POLISH-AMERICAN INTERNSHIP INITIATIVE The program enables outstanding Polish university students to take part in summer internships at leading corporations in the United States.
ABOUT US Polish-American Freedom Foundation The Polish-American Freedom Foundation (PAFF) was established in the U.S. by the Polish-American Enterprise Fund. In 2000 the Foundation opened its Representative Office in Poland and began carrying out its mission. The Foundation pursues its goals through programs implemented in the following areas: initiatives in education; development of local communities; sharing the Polish experiences in transformation. PAFF finances its activities from revenues generated by its endowment, the source of which was the Polish-American Enterprise Fund. The Fund has transferred approximately $255 million to the endowment. Since 2000 the Foundation has disbursed $140 million for its programs in order to bolster civil society, democracy, promote equal opportunities and social development with a special focus on initiatives aimed at leveling the playing field in education as well as reinforce citizens potential, particularly in villages and small towns. PAFF has also partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help Polish public libraries in rural areas get access to computers, Internet and training in the use of ICT. As a result more than 3,800 libraries are being transformed into modern cultural, education and civic activity centers. More information: www.en.pafw.pl Embassy of the United States of America in Warsaw The United States Embassy in Warsaw protects and promotes American interests and develops relations with Poland through contacts with the Polish government, business, labor, agriculture, media and education leaders. Led by the United States Ambassador, the Embassy team explains and advocates the position of the United States Government on bilateral and multi-lateral political, economic, social, and scientific issues; carries out a wide-ranging assistance program designed to help promote democracy and a strong market economy in Poland; promotes the sale of American goods and services and American business interests in Poland and the region; provides visa and other documentary services to foreign nationals; facilitates cultural and educational exchange between the United States and Poland; and maintains contact between the Polish military services and their United States counterparts while facilitating cooperative activities in the region. More information: http://poland.usembassy.gov Trade & Investment Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, DC Trade and Investment Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C. was created to help Polish businesses to internationalize, particularly SMEs. Our mission is not only to help Polish companies but equally important is assisting US businesses looking to buy goods and services in Poland or to locate their activity in our country. The offices in the United States (Washington D.C., New York and San Francisco) are sensitive to needs and requests of Polish as well as American companies. Trade and Investment Section of the Polish Embassy in Washington D. C. in cooperation with an American accelerator U.S. Market Access Center (U.S. MAC), in January 2013, has launched an office in Silicon Valley POLSKA Silicon Valley Acceleration Center (SVAC). SVAC offers various services in support of the process of expansion of Polish companies and start-ups accelerate their growth and succeed in the global market through the Silicon Valley innovative ecosystem. More information: www.washington.trade.gov.pl/en Educational Enterprise Foundation Educational Enterprise Foundation (Fundacja Edukacyjna Przedsiębiorczości, FEP) was established in 1991 by the Polish- American Enterprise Fund and the State Treasury. The mission of the Foundation is to support the development of intellectual assets for the market economy. FEP accomplishes its mission by undertaking the endeavors to contribute to equalizing educational opportunities for young Poles both nationally and internationally. These actions are targeted at increasing the availability of education for young people coming from rural areas and small towns and providing a comparable level of education, so that Polish graduates can be effectively competitive on the international job market. The Foundation has 23 years of experience in the implementation of academic and social scholarship programs, through which students have so far been awarded over 41,000 scholarships. More information: www.fep.lodz.pl www.paii.pl
POLISH-AMERICAN INTERNSHIP INITIATIVE (PAII) The Polish-American Internship Initiative is a prestigious program connecting the leading American companies with outstanding Polish university students for summer internships in the United States. The initiative was launched in 2010 by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation (PAFF) in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Poland. The program s operational activities are carried out by the Educational Enterprise Foundation together with American companies providing internships. The program is also supported by the Trade & Investment Section of the Embassy of Poland in Washington, D. C. as well as the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland. In addition, PAII cooperates with leading Polish universities. Photo: Łukasz Kamiński. Chancellery of the President of Poland. This unique and prestigious initiative was reflected in an official Joint Statement of the U. S. and Polish Presidents following their meeting in the White House, December 2010: President Obama and President Komorowski applauded the partnership between the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and leading U.S. companies to bring Polish university students and young professionals to the United States for internships in the private sector. (The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, December 8, 2010) The Polish-American Internship Initiative offers an exceptional opportunity for talented Polish students to develop their professional skills while learning from the best. The program is implemented with strong support from the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. United States Ambassador to Poland, His Excellency Stephen D. Mull said: The U.S. Embassy is proud to support PAFF, which offers a special opportunity for talented Polish students to work with industry leaders, get a first-hand understanding of business and innovation and experience life and culture in the United States. The Internship Initiative is personally rewarding for students and mentors alike, and is a terrific investment in our bilateral relations. Inauguration of PAII 2014. The interns met with Ambassador Stephen D. Mull, Undersecretary Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, Ministry of Economy, Undersecretary Jacek Guliński, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Minister Counselor Paweł Pietrasieński, Head of the Trade and Investment Section, Polish Embassy in the U.S., PAFF President & CEO Jerzy Koźmiński as well as representatives of companies and organizations supporting the initiative.
HOSTING COMPANIES The hosting U.S. companies invite one or more Polish interns for a period of 2-3 months in June, July and August. PAFF and its Polish educational partners recruit and pre-select the intern candidates. The final choice rests with the hosting company. PAFF covers the costs of the program s administration, interns travel to the hosting company s U.S. location (if the company does not cover it), insurance, visa fees, and assists in the visa application process. The hosting company provides the interns with a stipend adequate to cover at least the cost of accommodation and board during the internship. The participating U.S. companies are committed to providing a worthwhile educational experience for Polish students. They also provide the interns with mentors for professional development during the internship. The participating American companies contribute to the success of this important U.S. - Polish initiative; by sharing knowledge and experience they teach students to profit from living in a global, multicultural, modern world. Results 4 editions of PAII 73 talented and bright interns 8 global corporations We are happy that we give them this opportunity to learn more about real industrial engineering, and at the same time they are helping us in our operation team. F. M. Hagan, Senior Staff Engineer, Pittsburgh Glass Works, about Adrian and Piotr, 2013 interns at PGW The Boeing Company Chevron North America Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Raytheon BBN Technologies GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Citigroup Westinghouse Electric Company Pittsburgh Glass Works
WHY JOIN PAII? Prestigious network of organizations Modern CSR; media coverage and promotion Skilled and highly motivated interns, who study in diverse fields and can work in a wide range of industries Solid education, outstanding and enthusiastic work attitude, excellent students competencies Valuable role in the professional development of business leaders (potentially) working for your company PAII s close cooperation with Embassy of Poland in Washington, D.C. (Trade and Investment Section) and U.S. Embassy in Warsaw Valuable contacts & business opportunities in Poland as well as in the Central and Eastern Europe Strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between Poland and the United States Internship incentives: cost-sharing with other partners in PAII; recruitment outsourcing Poland By GDP 22nd largest economy of the world according to the International Monetary Fund (2013). According to UNCTAD s 2013 World Investment Report, in the next two years Poland will be the 4th most attractive economy in Europe, and the 14th in the world. I was impressed with how well she has adopted. Her fearless attitude and willingness to try new things It is impressive to see how she wants to develop in this professional environment. A. Ali, Citi, mentor of Agnieszka, the 2013 intern at Citi It s a great initiative, I am proud and pleased to be a part of the Polish-American Internship Initiative. J. P. Claussen, Country Manager, Chevron JOIN US! We kindly invite Companies interested in participating in the Polish-American Internship Initiative to visit our website: www.paii.pl where you can find a simple online submission form, the timetable and other relevant information.
INTERNS Within the framework of PAII qualified student candidates can apply for a paid 2-3 month-long summer internship at American companies, a travel expenses subsidy and assistance in obtaining a visa. The internships are available to students enrolled full-time at Polish universities, in their second year or above, with fluent command of English, achieving the highest academic results and who have already shown outstanding abilities and commitment. The participants in PAFF Programs, such as scholarship holders of the Bridge Scholarships Program (to date a total of 17,000 scholarships have already been awarded) and participants in the Projector: Student Volunteers Program (with over 9,000 students involved) are particularly encouraged to apply for the internship. The Bridge Scholarships Program addresses the disparity of access to higher education for talented school students living in rural areas of Poland. Within the Student Volunteers Program, groups of university student volunteers implement educational projects which they have prepared to help develop the knowledge, skills and interests of local children at schools in villages and small towns. Jerzy Koźmiński, President and CEO of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation said: The Polish-American Internship Initiative really is a one in a lifetime opportunity for those young people not only to learn from the best and to enhance their competencies but also to get to know America the American culture, heritage and everyday life which, I am sure, will foster increased cooperation between our countries. Lifetime opportunity Well, the internship in the U.S. did broaden my horizons! ( ) I ve met a lot of great people I m still in touch with. Needless to say, all the new skills I ve gained during the internship are a great advantage for a start of a professional career. Mateusz Pułapa, intern at Pittsburgh Glass Works, 2011 I worked as a software developer responsible for development of text analysis algorithms. It was a great opportunity! Michal Maciejewski, awarded The Best Polish Student 2014 Prize, PAII intern at Raytheon BBN Technologies, 2013 Meeting with Minister M. Pisarski, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Washington, and Minister Counselor P. Pietrasieński, Chief of Trade and Investment Section, at the Polish Embassy in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw