Student exchange Germany : Poland
“Diversity - what is it? Social utopia or reality?” - Student exchange with Polish students in Olsztyn
From May 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, the Freiburg Student Services Association is offering a German-Polish student exchange to Poland for the first time as part of its partnership with the University of Olsztyn in Poland.
The focus will be on jointly experiencing and reflecting on diversity in Olsztyn and the Warmia-Masuria region – an area that is historically, culturally, and socially diverse.
The exchange is aimed at students from state universities/colleges in Freiburg, Offenburg/Gengenbach, Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Lörrach, and Kehl.
The maximum number of participants is 15.
Registration information will follow shortly.
What is the student exchange with Polish students in Olsztyn (Poland) all about?
We talk a lot about diversity. But what is it? In a social context, diversity means that we humans are all different. Diversity refers to different people living together. Everyone is equally valuable—regardless of their religion, gender, or origin.
But what does a “diverse society” mean in different national, historical, and cultural contexts? What is social utopia and what is reality? And what does a “diverse society” mean in the perception of young Polish and German people? And what can they learn from each other in this regard?
During the study trip to Olsztyn, we will address these questions by experiencing diversity on site:
• in the city and its history
• in student life
• in social debates
• in the nature of the region
The program combines city tours, workshops, excursions, and encounters with various social groups. This includes discussions on cultural identity, the situation of the German minority in Olsztyn, migration and flight, as well as insights into the role of religion in Poland's past and present.
A special experience is the canoe trip on the Łyna River, where the scenic diversity of Warmia-Masuria can be experienced firsthand.
🔍 What can you expect?
✅ Guided tours of Olsztyn's multicultural history
✅ Nature experiences in the region, including a canoe trip on the Łyna River
✅ Participation in student events such as the faculty parade as part of the “Kortowiada” student festival
✅ Workshops and discussions on identity, remembrance culture, and cultural and social diversity
✅ Encounters with students, representatives of the German minority in Olsztyn, and refugees
✅ Shared meals, exchanges, and time for encounters in German-Polish groups
💡 What will you take away with you?
• New friendships & exciting discussions
• A deeper understanding of diversity & its challenges
• Unforgettable experiences in an international group
The cost for the one-week program is €60, including accommodation, meals, and all program activities. Accommodation is provided at the University of Olsztyn, with separate facilities for men and women.
Students from the universities in Freiburg, Offenburg/Gengenbach, Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Lörrach and Kehl are eligible to participate.
German / Polish
Knowledge of the Polish language is advantageous, but not mandatory.
For one week, we will explore diversity in Olsztyn and the Warmia-Masuria region from a historical, cultural, social, and student perspective.
Workshops, city tours, nature experiences, and encounters with different social groups will enable an intensive German-Polish exchange and new perspectives on the topic of diversity. Together, we will explore the question of how diversity is lived and where areas of tension, differences, and similarities become visible.
See programm
Excerpts from the program
✨ City tour “On the trail of diversity” – discover the multicultural history of Olsztyn
✨ Canoe trip on the Łyna River – experience the diversity of nature in Warmia-Masuria
✨ Workshop “What does it mean to be German in Poland?” – identity, history, and the present
✨ Encounters and discussions on migration, flight, and social change
✨ Participation in the faculty parade at the Kortowiada student festival – experience student diversity live
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📅 23.05.-30.05.2026
📍 Olsztyn, Poland
Registration information will follow shortly.