Poland’s Gdańsk University Offering Scholarships 2026 for Admissions into PhD
GDAŃSK, POLAND — The International Cooperation Hub (InterHub) at Gdańsk University of Technology has opened registrations for the second edition of its intercultural competence development programme, OPEN UP! DARE TO! – Vol. 2. Running through April and May 2026, the programme offers a structured series of film screenings, expert meetings, NGO engagements, and training sessions designed to strengthen cross-cultural confidence among university staff, PhD candidates, and students. Participation is entirely free of charge, and the first events are scheduled for April 8 and 9, 2026.
A Structured Approach to Intercultural Readiness on Campus
OPEN UP! DARE TO! Vol. 2 builds on the foundation established by its first edition, which launched in February 2025 as part of Gdańsk Tech’s broader internationalization strategy funded through the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under its Welcome to Poland initiative. The programme’s central premise is disarmingly practical: that intercultural competence is not an abstract quality, but a concrete set of skills that can be developed through guided exposure to language confidence-building, cultural engagement, and structured dialogue with local institutions working on inclusion.
This second edition expands on the original format. The programme includes a film screening accompanied by a meeting with a film expert, a session led by a linguist addressing the psychology of speaking English and overcoming language barriers, a series of meetings with representatives from Gdańsk-based NGOs and cultural institutions, and dedicated training sessions on intercultural etiquette and inclusive language. The training component, notably, is reserved for university staff, reflecting a deliberate institutional investment in the capacity of those who interact daily with an increasingly international campus population.
Why This Programme Matters for Gdańsk Tech’s International Community?
Gdańsk University of Technology, founded in 1904 and consistently ranked among Poland’s leading technical universities, has been steadily expanding its international footprint. The establishment of InterHub in January 2026 signaled a more coordinated institutional approach to internationalization, moving beyond traditional exchange agreements toward a model emphasizing cross-cultural infrastructure.
The OPEN UP! DARE TO! programme is a product of this shift. For international PhD candidates and students navigating a Polish-language campus environment, the programme addresses a genuine friction point. Events are primarily conducted in Polish, though several will include English translation, creating an immersive but accessible setting. The programme’s focus on how Gdańsk itself is working toward becoming a city of equality adds a civic dimension that extends learning beyond the university gates.
Who and how to Participate for OPEN UP! DARE TO! Vol. 2
The OPEN UP! DARE TO! intercultural programme is open to all Gdańsk Tech staff, PhD candidates, and enrolled students (Everyone!). Participants may attend the full programme or select individual events according to their interest. Film screenings and meetings with NGOs and cultural institutions are open to all three groups, while the intercultural etiquette and inclusive language training sessions are designated specifically for staff. Places are limited across all events, and advance registration is required. The programme carries no participation fee.
A Model Worth Watching!
Programmes like OPEN UP! DARE TO! represent a growing recognition among European universities that internationalization is not merely a matter of recruitment numbers or exchange agreements. It requires cultural infrastructure.
The fact that Gdańsk Tech is investing in staff training alongside student engagement, embedding local civic partnerships into the curriculum, and framing language anxiety as a structural barrier rather than an individual failing suggests an institution thinking seriously about what a genuinely international campus looks like. With the first sessions of Vol. 2 opening on April 8, those within the Gdańsk Tech community would do well to register early. The programme’s limited places and its growing reputation from the first edition make prompt action advisable.