The Carpathian State University in Krosno became the State Academy of Applied Sciences (PANS) on 1 January 2023. Thus, Krosno has become an academic city.

As the university’s authorities emphasise, PANS in Krosno is not just a change of the university’s name, but a strategic solution given by the legislator. The Ministry pointed out the possibility of distinguishing vocational universities, as well as strengthening their position not only on the educational market, but also in the socio-economic environment. For a vocational higher education institution, gaining the status of an academy is not only an increase in prestige, but also a confirmation of the rightness of the measures taken over the past few years.

The rector of PANS, Prof. Zbigniew Barabasz emphasises that the new name – the State Academy of Applied Sciences in Krosno – is a perfect fit for a vocational university.

“We place particular emphasis on practical education. We run dual degree programmes in cooperation with companies, and we teach our students not only theoretical knowledge, but also specific professional skills. The research we conduct is of an implementation nature”, he explains.