Malaysian students among top performers in Polish universities - Envoy

The observation was repeatedly mentioned by senior officials of the Presidential Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland at separate meetings attended by the ambassador.

In terms of bilateral relations, Malaysia and Poland have enjoyed longstanding and friendly relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1971. Poland set up its embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 1977 and Malaysia established hers in Warsaw in 1978.

Ahmad Fadil said there were a lot more that could be undertaken by Malaysia to tap on the potential areas that Poland could offer and boost the current state of relations. One of the areas is education.

To-date, there are approximately 200 Malaysian students studying in Poland, mostly in the fields of medicine, business and information technology.

Last July, 20 Malaysian students graduated with a medical degree from Warsaw Medical University (13 students) and Jagiellonian University, Krakow (seven students).

Malaysia and Poland are in the final stage of negotiations to conclude a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of higher education. The draft MoU is currently being considered by the Malaysian side.

Ahmad Fadil said one of the good aspects was the continued close networking between the embassy, Malaysian agencies and students which had proved helpful.

Most of the students actively participate in the embassy's activities held in conjunction with exhibitions, Malaysian festivals and other events in Warsaw and other cities of Poland, namely Krakow, Wodz and Poznan.

Ahmad Fadil also commended the Malaysian Students Associaion (AMAR) which had shown high quality of leadership in gearing up fellow Malaysian students.

These Malaysian students have been supporting and joining the embassy officials in putting up Malaysian traditional and cultural performances, besides

preparing Malaysian cuisine at several cities in Poland.

The success of these events is also due to the continuous support and sponsorship from Tourism Malaysia through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Malaysia.

Among the excellent Malaysian students is 5th year student from the Warsaw Medical University, Aidid Nawawi Ghazali who always topped the list.

He said it was a norm for Malaysian students to be either the very best or easily clinched the top four or five places.

Aidid said the first year proved to be a bit challenging due to language barrier and the frigid wintry conditions.

He said the close cooperation with the Malaysian embassy officials, however, had made things easier for him and other students.

Lukasz Lazienski, one of Aidid's friends from the same university who has enjoyed Malaysian hospitality, cuisine and multi-ethnic culture at events held at the embassy, said he planned to visit Malaysia with Aidid and other Malaysian friends during the next summer vacation.

He has also been introduced to classic movies of the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee and is hooked on it each time the Malaysian students put the film on.

Not only that, Lazienski has also introduced the Malaysian entertainer extraordinaire's films to other students and the lecturers too.

Ahmad Fadil said such engagement evidently not only helped the students but also inadvertently promoted Malaysia as a destination of choice.

There are direct flights to Bangkok and Hanoi from a few cities in Poland so that visitors can take advantage of the many budget airlines from the region to connect to Malaysia.

The currency exchange rate between Malaysia and Poland is almost at one to one. One zloty is equivalent to RM1.12.

Ahmad Fadil advised Malaysian students interested to further their studies in Poland to get in touch with the officials of the embassy to get more information.