Last update: 07/09/2020

What does the labour market expect? How to choose a right university course when the world has been changing so quickly? Are there any skills other than IT desired by employers? Is the university course I want to take demanded by the labour market? Or maybe I want to chase my dreams and meet my future life companions? What is the difference between a dean’s office and a rectorate? What is ECTS?

Those are the questions that secondary-school graduates ask themselves. For the first time, due to the pandemic, young people must decide about their future fully on-line. In those difficult times, we want to help future students choose an appropriate university and give them a safe start in their academic adventure. Santander Universidades, Santander Bank Polska Foundation and the Employer Branding Office prepared a project in Poland named “Academic kick-off with Santander” that responds to the needs and questions asked by the young. 

As Marzena Atkielska, the President of Santander Bank Polska Foundation said “due to the covid-19 restrictions imposed nationwide, the secondary-school graduates have found themselves in an entirely new situation almost overnight. This is yet another exam they must take to prove their maturity. That is why Santander Foundation decided to engage itself in “Academic kick-off with Santander” project to help young people choose their university courses”.

What will secondary-school graduates gain from the project? 

• HR experts’ advice about the market, skills of future and professions in demand.
• Promotional materials of universities.
• Webinars with experts of Santander Bank Polska.
• Information on student organisations.
• Hints on how to manage one’s own budget.
• Recommended interesting academic initiatives.
• A guide to universities, administrative units and academic jargon.
• Student rights essentials.
• Information on scholarships and where to find them.

How do we reach the target audience? 

We focus on social media but also communicate with secondary-school graduates through their schools. In the first month of the project, we reached almost 100 thousand people, while over 800 people visited our website. And there are many more weeks of interesting activities ahead of us.

“Each year in Santander Universidades, we meet secondary-school graduates at universities, during open days for university candidates or when they submit their university applications. Due to the coronavirus, this year it will be impossible. Therefore, to accompany those young people in this difficult journey, we have initiated the project called “Academic kick-off with Santander” in Poland. I hope that soon we will meet at universities and will be able to support professional and academic development of students”, said Wojciech Leśniewski, Head of Santander Universidades.