Polish Open University

Age: 19

History: The Polish Open University (POU) was one of the first non-state universities in Poland, and was entered into the register by the Ministry of Education in 1991. It now has three campuses: in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw, to date more than 1,500 graduates have received MBA diplomas.

Address: The Warsaw campus is on 37th A Domaniewska Street; Krakow is on 12th Glowackiego Street and Wroclaw is on 38th Nowowiejska Street.

Ambience: The MBA curriculum is designed to provide students with “knowledge and skills essential for today's competitive business environment,” and the flexible programme schedule allows them to select their own workshops and periods of study. The MBA is also offered part-time.

Vital statistics: The first business school in Poland to be accredited by AMBA, POU's MBA programme has also been validated by Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, so students are also awarded a Masters degree in business administration from the latter institution.

Added value: Students are taught to evaluate and interpret the impact of market factors and processes, and engage in the critical analysis of existing conditions and alternative solutions to challenges. During the programme, participants become part of an extensive network of experienced professionals, representing a wide range of both industries and organisations.

Easy to get into? You'll need an undergraduate degree, at least three years' relevant work experience and access to a company's data so you can write an “MBA dissertation”. A knowledge of English and a successful psychometric examination, as well as an interview, are all required.

Glittering alumni: POU alumni hold managerial positions e.g. at the Ministry of Economy and Labour; BP Poland, Orange; GlaxoSmithKline; The British Council; Heinrich Mack; Oriflame; Masterfoods.

Gurus: Dr. Zuzanna Kalisiak, expert on GNP assessment, econometrics methodology, foreign aid and economic growth, international trade and commodity markets, prof. Krzysztof Bartosik.

International connections: The POU has long-term relationships with a number of international universities and business schools through various EU initiatives. The strongest cooperation platform POU established with Oxford Brookes University (POU’s graduates receive two diplomas – first issued by POU and second issued by OBU) and Leeds Metropolitan University (agreement that allows POU to recruit doctoral students to be supervised jointly by POU and Leeds Met staff, and to be registered as Leeds Met students.)

Student profile: The average age on the MBA is 30, and most students have between three and seven years' work experience. The male to female ratio is 45:55.

Cost: The MBA is about £ 6,500.

Who's the boss? Dr Bogdan Gorczyca is the MBA programme director.

Prospectus: +48 22 843 76 92; www.pou.pl; aleksandra.janta@pou.pl