THREATS THAT TOURISM HAS BROUGHT TO POLAND

Rising interest in foreign trips and changing behaviour of Polish tourists

During 2013, the interest of Polish people in travelling abroad increased. This was due to greater economic stability in Poland, which has had a positive effect in terms of increasing spending on travel and tourism. The preferences of many Poles, however, are clearly changing, which has manifested itself in the search for new destinations and at the same time in shorter holidays. Many Poles now go on holiday for shorter periods of time more often during the year. Consequently, the proportion of trips being taken over 14 days or more is declining, while the proportion of trips between seven and 14 days is rising, as is the proportion of short city breaks. Moreover, Polish tourists increasingly prefer spending their holidays engaged in activities, including additional attractions, excursions and even round trips.

Offers of schedule, low cost and charter airlines increasingly similar to each other

One phenomenon which is apparent in air transportation in Poland is a certain convergence between schedule airlines, charter airlines and low cost carriers. Poland’s leading domestic schedule airline PLL LOT SA has recently placed limits on its services, which means that passengers must now pay for in-flight meals, among other services. In turn, Poland’s low cost carriers are enhancing their services as Polish consumers have higher expectations in terms of quality of service. For example, Ryanair recently introduced a numbered seating, the option of bringing a second piece of hand luggage and business bookings, which entitles customers to make changes to their bookings for free. Higher levels of service are also being offered by charter airlines, with passengers of Nowa Itaka Sp zoo and Rainbow Tours SA, Poland’s two largest tour operators, now flying modern fleets of aircraft such as the Boeing Dreamliner on routes to Thailand, Kenya, Venezuela, Mexico and The Dominican Republic, with no transfers required.

Ongoing concentration in travel retail determines trends

The bankruptcy of several smaller tour operators in Poland between 2010 and 2012 resulted in the return of many customers to large tour operators which are able to ensure the full implementation of travel retail services. The products and services on offer from Poland’s large tour operators are perceived as more reliable in terms of quality and conformity with what customers are promised. Consumers are therefore willing to pay more in order to feel secure that they are able to enjoy their holidays without any unpleasant surprises. This cautious consumer behaviour has led to concentration in travel retail in Poland, which has manifested itself mainly in increasing value share for the country’s largest tour operators such as Nowa Itaka Sp zoo, Rainbow Tours SA, TUI Poland Sp zoo, Neckermann Polska BP and Exim SA. On the other hand, the positions of smaller tour operators are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. These second-stage operators generally strive to maintain high levels of competitiveness by creating specialised or niche offers for customers with specific individual requirements.

Fierce competition in hotel industry

Hotels in Poland has recently become a very competitive category in terms of pricing levels and the quality of services on offer. This is due mainly to the dynamic development of travel accommodation in Poland in general over the review period as the country’s hoteliers are confronted with moderate increases in demand. As a result, the operators of the country’s leading hotels are consistently organising giveaways to maintain the required levels of penetration. Another major area of competition is making improvements to the quality of services on offer. The leaders in this field are generally chained operators which have comparatively high investment capacity. Consequently, this phenomenon has led to an increase in the levels of concentration in hotels in Poland in recent years.

References

http://www.euromonitor.com/travel-and-tourism-in-poland/report

THREATS THAT TOURISM HAS BROUGHT TO POLAND

Threats that tourism has brought to Poland: Environment

Globalization has a strong impact on the unification of the tourism market, as a result of that the quality in this sector is lowered. Mass tourism also affects environment degradation, for example

the Tatrzański National Park, the decline of local culture, which is strongly influenced by other cultures and is subjected to high levels of commercialization could be given as a second example of the degradation and decline. Globalization affects also one of the most important aspects in the tourism sector which is hospitality. Nowadays the clients are “processed” and treated as “goods” that is due to the strong emphasis put on profits and making money.

The tourist sector has always been characterised by hospitality; at the moment, it’s a secondary matter, as customers are frequently objectified and treated as a means for making a profit. It is important to try to turn away from this trend; according to UNWTO, there has been a slow

move away from mass towards individual tourism, and such changes are more and more frequently forecast by tourist organizations.

Mass tourism and profit-oriented management may significantly influence the degradation of the environment, which is often explicit in Poland, especially in Tatra National Park. The rising number of tourists and overcrowded mountain trails contribute to the slow destruction of plant zones, the scaring of animals, the disturbance of silence in the mountains, the littering, environmental contamination with sewage and waste from buildings and railway machines.

References

http://orgs.bloomu.edu/gasi/2010%20Proc%20papers/David%20Szemik.pdf

BENEFITS OF TOURISM IN POLAND

Culture and tourism has a relationship to each other charity that can strengthen the attractiveness and competitiveness of destinations, regions and countries.Tourism has assumed a vital role in the development of locations around the world. In most cases while culture is one of the main advantages for the development of tourism and one of the main beneficiaries of this development. Culture is a major factor in the attractiveness of the most places, not only in terms of tourism, but to attract residents and domestic investment.
This section of the book, we examined the growing relationship between tourism and culture, and how both have become major promoters of regional attractiveness and competitiveness. The growing relationship between culture and tourism. For much of the twentieth century, tourism and culture were seen as separate issues the places. Cultural resources were seen as part of the cultural heritage of places, especially related to education of local people and the livelihoods of local cultural identities or
nationals.
Tourism, on the other hand, has been seen as a related activity with the recreation, separated from daily life and culture of local people. This gradually It was changing towards the end of the century, as they became more obvious the role of benefits culture to attract tourists and distinguish abominations. In particular, 1980 hereinafter "cultural tourism" began to consider it as the main source of economic development for many destinations.

The growing links between culture and tourism was stimulated by several factors:

• Demand
• Increased interest in culture, in particular as a source of identity and differentiation in the face of globalization; increasing levels of cultural capital, stimulated by higher levels of education; aging populations in developed regions
• Styles of postmodern consumption, which emphasize personal development, rather than materialism
• A desire for ways to experience directly (see life instead of see sites)
• Increasing importance of intangible culture and the role of image and environment
• Greater mobility facilitates access to other cultures
• Offer
• Development of cultural tourism to stimulate employment and income
• Cultural tourism is seen as growing market and tourism
• "Quality"; increasing supply of culture as a result of regional development
• It is becoming more accessible information on culture and tourism by the new technologies
• The emergence of new nations and regions wishing to establish an identity clear and distinct (eg. the impact of the newly independent states
• Central and Eastern) Europe
• A desire to project an external image of regions and nations
• Problems of funding for culture in relation to greater cultural offer

As a result, the culture has been used increasingly as an aspect of tourism products and image strategies destination, and tourism has been integrated into the strategies of cultural development as a means of supporting the cultural heritage and cultural production. The synergy between tourism and culture. It is considered one of the most important reasons to encourage a more direct relationship between these two elements places.
This relationship is even more important given the increasing importance tourism and culture to the economies on the planet. The OECD estimates that tourism International accounts for about 30% of world exports of services in 2006 (OECD 2008). Also, each time it is being recognized that culture and creativity are important economic engines. An OECD study on the economic importance of culture said in several major economies heat of cultural industries was three to six
percent of the total economy.


References
http://www.oecd.org/cfe/tourism/42040227.pdf

TRADITIONAL DISHES

PIEROGI (DUMPLINGS)

Ingredients for dough

• 3 cups flour
• 1 egg
• Dash of salt
• ½ cup water

A plateful of cheese pierogi, topped with a dollop of sour cream, makes a filling lunch or dinner.

Ingredients for filling

• 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut up in small pieces
• 2 Tablespoons plain breadcrumbs
• Sour cream or confectioners sugar as garnish

Procedure

1. Make dough: Combine the flour with the egg, a dash of salt, and as much water as needed to form a smooth, loose dough that is easy to handle.
2. Roll with a rolling pin or bottle until it is very thin. Using a drinking glass or biscuit cutter, cut out circles 2 inches in diameter.
3. Make filling: Mix the cut-up apples with the breadcrumbs.
4. Assemble pierogi: Place a spoonful of apple mixture in the center of each dough circle.
5. Fold the dough circle in half and press around the edges firmly to seal.
6. Fill a large pot with water and heat until the water begins to boil.
7. Drop the pierogi gently into the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface.
8. Remove with a slotted spoon, allow the water to drain off, and place the pierogi on a serving platter.
9. Top with sour cream or confectioners' sugar.

Makes 5 or 6 servings.

GOLABKI (STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS)

Ingredients

• 1 head cabbage
• 1 cup uncooked rice
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ pound ground pork
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 slices bacon
• 2 cans concentrated tomato soup

This fragrant mixture of dried fruits and spices is served at the end of the festive Christmas Eve dinner.

Procedure

1. Pour boiling water over the cabbage to loosen the leaves.
2. Remove a few leaves at a time as they soften.
3. Place the rice in 1 cup of water and boil 10 minutes.
4. Sauté the onions in butter until partly browned.
5. Combine with the rice, meat, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder; mix well.
6. Place some of the meat mixture on the stem of a cabbage leaf and roll over once. (Part of the thick stem section can be cut off first for easier rolling.) Tuck in the sides of the leaf and finish rolling.
7. If needed, fasten rolled leaf with a toothpick.
8. To cook, place the slices of bacon with a few cabbage leaves and any leftover small leaves at the bottom of the baking dish.
9. Place the rolls on top, cover with the tomato soup, and place any leftover cabbage leaves on top.
10. Cover with a lid or foil and bake about 2 to 2½ hours at 300°F.

Serves 6.

KIELBASA AND CABBAGE

Ingredients

• 1 small head cabbage, coarsely-diced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 small potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon caraway seed
• 1½ pounds kielbasa sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 can (14-ounce) chicken broth

Kielbasa, cut into bite-sized pieces, may be combined with cabbage for a hearty dinner, or may be enjoyed alone with mustard as a snack.

Procedure

1. Place the vegetables, seasonings, and sausage in a crockpot.
2. Pour in the chicken broth.
3. Cover.
4. Cook on low 6 to 10 hours, or on high 2 to 4 hours.

Serves 4.

References

http://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-Africa/Poland.html

CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

Activities of REC Poland

REC Poland supports policies related to environmental protection and civil society development, including support to NGOs, biodiversity protection, climate protection, eco-education and the promotion of sustainable development. Initially, the work of REC Poland focused mainly on supporting the development of NGOs in Poland. Over 300 grants were awarded, contributing significantly to the creation of a robust environmental movement in the country. In 1996, REC Poland was awarded the title “best grant donor” by Polish NGOs.

Another important area of activity is biodiversity protection, including public communication and nature conservation. REC Poland supports the implementation of the Natura 2000 network: it has organised communications workshops for hundreds of nature protection staff; produced several publications promoting nature protection among local communities; and elaborated a national strategy for public communication for Natura 2000. REC Poland also coordinates direct nature protection activities, which in recent years have covered more than 400 habitats of rare plant and animal species.

In the field of climate change, REC Poland focuses its activities on changing attitudes and behavior by developing educational programs for the general public, as well as knowledge exchange between experts and decision makers. As a result, more than 10,000 schoolchildren have been involved in climate protection activities, and local government officials have been given the opportunity to learn about recent technological developments aimed at climate change prevention. 

REC Poland supports sustainable development through experience exchange and the promotion of concrete policies and technical and organisational solutions. It is active in a range of areas, including environmental impact assessment, transportation and agriculture. REC Poland's sustainable development activities have an impact on nearly all municipalities in Poland. REC Poland strives to influence the habits and attitudes of the younger generation and to encourage them to participate in environmental activities. More than 300 workshops for around 6,000 teachers have been organised and handbooks published by the REC are available for use in nearly all secondary schools and many elementary schools in the country. No less than 300,000 children and teenagers have taken part in educational activities organised by REC Poland.

Donors

• REC Poland is able to carry out its activities thanks to grants and donations from various national and international institutions. Activities are supported by, among others:
• The European Union
• The Government of Norway
• Toyota Motor Europe
• The Ministry of Environment, Poland
• The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management
• The World Bank

Partners

REC Office Poland conducts its activities in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Directorate General for Environmental Protection. We cooperate closely with more than 200 experts from all over Poland who are engaged in the REC's local and national activities.

Reference
http://www.rec.org/office.php?id=12

TOURISM FOR POLES

Rising interest in foreign trips and changing behavior of Polish tourists

During 2013, the interest of Polish people in travelling abroad increased. This was due to greater economic stability in Poland, which has had a positive effect in terms of increasing spending on travel and tourism. The preferences of many Poles, however, are clearly changing, which has manifested itself in the search for new destinations and at the same time in shorter holidays. Many Poles now go on holiday for shorter periods of time more often during the year. Consequently, the proportion of trips being taken over 14 days or more is declining, while the proportion of trips between seven and 14 days is rising, as is the proportion of short city breaks. Moreover, Polish tourists increasingly prefer spending their holidays engaged in activities, including additional attractions, excursions and even round trips.

Offers of schedule, low cost and charter airlines increasingly similar to each other

One phenomenon which is apparent in air transportation in Poland is a certain convergence between schedule airlines, charter airlines and low cost carriers. Poland’s leading domestic schedule airline PLL LOT SA has recently placed limits on its services, which means that passengers must now pay for in-flight meals, among other services. In turn, Poland’s low cost carriers are enhancing their services as Polish consumers have higher expectations in terms of quality of service. For example, Ryanair recently introduced a numbered seating, the option of bringing a second piece of hand luggage and business bookings, which entitles customers to make changes to their bookings for free. Higher levels of service are also being offered by charter airlines, with passengers of Nowa Itaka Sp zoo and Rainbow Tours SA, Poland’s two largest tour operators, now flying modern fleets of aircraft such as the Boeing Dreamliner on routes to Thailand, Kenya, Venezuela, Mexico and The Dominican Republic, with no transfers required.

Ongoing concentration in travel retail determines trends

The bankruptcy of several smaller tour operators in Poland between 2010 and 2012 resulted in the return of many customers to large tour operators which are able to ensure the full implementation of travel retail services. The products and services on offer from Poland’s large tour operators are perceived as more reliable in terms of quality and conformity with what customers are promised. Consumers are therefore willing to pay more in order to feel secure that they are able to enjoy their holidays without any unpleasant surprises. This cautious consumer behavior has led to concentration in travel retail in Poland, which has manifested itself mainly in increasing value share for the country’s largest tour operators such as Nowa Itaka Sp zoo, Rainbow Tours SA, TUI Poland Sp zoo, Neckermann Polska BP and Exim SA. On the other hand, the positions of smaller tour operators are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. These second-stage operators generally strive to maintain high levels of competitiveness by creating specialized or niche offers for customers with specific individual requirements.

Fierce competition in hotel industry

Hotels in Poland has recently become a very competitive category in terms of pricing levels and the quality of services on offer. This is due mainly to the dynamic development of travel accommodation in Poland in general over the review period as the country’s hoteliers are confronted with moderate increases in demand. As a result, the operators of the country’s leading hotels are consistently organizing giveaways to maintain the required levels of penetration. Another major area of competition is making improvements to the quality of services on offer. The leaders in this field are generally chained operators which have comparatively high investment capacity. Consequently, this phenomenon has led to an increase in the levels of concentration in hotels in Poland in recent years.

Internet as increasingly popular communication channel in travel and tourism

The internet is playing an increasingly significant role in the Polish travel and tourism industry, especially in areas such as promotion, communication with the customers and distribution. Growth in the online channel is being driven by the rising availability of broadband internet connections in Poland and the rising penetration of portable computers and smartphones across the country. The online purchasers of travel and tourism products have reported that they appreciate the convenience of the internet and the speed with which they can collect information, organize trips and holidays and book and pay for their purchases. The vast majority of tour operators and travel agents in Poland operate their own company websites, although the largest operators tend to provide their customers with full booking and payment options. The most important travel and tourism websites in Poland include the following: wakacje.pl; e-podroznik.pl; easygo.pl; hrs.com / en /, eSKY.pl; Lataj.pl; Fru.pl; and Travelplanet.pl. The travel and tourism categories with the highest proportions of online operations include air transportation, hotels and travel retail.

References

http://www.euromonitor.com/travel-and-tourism-in-poland/report

TOURISM IN POLAND

Poland is experiencing an increase in the number of tourists after joining the European Union. Tourism in Poland contributes to the overall economy of the country and is one of the services market relatively large proportion of the country.

Krakow was the ancient capital and a relic of Poland in the Golden Age of the Renaissance. Contains the place of coronation of the majority of Polish kings. He was named European Capital of Culture by the European Union in 2000. The city of Wroclaw, was designated as European Capital of Culture in 2016, besides being one of the oldest cities in Poland. During World War II, Wroclaw was one of the cities most affected, however, the city has been restored and attracts millions of visitors each year. Poland's capital, Warsaw, which was also destroyed and rebuilt, offering a variety of attractions.

The main tourist offer of Poland are based around tourism in its major cities as well as in extra-urban areas, qualified tourism, agrotourism, mountain hiking and climbing, as well as business travel. Poland is the 17th most visited country in the world for foreign tourists, as ranked by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in 2012. Other destinations include northern coast of the Baltic Sea, the Masurian Lake District, and Białowieża Forest in the east, south lies the Giant Mountains, the Table Mountains, the Tatra Mountains, where the highest peak of Poland (Rysy) and the famous Orla Perć is; the Pieniny National Park and the Bieszczady Mountains National Park in the south-east of the country. Other sites of interest are:

• Historic center of Krakow
• Historic Centre of Warsaw
• Tatra Mountains
• Sudetenland
• Churches of Little Poland
• Malbork Castle
• Wieliczka Salt Mine
• Auschwitz
• Bialowieza Forest
• Gdańsk
• Zamość
• Toruń
• Slowinski National Park
• Masurian Lakes

References

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polonia#Turismo

CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

WILDLIFE

The activities to conserve endangered wildlife species as well as native rare breeds

have been undertaken in Poland for over a century. The best examples in wildlife area

are provided by the conservation programme to restore the European bison population,

and a programme to re-establish Polish Koniks to their natural habitats in the wild. In

the livestock sector, although a number of breeds have become extinct in the 1960s

and 1970s, restitution programmes undertaken since the mid 1970s reduced erosion of

populations and resulted in the restoration of a number of native breeds.

The efforts to conserve endangered native breeds in Poland can be divided into three

main phases. The first one covers a period from initiation of conservation activities undertaken

mainly by the scientific community with gradual support provided by the government

until the official establishment of the National Focal Point for Animal Genetic

Resources (NFP-AnGR) in August 1996. In the second phase, conservation activities

became coordinated at the national level; this phase continues till 2004, when Poland

became a member of the European Community. The last and current phase is marked

by the implementation of European Union rural development policy and agrienvironmental

measures at the national level.

WOLVES

There are between 600-700 wolves in Poland, mainly in the eastern and southern parts of the country, with a small but growing population in the west. These wolves prey mainly on red deer, roe deer and wild boar. The wolf has been protected in Poland since 1998, but many packs live on the borders with Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Slovakia, where hunting is still permitted.  Other threats to wolves in Poland include habitat fragmentation and disruption of ecological corridors along which wolves disperse, due to building of new roads and expansion of towns and new development in tourist areas; disturbance by forestry activities, recreation and development; conflict with livestock farming (1-3% of wolf diet in Poland comprises domestic animals, mainly sheep); and human-caused mortality such as illegal killing and collisions with vehicles. Poland’s wolves are at the western-most edge of a large, continuous eastern European wolf population, which has retained its high genetic diversity, and are therefore an important source of dispersing individuals to other central and western European countries, including Germany. 

What are they doing?

Wolves and Humans has worked with Polish organisation Association for Nature “WOLF” since 1998, supporting their study of wolves in the Beskidy Mountains of southern Poland, part of the Carpathian Mountain range, and now in the Lower Silesian Forest, in western Poland.  Wolf numbers are monitored by carrying out field surveys for signs of wolf presence such as tracks, scats, den sites and sightings, and interviewing local foresters and hunters. Camera traps and howling surveys are also used. Samples of scat and hair are collected for genetic analysis to determine relatedness between packs in different part of Poland and assess whether these are isolated or interconnected.  This research is then used to identify conservation needs and implement measures to protect wolves and other wildlife.

As well as research, the Association also provides training to farmers in methods of preventing livestock losses to wolves, including fladry, electric fencing and the native Tatra Mountain Shepherd livestock guarding dog. Equipment and dogs are provided and full training is given to owners and shepherds. Monitoring is also carried out to study the effectiveness of these methods in different situations. Several publications about protection of livestock have been produced.

The Association also regularly give lectures and talks for schoolchildren, students and local communities on the role of predators in forest ecosystems, and run wolf workshops and seminars for foresters, hunters, livestock owners, nature protection officials from Poland, the Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as well as for students and naturalists from all over the world. Specialist workshops are held for staff of Nature Protection Departments, foresters, hunters and veterinarians from areas with wolves, including training in identification methods and determining causes of damages to livestock.

References

http://www.wolvesandhumans.org/how_to_help_pages/wolf_research_poland.htm

ww.usask.ca/wcvm/research/genetic_workshop/workshop_acp_developed.pdf

HOW POLAND WILL FACE THE FUTURE?

Poland is an underrated country in the western culture and the other countries has a bad impression of Poland. However, without doubts Poland has accomplished enormous achievements on the last 40 years: The begining of the end of the communism -the first great link on the fall of the communist dictatorships on western and central Europe, a pacific transition, the demochracy, the free market and an explosive growing on economic matters on the last 10 years.

Education

Poland is a new benchmark in Europe culturally and technologically, thanks mainly to its emphasis on education and culture of effort. The Poles are constant and are facing difficulties and challenges that arise, no matter the differences of any kind because eventually they put the goal to achieve. In the future all the things that the polish applies and will attach to its education model will be reflected on its economy, also in the cultural values by concentrating the population as one with similar perspectives and in the infrastrcture by showing to the rest of the world and most of all, to Poland itself that they can go further than anyone can expect with its effort and discipline in education.

Economic Field

Poland has become the the 6th major economies in the EU (European Union), its attraction power of overseas investment (german most of all), the funds of the EU and its exporting capacity favoured for count with an own coin. Moreover, Poland is one of the European countries with less external debt and shortage. Therefore, the polish economy are growing constantly since 10 years and it might continue for another 15 or 20 years because is a country in the expansion stage and with Germany, England and France will going to lead the economic affairs in the whole continent.

An economist who earned the Nobel price, Paul Krugman, recognize that Poland has accomplished an explosive success and the polish are looking to improve the innovation and entreprenuership to reach in the future the faculties to compete seriously in the worldwide market. Poland is the largest recipient of community funds in the EU and will remain so until at least 2020.

Social Field

Poland is one of the few countries in Europe that still has a long tradition, solid civic and social values where the family as an institution remains the largest pillar. A nation in which the Catholic Church still plays an increasingly important role too-though less-and is highly integrated in society compared to other Catholic countries. No wonder the figure of Pope John Paul II played a major role in the opposition to the communist regime role and remains highly influential in the social values of present-day Poland, thus this will have no changes in the future. Poland is mostly a land of good people, honest, humble, simple, traditional, hard-working, patriotic struggling to push through a country clearly punished by history, living the present with intensity; pessimistic nature but starts to look to the future with more optimism. This country are going to keep its ideals and values because by maintaining strong roots the results will be fructiferous and the entire world should realize that in 10, 15 or even 20 years Poland will stand just awhile to the most important countries in the world in economic, social, infrastructure and education fields.

References
http://lapoloniadelospolacos.com/2015/01/28/polonia-de-un-pasado-traumatico-a-un-futuro-prometedor/

EDUCATION

DESCRIPTION OF THE POLISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

SKILLS

The management of the education system in Poland is done from different

levels. The Ministry of Education coordinates and develops policy

State education from the central government; oversees the work of the body

Inspectors (kuratoria) and collaborates with other agencies in education.

The regional education authority is the responsibility of each of the

16 regions into which the country is divided, leading each of which is

is a regional delegate of education (kurator), appointed by the

Regional government delegate (wojewoda) responsible for carrying out

within their geographic demarcation Department policy.

The Polish term powiat is an intermediate administrative unit between

the region and the commune or municipality. Currently there are 379 school districts

Since in each of which performs the management and

management centers and vocational upper secondary education or

other special public schools.

The local education authority corresponds to 2,478 communes or

gmina spread throughout the state. Its responsibilities include the

management of preschools, primary schools and

basic secondary education centers or gyms (gimnazjum).

In the daily management of a school is important to underline

powers of the directors, who, in addition to hiring teachers and

non-teaching staff have powers to grant some supplements

wage, determine the disciplinary rules and sanctions, monitor the

educational work of teachers, proposing decorations, etc.

MANDATORY AND STAGES OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

The non-university educational system comprising the steps of Education

nursery, primary and secondary plus special teachings.

Compulsory education "full-time" starts the calendar year

in which the school meets the age of 6 and extends to 16 years. His

duration is 10 years and includes the preparatory course or zero year, six

years of primary and three lower secondary education in the gym.

Childhood Education

The main objective of Early Childhood Education is to facilitate and stimulate

child development through age 6, age at which introduced the first

activities of literacy and numeracy along the zero year, taking into

their recent mandatory should not be included in this category.

Regarding the qualifications required for teachers, early childhood education

run by specialists with at least three years of specific training.

Primary Education

Primary education is divided into two cycles of equal length.

During the first content taught elementary character so

integrated. From the second, basic education is organized in

compulsory subjects (Polish language, history, mathematics, foreign language,

science, music, art, technology, computer science, physical education and religion /

ethics) with a workload of between 23 and 28 hours per week

depending on the cycle.

Secondary Education

a) Education Secondary School

After obtaining the Certificate of Primary Education students access

a gym (Institute of Basic Secondary). Along three

years, and formal scientific knowledge is introduced using the methodology

specific to the different subjects.

The materials listed above for primary are completed at this stage

civic education, physics and astronomy, chemistry and geography, which is

involved a total of 31 hours per week.

After the stage, the student takes a final external examination whose

notes, together with the transcript, determine access to center

upper secondary education.

The faculty must possess at least a Bachelor's licencjat.

b) Higher Secondary Education

Higher Secondary School offers preparatory training

for access to higher education, once passed the Matura exam

or revalidation of high school.

Centers offering these teachings can be:

Institutes of general secondary education (liceum ogólnokształcące)

Institutes of specialized secondary education (liceum

profilowane)

Technical secondary schools (technikum)

The lessons are taught by subject and, regardless of the

mode, all secondary schools are guided by the core curriculum

established comprising traditional disciplines. The workload

weekly is 32-33 hours.

In general, irrespective of the educational stage

curse the student must pass all subjects to pass the course

following.

Teachers must have the title of magister.

Vocational training

At the end of compulsory secondary education, education services were

complete with a wide range of centers where they can pursue studies

vocational training field belonging to some collected Catalogue

current professions.

The Basic Training (zasadnicza szkoła zawodowa) has a

duration of a minimum of two years and a maximum of three. The certificate

credited obtained adequate technical training for an occupation.

It also allows further study Upper Secondary Education

Additional secondary schools (liceum uzupełniające ogólnokształcące)

or complementary technical high schools (technikum uzupełniające) and at the end

these studies, access Matura exam.

 Finally, we should emphasize the role of studies

that offer post-secondary schools (szkoły policealne). Duration

than six months but less than two and a half years, your goal is to expand

technical training for all who are in possession of evidence of Matura

and do not plan to pursue higher education.

Higher Education

Depending on the educational offerings of the city center, the profile of studies

and duration, you can obtain the diploma qualification (licencjat, three or

four years) or licensed (magister, five or six years). The third cycle is

form the PhD or other postgraduate studies. Currently,

being carried out the necessary reforms in the programs

university to adapt to the provisions of European

Higher Education.

references
http://www.mecd.gob.es/dms-static/b774a3c6-02cb-48a4-bd4b-a2a681e18853/consejerias-exteriores/polonia/pol.pdf

ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE

The Polish highway network has been viewed in the past as chronically underdeveloped and lacking in basic modern infrastructure. After the fall of communism and after joining the European Union, this situation is rapidly changing for the better and in the next decade.Poland plans to have a very modern network of highways. The country's most important waterway is the river Vistula. The largest seaports are the Port of Szczecin and Port of gdansk. Air travel is generally used for international travel, with many flights originating at warsaw chopin airport. Railways connect all of Poland's major cities and the state-owned  polish state railways(PKP) corporation, through its subsidiaries, runs a great number of domestic and international services of varying speed and comfort. In addition to this, five out of sixteen Polish  voivodeshipshave their own provincial rail service providers. Many major Polish cities have rapid ransit systems (typically tram networks) and public transport is available in most areas throughout the country.

Polish public roads are grouped into categories related to administrative division. Poland has 412,264 km (256,170 mi) of public roads, of which 131,863 km (81,940 mi) are unsurfaced (2011):

• National roads (Classes A, S, GP and exceptionally G): 18,801 km (11,680 mi), 1.9 km (1 mi) unsurfaced
• Voivodeship roads (Classes G, Z and exceptionally GP): 28,476 km (17,690 mi), 63.2 km (39 mi) unsurfaced
• Powiat roads (Classes G, Z and exceptionally L): 127,743 km (79,380 mi), 11,379 km (7,070 mi) unsurfaced
• Gmina roads (Classes L, D and exceptionally Z): 237,244 km (147,420 mi), 120,419 km (74,820 mi) unsurfaced

In recent years, the network has been improving and government spending on road construction recently saw a huge increase, due to rapid development of the country and the inflow of European Union  funds for infrastructure projects.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The Job Market

What are your chances of getting a job?

Poland is the gateway between Western and Eastern Europe and is part of an evolving region with a growing economy. You'll have a better chance of securing a job if you can speak Polish. While English and German are the most commonly spoken foreign languages, neither is by any means commonly used or understood.

It may be relatively easy to find part-time or temporary work, but securing a full-time graduate level role may be more difficult, particularly with the high unemployment rate that Poland faces.

A lot of graduates, even from the best universities in Poland, have difficulties in finding a good job. While wages are increasing, many Polish graduates come to the UK to work as they get a better salary.

To improve your chances of getting a good job in Poland, try to gain extra qualifications and work experience. Knowledge and practical skills in a certain sector will help and foreign language and IT skills are popular with employers.

Where can you work?

Major industries: machine building, food processing and beverages, chemicals, iron and steel, shipbuilding, glass, textiles, coal mining.
Industries in decline: agriculture and metalwork.
Shortage occupations: sales representatives and general office, industrial, construction and technical workers.
Major companies: PKO Bank Polski (regional banks), PGE (electric utilities), Grupa PZU (insurance), Pgnig Group (oil and gas), KGHM Polska Miedz (metals and mining), PKN Orlen (oil and gas), Tauron Group (electric utilities).

What’s it like working in Poland?

Average working hours: working hours should not exceed eight hours per day, or 40 hours in a five day working week. Overtime hours are possible, as is night-time work (classed as between 9pm and 7am).
Holidays: annual leave is accrued after the first month of work. Employees who have worked for a year or more are entitled to at least 20 days paid annual leave; 26 days if they have worked for more than 10 years.

Applying for jobs

Both foreign and Polish jobseekers can use the services of the Polish District Labour Offices to help find employment. These can be found in many of the major towns and you'll need to register by taking in your education certificates, any work-related certificates and personal ID. Opportunities through the District Labour Offices may be limited however and you may find better results with private recruitment agencies.
You can also apply for jobs online through recruitment websites, which can be done from outside of Poland. However, you may need to visit the country for some of the interview stages.
Applications are typically made with a CV and covering letter similar to those used in the UK. The covering letter should be tailored for the individual company stating why you'd like to work in Poland and how your skills and interests match the job advertised.
Most recruiters will expect applications in Polish and you should write in this language unless the company has said they'll accept applications in English (or another language).
The interview process is similar to that in the UK and varies depending on the employer. You may be asked to take your certificates or references along to the interview; if you do make sure you find out if they should be translated into Polish.