The demographic decline in Poland has been forcing higher education institutions to seek new ways to attract international students for years. Faced with growing competition in the global education market, Polish universities must introduce innovative solutions to effectively compete with the world’s top institutions. One of the leaders in this field is the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (SUM).
Since 2023, SUM has implemented the modern Q24 system, significantly streamlining the registration process for international candidates. In August this year, the university took another step forward by introducing the international payment system, TransferMate. This system is used by leading global universities such as Harvard (UK), University College Cork (Ireland), Albert University (USA), as well as global corporations like PwC and Wells Fargo.
TransferMate allows fast and affordable international transfers, which is crucial for international students. This enables them to avoid high banking fees and long waiting times for funds to be processed. For example, an enrollment fee of 20 euros is credited to the university’s account instantly, without additional fees, which could previously amount to as much as 50 euros.
Adrian Petruk, Customer Support Manager at Q24, emphasizes: “Payment issues at Polish universities have so far been a significant barrier for international students. With TransferMate, this process has become much simpler and more affordable.”
According to data from the Educational Foundation “Perspektywy” or the Central Statistical Office (GUS), the number of international students in Poland is steadily increasing, highlighting the need for further improvements. In 2022, approximately 89,420 international students were studying in Poland, and by 2023, this number had grown to 92,000. The majority of students came from Ukraine (37,000 in 2022), Belarus (9,500), India (4,300), and Spain (2,800). Currently, international students make up about 8 percent of all students in Poland.
“Medical University of Silesia in Katowice introduced these changes in response to the growing number of international students choosing Poland as their study destination,” says Monika Góral, Coordinator of the English-Language Recruitment Section at SUM, adding, “Thanks to the payment system implemented by Q24.software, transfer costs for international students have been significantly reduced. I believe this is another step towards simplifying the recruitment process for international students, which in itself is already a major challenge.”
The introduction of these innovations proves that Medical University of Silesia in Katowice is actively working to enhance its competitiveness in the global education market. With modern solutions like TransferMate and Q24, the university stands a strong chance of attracting even more talented students from around the world.
Posted | September 25, 2024