Universities across the country are pledging support for students affected by the flood occurring in the southwestern part of Poland. The Minister of Science and Higher Education, Dariusz Wieczorek, has appealed for financial support to be provided for those in need – in the form of social scholarships or financial aid, but also for available spaces at universities and in dorms. The academic community nationwide is also organizing charity collections, showing solidarity with the flood victims.
“As the ministry, we have appealed to universities to urgently consider applications for financial aid that may be filed by students affected by the flood. This is an immediate help that universities should provide. This is a priority for us right now in regards to the flood,” says Maciej Gdula, deputy minister of science and higher education, to Newseria Biznes agency.
Minister Dariusz Wieczorek has written to universities asking for the quickest possible financial assistance for students in flood-affected areas. He has appealed for priority consideration of applications for financial aid and social scholarships. He also declared that if the scholarship fund proves insufficient, university rectors can request an increase in funding. Financial aid, on the other hand, is a one-time benefit for students who find themselves temporarily in a difficult life situation, such as due to the declaration of a state of natural disaster. The university sets the amount of these benefits and they can be issued twice during the academic year. Unlike a social scholarship, income criteria do not apply for financial aid grants.
Messages from universities across the country confirm that rectors prioritize aid for students and their families, as well as employees, who were affected by the flood. There were also declarations of other forms of support, such as exemption from accommodation fees, educational services, and psychological assistance. Universities also promise that they are ready for further assistance, even tailored to the individual needs of the affected students.
The academic community has also been involved in financial and in-kind fundraisers for flood victims. The Medical University of Warsaw has initiated a collection of financial resources for the District Hospital in Nysa, whose infrastructure was damaged by the flood. WUM’s University Clinical Center declared its readiness to accept patients from the Nysa facility, if necessary.
“Minister Wieczorek appealed to rectors to make dormitories available for flood victims, as far as possible. I think this is also important assistance in places where the situation is dramatic,” says Maciej Gdula. “The Ministry is monitoring the situation related to the flood risk of institutions of its interest, namely research institutes, higher education institutions.”
Universities in Wrocław, among others, prepared for the peak of the flood wave by securing buildings and moving their resources. Hundreds of volunteers have signed up to help.
“I appeal to you, Rectors, to keep us informed about any risks associated with the operation of universities. The situation of each unit is different, and crisis management requires making accurate and quick decisions,” the minister appealed in a statement.
