Prof. Andrzej Kraśniewski has long been committed to advancing the internationalization of Polish universities, particularly in the area of education. He was actively involved in teams working on the Bologna process, establishing the formal foundation for programmes of study in English, and expanding these programmes. He also contributed to the introduction of micro-credentials and innovative educational forms. Furthermore, he played a key role in promoting Polish higher education at the European level, including the creation of the "Study in Poland" programme in 2005, which aimed to increase foreign students' interest in studying in Poland. Prof. Kraśniewski has been active in decision-making bodies in Europe (including the European University Association) and in Poland (as a long-time Secretary General of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and as an expert in advisory teams of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education). He has worked and continues to work within the ENHANCE consortium of European universities, which includes the Warsaw University of Technology. His responsibilities there include, among others, participating in the preparation of proposals to the European Commission, leading international teams developing key strategic documents for ENHANCE, and overseeing a task package related to the creation and implementation of innovative educational forms.

“We have succeeded in attracting international students to Poland, but when it comes to the internationalization of science, it’s not as good,” evaluates Prof. Andrzej Kraśniewski. “If we look at the composition of the academic staff, we find relatively few people from abroad. This is influenced by many factors: the competitiveness of employment conditions, organizational issues—in short, we still have a lot to do in this area.”

“We are at a stage in the development of internationalization where we should consider the full spectrum of opportunities in this area,” adds Prof. Kraśniewski. “There is no longer a single, universally applicable model of education for international students—the challenge lies in finding the right combination for each case.”

The mission of the Internationalization Stars award, which was presented for the eighth time in 2025, is to identify, honor, and promote individuals with outstanding achievements in the internationalization of Polish higher education institutions. The award is granted by a committee composed of representatives from all Polish institutions and organizations involved in the development of internationalization (e.g., CRASP, NAWA, FRSE, KRD, Perspektywy). The award is presented in nine categories: Management Star, Development Star, Teaching Star, Marketing Star, Research Star, Science Diplomacy Star, Rising Star, Public Diplomacy Star, and Distinguished Star.

The 2025 awards were presented on January 30^th in Gdańsk during the gala of the "International Students in Poland" conference. On behalf of Prof. Andrzej Kraśniewski, the award was received by the Rector of Warsaw University of Technology, Prof. Krzysztof Zaremba.

For more information, visit perspektywy.pl.