Erasmus Policy Statement (Overall Strategy)

The War Studies University (former National Defence University) has been awarded an Exchange Erasmus University Charter for the period 2021– 2027.

Charter number: 101013809

Erasmus ID code: PL WARSZAW68

PIC Number: 937440011

OID Number (organization ID): E10043639

 

War Studies University (WSU) is the highest educational institution for commanders in the Polish Armed Forces. However, it educates both military and civilian students in the field of security and defence. It trains civilian personnel for government institutions as well as for local government authorities. The university also conducts advanced scientific research in the field of military science. While filling a niche in the national educational system, WSU is its significant element, generously contributing to the development of science and learning in Poland as well as cultivating the traditions of Polish military education, started with the renowned Knights’ School in the XVIII century. Aware of its important role in the popularisation of defence knowledge and in training highly-qualified personnel for the national security system, WSU provides a very attractive educational offer and implements the latest didactic trends connected with the concept of Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP). WSU actively cooperates with many universities, institutions and companies from Poland and abroad. It wants to fully meet the aims of the LLP by means of exchange of experience, participation in trainings, multilateral projects and thematic networks. Through active participation in the exchange of students and teachers, WSU aims at developing, as a truly European institution, a European educational model of the highest quality, attractive for both partners from Europe and outside. Taking advantage of its so-far acquired experience and its huge didactic potential, WSU chooses its partners on the basis of a comprehensive understanding between the partner institutions, compatibility of academic profiles of educating military and/or civilian students in the field of security and defence and a relationship of trust between the institutions. Every partnership is preceded by monitoring visits after consultations which take place at relevant levels within the Institution. In this way WSU avoids signing agreements which are not going to be active but provides common academic interests for further projects, thus influencing the development. For University it is important to keep a good balance between all academic areas without any restrictions on geography, population, economy, climate or other. War Studies University identifies shared quality requirements specific to the planned exchanges of students, teaching staff and others based on selection criteria for the nomination by the sending institution. The quality for all partners could not be different from one university to another. WSU regularly monitors the numbers of mobility in existing agreements according to its use, it takes necessary decisions in order to update and optimize mobility places. As for HEIs located in a non-participating country of the programme, WSU has not taken actions. However, by signing agreements, WSU will undertake to respect the principles contained in the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.

 

 

The most important objectives of mobility activities for ensuring the mobility of high quality are obligatorily settled in the learning agreement for students or mobility programme for staff. WSU ensures that outgoing mobile staff and students are given sufficient preparation for their mobility periods including having attained the necessary level of cultural and linguistic proficiency. This includes preparation in different forms, such as meetings, presentations with former students, workshops, feedback from former mobility participants, ending with online courses raising intercultural awareness. WSU follows the principle of equal educational opportunities irrespective of gender, race, nationality or practiced religion and is making efforts to create convenient studying conditions for disabled students as well as efforts to integrate these students with those able-bodied. Students from poorer families obtain support from the system of scholarships and relief funds. WSU’s students are also educated in the atmosphere of respect for human rights and democratic rules as well as equal treatment of men and women. WSU opposes to any forms of discrimination and fights all symptoms of xenophobia and racism. Owing to the pedagogical work of the academic staff and the educational department no such problems have ever been reported at WSU. All students are treated in the same way and have free access to university. WSU campaigns to conclude joint degrees agreements with universities about defence and security character also. The foreseen launching studies will take place within two years and results will be sustainable and lead to future development of the international involvement.