The Oxford Poland Hub
The Oxford-Poland Hub – inauguration on 9 November 2026
Oxford University and Polish Government
A dynamic new ecosystem to connect Oxford University and Polish academia to boost joint research, strengthen collaboration and enhance community engagement.
This new mission will foster sustained scholarly collaboration, mutual understanding, and cultural exchange between our two communities, with special focus on the Humanities, Social Sciences, Museums and Libraries.
The Oxford–Poland Hub will open new strategic avenues for Oxford scholars to collaborate with leading Polish universities and research centres, develop transnational research consortia, and benefit from complementary sources of research funding.
Based at The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH), the Hub will foster academic collaboration between Oxford and Polish researchers and institutions, supporting joint research initiatives, scholarly exchange and lasting partnerships across the humanities, social sciences, and Oxford's Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM). An equally important objective is to promote Polish culture, history and language within the University and the wider community.
The initiative is funded for an initial three years by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), with support from Poland's Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London and the Polish Cultural Institute in London.
The Hub is led by its inaugural Director, Professor Paulina Kewes (Faculty of English and Jesus College), and its inaugural Deputy Director, Dr Marek Naczyk (Department of Social Policy and Intervention and Kellogg College). Its grants will be awarded by an Academic Board with members from the Humanities and Social Sciences Divisions of the University of Oxford, GLAM, Oxford Lifelong Learning, and the Oxford Polish Association (OPA).
“The launch of the Oxford–Poland Hub is an exciting new chapter in Oxford’s longstanding relationship with Poland. Polish scholars and students have made, and continue to make, an important contribution to the intellectual life of our University. The Hub will build on these enduring connections, creating new opportunities for academic exchange, collaborative research and partnership between Oxford and Poland.”
Professor Irene Tracey CBE, FRS, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford.
“A strong bilateral relationship must be continually renewed by new ideas, new partnerships, and new generations. The Oxford–Poland Hub is an investment in that future. By establishing strong links between Oxford and Polish academic institutions, it will expand opportunities for collaborative research, encourage intellectual exchange, and bring our societies closer together. I hope it will become a lasting feature of the Polish–British relationship and pave the way for further partnerships of this kind.”
Ambassador Rafał Wiśniewski, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Republic of Poland to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
“At the Polish Cultural Institute in London, we look forward to contributing to the Oxford-Poland Hub's cultural dimension by connecting Oxford's academic community with Polish artists, writers and cultural practitioners and developing opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. I see this three-year initiative, implemented by NAWA (the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange) as an important opportunity to strengthen the visibility of Polish scholarship and culture and to establish lasting partnerships with Oxford's intellectual and cultural life.”
Anna Tryc Bromley, Director, Polish Cultural Institute in London
“We are delighted to launch this ground breaking new collaboration with the Polish Government which will empower research, stimulate innovation and creativity and deepen cultural engagement between all the partners and our communities. It is a great privilege to be the inaugural Director of the Oxford-Poland Hub.”
Professor Paulina Kewes, Director (Faculty of English and Jesus College)
In depth
The Oxford-Poland Hub
Objectives: Lasting and productive partnerships
To establish a mutually supportive institutional platform to coordinate research collaborations, academic visits, and knowledge exchange between the University of Oxford and Polish institutions, principally universities, research institutions, and academic agencies such as NAWA (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange) and FNP (Foundation for Polish Science).
To strengthen international and interdisciplinary collaboration for ground breaking and impactful research.
To promote cross-cultural engagement and awareness of Polish culture, language and society at the University of Oxford.
To enrich the University’s local engagement, including through collaboration with the Polish diaspora in Oxford (esp. The Oxford Polish Association).
Joint research, knowledge exchange and knowledge creation
A central element of the Hub's activities is a programme of grants designed to turn promising ideas into joint research projects. Oxford-based researchers will be able to apply for funding to collaborate with colleagues in Poland, organise workshops and undertake research visits in either country.
Grants of up to £5,000 will support joint research projects, academic visits and the preparation of larger funding applications, while workshops bringing together researchers from Poland, Oxford and beyond will be eligible for up to £10,000. From its second year, the Hub also plans to offer bursaries enabling early-career Polish researchers to attend training programmes at Oxford.
The Hub will work closely with Polish universities and research institutions, as well as the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP), to develop new opportunities for academic collaboration.
Cultural Engagement across borders and boundaries
The Hub's ambitions, however, extend beyond academic research. Working with TORCH, Oxford's Humanities Cultural Programme, OPA and the Polish Cultural Institute in London, it will promote Polish history, culture and scholarship through public lectures, exhibitions, performances and other events, engaging both the University community and wider audiences in Oxford. The Hub will also establish a bilingual website and a newsletter providing information about research opportunities, funding, events and Polish language learning.
The Oxford- Poland Hub
Key Outcomes and Impact
Create a robust and enduring network linking Oxford scholars with counterparts in Poland across multiple disciplines.
Strengthening of the scientific excellence of Polish research in the Humanities and the Social Sciences
Promote Oxford scholarship in Polish academic circles
Expand research opportunities for Oxford researcher
Increased THE presence of Polish culture, history, and language at Oxford and the city of Oxford through working closely with TORCH and the Humanities Cultural Programme.
Key People
Professor Paulina Kewes, Director, The Oxford-Poland Hub (Faculty of English Language and Literature)
Dr Marek Naczyk, Deputy Director, The Oxford-Poland Hub (Department of Social Policy and Intervention)
Summary
Strategic and integrated collaboration for long term impact
The Oxford-Poland Hub will be a vibrant platform for academic exchange and cultural engagement, designed to support collaborative research, foster bilateral partnerships, and promote Polish culture and language within the University. It would also provide a point of access for scholars and institutions in Poland wishing to explore opportunities for cooperation with Oxford.
The Oxford–Poland Hub will open new strategic avenues for Oxford scholars to collaborate with leading Polish universities and research centres, develop transnational research consortia, and tap into complementary sources of research funding.
It will position Oxford as a strategic partner within Poland’s expanding research ecosystem and facilitate participation in bilateral and European funding initiatives.
The University of Oxford and the Polish government are launching the Oxford–Poland Hub on 9 November 2026. Based at The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH), the Hub will strengthen academic and cultural ties between Poland and the UK, supporting joint research, scholarly exchange and cultural initiatives across the humanities, social sciences, and Oxford’s Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM). Funded for an initial three years by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), the Hub will offer research grants, academic visits and workshops, alongside public lectures, exhibitions and performances promoting Polish culture, history and language. The initiative is led by Professor Paulina Kewes and Dr Marek Naczyk.
Contacts
John Kennedy
John.kennedy@humanities.ox.ac.uk
