000 academic, research, administrative, and technical staff employed by Lublin’s universities work to ensure that our city continues to develop and maintains its well-deserved place on the academic map of Poland, Europe, and the world.

We share concerns regarding the safety and security of the residents of Lublin and the region. Therefore, we wish to emphasise clearly that matters of public security fall within the competence of the police, the public prosecution service, and the courts—not universities. All legal reporting obligations arising from the Act on Foreign Nationals are respected and fulfilled by Lublin’s universities, and the City of Lublin has for many years been recognised as one of the safest cities in Poland.

We call upon all participants in public life to conduct discussions on educational migration on the basis of facts, data, and applicable law, rather than fears, prejudices, and political calculations.

Rector of Lublin University of Technology
/-/ Professor Zbigniew Pater

Rector of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin
/-/ Professor Krzysztof Kowalczyk

Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
/-/ Reverend Professor Mirosław Kalinowski

Rector of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
/-/ Professor Radosław Dobrowolski

Rector of the Medical University of Lublin
/-/ Professor Wojciech Załuska