INVITATION

You are kindly invited to participate in the Second Forum of Poles in Great Britain on the improvement of the professional competence of the Polish engineering & technical workforce living in Great Britain.

This event will take place in London on 28 September 2007 at the Polish Social & Cultural Centre (POSK). Address: 238-246 King Street, London W6 0RF

Honorary Patron: Mr Ryszard Kaczorowski GCMG - the last Polish President-in Exile

Organisers

The European Federation of Polish Scientific & Technological Societies Abroad (headquarters in Vienna), The Institution of Polish Engineers in Great Britain (STP), The Polish University Abroad (PUNO), The Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK), The Polish Federation of Scientific and Technical Associations (FSNT-NOT) and The Polish Chamber of Construction Engineers, headquarters in Warsaw.

Co-organisers

The Federation of Poles in Great Britain, The Polish Association of Arts and Sciences Abroad (PTNO- headquarters in London), The Trade and Investment Promotion Department of the Polish Embassy in London, The Polish City Club-London and the Polish media in Great Britain.

Introduction

For several years we have observed the massive emigration of our fellow countrymen from Poland for economic reasons. Some of them, Polish engineers included have been arriving in the UK and London in particular since Poland’s accession to the EU. The majority of the arrivals are engineering graduates who have not been able to find jobs in their profession in Poland. Some strive to qualify as British engineers and are prepared to take on any employment pending the obtaining of such qualifications. Others take on any jobs, menial not excluded, as more often than not even menial jobs in the UK will prove to be better paid than professional engineering jobs in Poland.

There is now a very serious threat that a whole generation of well educated engineers (usually MSc Eng) will be lost to the engineering profession as a whole. This would be of equal detriment to the UK and Poland.

The current shortage of professionals in engineering to meet London’s needs is well known. The demand will only increase further because of requirements in the construction industry, transport and other technical services as they all prepare for the Olympic Games in 2012.

As a result of substantial discussion and consideration during the First Forum which the Institute organised in June 2006, we convened a working group in co-operation with a number of other Polish organisations in the UK – see the resolutions attached. Its terms of reference were to set up a Centre for the Professional Adaptation of Polish Engineers arriving in the UK, which would assist them in all matters relating to any further required professional qualifications and would enable them to work in their profession in the UK.

The Second Forum has been scheduled for 28 September 2007, at which time we will review the position to date and identify the next necessary steps and potential launch date of the Centre for the Professional Adaptation of Polish Engineers Arriving to the UK.

We are convinced, that the issues raised are also of concern to you, testimony of which will be your participation in the FORUM, to which we sincerely invite you.

On behalf of organisers

Mr Krzysztof Ruszczynski, MSc (Eng)

Chairman of The Institution of Polish Engineers in Great Britain (STP)

Programme

The language of the Forum will be English

Date & Place: 28 September 2007 at Polish Social & Cultural Centre (in Jazz Club).

Address: 238-246 King Street, London W6 0RF

9:45 - 10:00 Registration of participants in POSK (where the Forum will be held).

10:00 - 10:30 Opening of the Forum

• Welcome address by dr Olgierd Lalko – chairman of the Polish Social & Cultural Centre as the host of the Forum (POSK )
• Welcome address for guests and participants on behalf of the organisers – Mr Krzysztof Ruszczyński – chairman of he STP
• Presentation of the proposed programme of the Forum, election of chairmen of the sessions and of the Committee to draft the final proposals.

10:30 - 11:15 First session – working group presentations

• A summary of activities completed since the I Forum in June 2006 – chairman of the working group – prof. Ryszard Chmielowiec
• An outline of the needs of Polish engineers & technicians arriving in the UK – Survey results – dr Andrzej Formaniak
• An outline of the project of a Centre for Polish Engineers Arriving in the UK – dr Leszek Kasprzak

11:15 -11:30 Coffee break

11:30 – 12:00 Second session – presentations by invited guests

• UK needs for technical professionals exemplified by the TfL, the London Development Agency, the JCB, the ConstructionSkills
• The Polish strategy in managing technical professional resources abroad as seen by the Polish government representative (Ministry for Administration, Employment & Social Affairs) and as seen by NOT (Polish Federation of Scientific and Technical Associations)

12:00 - 13:00 Discussion led by the chairman of the working group

• A discussion of the problems raised during the two previous sessions and the chances of their solution.

13:00 - 13:30 End of the Forum: Presentation of the conclusions of the Forum and their acceptance

13:30 – 14:30 Lunch break at Łowiczanka restaurant at POSK

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