Opole University of Technology welcomes distinguished academics, researchers, and experts to join our academic community as Visiting Professors.
The Visiting Professor programme provides an opportunity to develop meaningful academic cooperation, exchange knowledge and expertise, and establish long-term research and educational partnerships. A Visiting Professor may contribute to the University’s academic activities through lectures, seminars, workshops, research collaboration, and other forms of engagement with our academic staff and students.
We warmly invite researchers interested in collaborating with Opole University of Technology to explore the Visiting Professor programme and consider joining our international academic community.
Detailed information on the eligibility criteria, required documentation, application process, and other relevant procedures is provided below:
STAY AND EMPLOYMENT OF A VISITING PROFESSOR AT OPOLE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
A person may be granted the status of a Visiting Professor at Opole University of Technology if they meet all of the following requirements:
- hold the academic title of Professor or, if they do not hold such a title, be employed as a Professor at their home institution;
- be a foreign national;
- deliver at least 60 teaching hours at Opole University of Technology during one academic year;
- in the case of non-EU nationals or nationals of countries not covered by the visa-free travel regime, hold a valid National Visa (Type D), Schengen Visa (Type C), or a valid Polish residence permit authorising their stay in Poland.
Please note that each case is assessed individually, taking into account the visitor’s nationality, the purpose and duration of the stay, and the applicable immigration regulations.
DURATION OF STAY IN POLAND:
The standard duration of a Visiting Professor’s stay at Opole University of Technology is up to 90 days.
COSTS RELATED TO HOSTING A VISITING PROFESSOR:
Remuneration – The remuneration of a Visiting Professor is regulated by Rector’s Ordinance No. 69/2023.The maximum remuneration amounts to PLN 340 gross per teaching hour. In justified cases, the Rector may approve a higher hourly rate following a positive opinion of the Vice-Rector for Education, in accordance with § 2(4) of Rector’s Ordinance No. 69/2023.
Accommodation and Meals – The Visiting Professor covers accommodation and meal expenses. Opole University of Technology may offer accommodation in a university dormitory, subject to availability. However, all accommodation costs are borne by the Visiting Professor.
INFORMATION FOR THE VISITING PROFESSOR:
The inviting faculty shall inform the foreign academic with whom a contract of mandate is to be concluded about:
- the terms and conditions of the contract of mandate, as well as the conditions of stay in Poland, including accommodation and meal costs;
- the requirement to hold a valid visa when crossing the Polish border (applicable to non-EU nationals, subject to an individual assessment) – see Annex 1 (Visiting Professor – Conditions of Entry and Stay) to this procedure;
- the requirement to submit the Application for Approval to Conclude a Civil-Law Contract (Visiting Professor) with a Foreign Academic Teacher using the online form available at: Contract form for visiting professors – Opole University of Technology
- the possibility of obtaining an exemption from Polish personal income tax, provided that the Visiting Professor submits the required tax residence document(s) upon arrival in Poland, no later than the first day of the contract.
Tax Residence Certificate*
A Tax Residence Certificate is an official document confirming the country in which an individual is considered a tax resident for tax purposes.
- A certified (sworn) translation into Polish is required.
- If a Tax Residence Certificate is not provided, Opole University of Technology is legally obliged to withhold Polish personal income tax (PIT) from the remuneration paid for work performed in Poland.
Social Security Contributions**
Foreign nationals performing work for Opole University of Technology under a contract of mandate (civil-law contract), where the subject of the contract is the performance of scientific research or teaching activities, are treated, for the purposes of the Polish social security system, in the same manner as members of the civil service.
As a result, they are subject to mandatory social security and health insurance contributions (ZUS) in Poland, including pension, disability, and health insurance contributions, in accordance with the applicable provisions of Polish law.
VISITING PROFESSOR ADMISSION PROCEDURE – ELECTRONIC APPLICATION:
The candidate for a Visiting Professor position is required to:
- submit the Application for Approval to Conclude a Civil-Law Contract (Visiting Professor) with a Foreign Academic Teacher using the online form available at: https://po.edu.pl/zlecenie-foreigner, together with Annex 3 (available for download via the link provided in the application form);
- send the following documents by e-mail to kadry@po.edu.pl:
- a copy of the diploma (original document together with its certified Polish translation) and a certificate confirming its recognition (nostrification), or
- if the candidate does not hold the academic title of Professor, a diploma confirming the academic degree together with a certificate issued by the home institution confirming employment in the position of Professor (also accompanied by a certified Polish translation).
These documents should be submitted at least four (4) weeks before the planned date of concluding the contract of mandate, and no later than the date on which the application for approval to conclude the civil-law contract is submitted. Submission of these documents is a mandatory prerequisite for concluding the contract.
Faculty Administrative Office
The faculty administrative staff responsible for civil-law contracts shall:
- complete the required information in the “Contract of Mandate Application – Visiting Professor” in the University’s Electronic Document Management System (EOD);
- forward the application for further app
- approval by the budget holder, and
- approval by the Vice-Rector for Education.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Once the “Contract of Mandate Application – Visiting Professor” has been approved by the Vice-Rector for Education in the University’s Electronic Document Management System (EOD), and the Visiting Professor has submitted all required documents specified in this procedure, the Human Resources Office prepares the contract of mandate together with all necessary annexes (in two original copies). The documents are then forwarded to the inviting faculty or organisational unit for signature by the Visiting Professor. One signed original of the contract, together with all annexes, must be returned to the Human Resources Office – Payroll Section no later than the commencement date of the contract.
- If the Visiting Professor is expected to teach classes involving minors (persons under the age of 18), they will also be required to provide documents confirming the absence of a criminal record, in accordance with the applicable provisions of Polish law governing work with minors.
DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD
The procedure was developed as one of the tasks carried out within the framework of the OUTech@KreativEU: Competence Development, Mobility, and Synergy within a European University project. The project is funded by the European Funds for Social Development 2021–2027 (FERS) under the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) project “Support for European University Alliances” (Project No. FERS.01.05-IP.08-219/23).
Join Opole University of Technology as a Visiting Professor and contribute to the development of research, education, and international academic cooperation.
