My talent for Poland

My talent for Poland was the motto of a meeting between President Lech Kaczynski and young internationally successful Poles.


19 year-ld Michał Filipczuk is a first-year student at Warsaw University. His interest in maths and computers started in primary school. Over the past two years he won the gold medal at the International Mathematics Olympiad and the silver medal at the International Informatics Olympiad. These successes were extremely important at the threshold of his scientific career.

‘Being trained by the best people in Poland to achieve such successes as medals at international olympiads made my skills much better’.

Many foreign observers of the Polish scene note that highly-skilled graduates and specialists in many fields is one of the main assets of present-day Poland.
According to Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, the minister of state in the Presidential Chancellary responsible for social affairs, it is extremely important to give up-and-coming researchers, scientists and artists, possibilities to develop their talents.

‘We have so many talented kids and students and we know nothing about them but we are all responsible for their talents to be developed. That’s why the Polish president invited a group of eighty people, including the 10 year-old pianist, winners of gold medals at international olympiads in high-tech, chemistry and mathematics, young doctors and movie directors. They are all here in Poland. The question is do we offer them enough possibilities to develop their talents, not only for Poland but for the whole world.’

The motto of the meeting at the Presidential Palace – My talent for Poland – is very topical at a time when tens of thousands of young people, including very bright university graduates, leave Poland to seek better study and career opportunities abroad. Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka describes this as a big challenge for Poland.

‘It’s very good if young, talented people are offered scholarships at the best universities such as Stanford, Yale, Princeton and Harvard, for this serves the development of their talent. We’d like them to return to Poland, to work here, to work with others so that they can also develop their talents here but of course we are aware that some academic centres abroad are better than here. It is our concern to give them opportunities to return to Poland and work at the same level that is offered to them abroad.’

Michal Filipczuk is among those who are determined, in the long-run, to pursue a career in Poland.

‘I plan to go abroad to work during the holidays or for a year and then come back and be here because this is my home.’

The President congratulated Michal Filipczuk and the other invited guests on their successes. He also gave them much-needed words of encouragement and assurance that their efforts will be appreciated in their homeland.
Source:By Michal Kubicki, polskieradio.pl