HRE Offers a Postgraduate Management Program in Lublin, Poland

Since 1995, the Department of Human Resource Education has been successfully collaborating with Politechnika Lubelska (Lublin Technical University) in Poland to offer a Postgraduate Management Program. The department sends faculty to Poland to teach courses in the human resource development field in complement the existing MBA program that is offered through Lublin Technological University. Courses taught by Illinois faculty include Training Programs in Business and Industry, Technology Transfer, Quality Process Improvement, and Consulting in HRD.

The department also offers one course on training and marketing to complement an existing postgraduate certificate program in business. These programs have become very popular among graduates from various Polish universities because it allows them to obtain new qualifications and skills in the area of management in a short period of time and to gain Polish and American perspectives to the business and human resource issues. The program is jointly coordinated by Professor Scott D. Johnson, Head of the Department of Human Resource Education at the University of Illinois, Mr. Andrzej Rozanski, Polish Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program, and Professor Ewa Bojar, Head of the Department of Economy and Management at Lublin Technological University.

Postgraduate studies programs in Poland are designed for university graduates who already possess a Master's Degree. The Postgraduate Studies Certificate offered through Lublin Technical University, in collaboration with the University of Illinois, is an official document that is accepted by the Polish Ministry of Education. Postgraduate studies typically last one year on average (two terms - 200 hours) with a second year (two terms - 300 hours) needed to complete the MBA program. Classes are taught twice a month on the weekends for eight hours a day. Classes taught by University of Illinois faculty are translated into Polish and all written materials are in Polish.

Postgraduate Management Program Graduation Ceremony

On October 25, 2002, a graduation ceremony took place in Lublin's Music Theater for the 80 graduates of the Postgraduate Studies Managment Program. The graduation celebration was attended by the graduates of the program, their invited guests, and important representatives of Lublin authorities including Mr Kurowski, the Voivod of Lublin, and Mr. Hunek, the Marshal of the Province. After making their celebration speeches, Professors James Leach and Scott Johnson from the University of Illinois, Pro-Rector Adam Wasilewski and Professor Ewa Bojar of Lublin Technological University, and the coordinator of the Program, Mr. Andrzej Rózanski presented students with their diplomas. The graduation concluded with musical performances by local artists from Lublin Music Theater and a celebration in the theater's hall. The celebration was covered in the local media by journalists from television as well as press representatives. A total of nearly 800 students have now graduated from the Postgraduate Studies Program, including 50 MBA students.