Financing the cost of post-graduate studies

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Sfinansowanie kosztu studiów podyplomowych
Name of the instrument - English translation
Financing the cost of post-graduate studies
Scheme ID
174
Country
Poland
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument
Cost-related support
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

Unemployed persons, job seekers, and employees aged 45+ registered in the district job center can apply for the grant to cover the costs of their postgraduate studies (lasting at least 2 semesters). No preferential treatment for a particular eligible group is applied. District job centre can finance up to 100% of the cost of the studies (tuition fees), however, the funding cannot exceed 300% of the average monthly salary. The additional criteria that have to be fulfilled in order to remain the costs for educational activities eligible for co-funding, is a positive final examination. Eligible costs include tuition fees. There is no limitation to re-use the scheme.

Not applicable
Level of operation
National
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Not applicable
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Not applicable
Relevance
Key instrument
Act on employment promotion and labour market institutions (art. 42a)
Objective(s) and target(s)
To encourage the unemployed/jobseeker/employees 45+ to participate in lifelong learning (post-graduate studies), to help them to deepen knowledge and acquire new skills and thus, increase their employability.
Year of implementation
2004
Year of latest amendment
2019
Operation/management
The Ministry responsible for Labour issues provides resources to the district job centres. District job centres are responsible for the operation of the instrument: provide advisory services to the unemployed/job seeker/employee 45+ to choose the proper course of studies; collect applications forms; grant the co-financing; sign the contract with the learner; transfer money to the training provider. Trade unions and employer associations/federations are not involved in the operation of this instrument
Eligible group(s)
The following categories of individuals, registered in the District job centre, are eligible to receive co-financing of post-graduate studies: a) the unemployed; b) employees aged 45 years and more; c) jobseekers, who fulifll at least one of the following criteria: - are in the period of notice related to an employment relationship or service relationship for the employer's fault, - are working for an employer in the state of insolvency or liquidation - are receiving social allowance payable during the miner's leave or the miner's social benefit - are participating in an individual integration programme or classes of the Social Integration Centre - are reservists - are receiving a training pension - are receiving a training allowance paid by the employer - are living in the household with a farmer or a farmer's spouse, looking for a job outside agriculture and subject to social insurance - are foreigners, e.g. a national of a European Union member state or a state which executed relevant agreements with the European Community, a refugee, a person holding a permanent residence permit or a settlement permit.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
Post-graduate studies (programmes leading to a formal qualification (formal education) allowing to obtain a qualification of ISCED 7 level)
Source of financing and collection mechanism
Labour Fund (a State fund, governed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; the main sources are: obligatory levies on companies (2.45% of total monthly payroll), State budget subsidies, Labour Fund's loans and investments interests, EU funds)
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
The eligible person submits an application for the financing of post-graduate studies to the district job centre. District job centre assesses the application (taking into account the local labour market needs, the skills profile of the person, the probability of finding employment after completing studies). If the assessment is positive, the contract between the district job centre and a learner is signed (the learner is obliged to complete studies - if not, the payback clause applies). District job centre transfers money to the training provider (in installments in line with the requirements of the learning provider). District job centre can finance up to 100% of the cost of the studies (tuition fees), however, the funding cannot exceed 300% of the average monthly salary. The additional criteria that have to be fulfilled in order to remain the costs for educational activities eligible for co-funding, is a positive final examination.
Eligible costs
Tuition fees
Volumes of funding
Overall volumes of funding actually disbursed:2017: PLN 8 917 500 (approx. EUR 2 122 911)2018: PLN 5 771 400 (approx. EUR 1 344 813)2019: PLN 4 332 800 (approx. EUR 1 002 684)Information about available funding per year is not available.
Beneficiaries/take up
Total number of beneficiaries who started and completed studies in a given year:2017: 1 7772018: 1 0362019: 887
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Public Employment Services
Monitoring/evaluation reports available
Not available
Most relevant webpage - in English
https://lang-psz.praca.gov.pl/en/dla-bezrobotnych-i-poszukujacych-pracy…
Most relevant webpage - local language
http://psz.praca.gov.pl/-/14223-dofinansowanie-studiow-podyplomowych
Recent changes

14-07-2019. The amendment of the Act on employment promotion and labour market institutions (being in force since 14th June 2019) canceled the profiling of the unemployed. As a result, the co-financing of post-graduate studies became available for all unemployed (previously these instruments were available only to these individuals classified to the II profile of the unemployed). This amendment was of a systemic nature, not related only to co-financing of post-graduate studies. The unemployed profiling, introduced in 2014, appeared to be inefficient which led to its cancelation in 2019.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
Act on employment promotion and labour market institutions
Website of PES: http://psz.praca.gov.pl/-/14223-dofinansowanie-studiow-podyplomowych
Broszura statystyczna 2014-2018 - Wspieranie przez urzedy pracy rozwoju zasobów ludzkich srodkami Funduszu Pracy, Ministerstwo Pracy i Polityki Spolecznej, Departament Rynku Pracy, Warszawa 2019
Exemplary tems of use of the co-financing ofr the post-graduate studies https://warszawa.praca.gov.pl/documents/8188477/11101157/Regulamin%20fi…
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