Students from Zamosc and Grodzisk Mazowiecki can apply for full funding of their studies at Kozminski University. The scholarships, funded by entrepreneur Paweł Jarski, will support ambitious secondary school graduates who want to develop their passions and actively contribute to their communities.
The initiative is delivered by the Kozminski University Development Foundation in cooperation with Paweł Jarski – founder and CEO of Elemental Group, alumnus of the 2nd General Secondary School in Zamosc and Kozminski University. It is addressed to young people who are open to the world, think outside the box, and are ready to undertake social and business initiatives.
“The scholarship programme is an investment in people with potential and, at the same time, an expression of gratitude to the places – Zamosc and Grodzisk Mazowiecki – that played a key role in my life. Choosing Kozminski University as a partner was a natural decision because it was this university that opened broad opportunities for my development and gave me the impetus to take action in business,” emphasises Paweł Jarski.
The scholarships also have a local dimension – they will support students from regions that want to strengthen their educational and professional potential.
“Young people are today Zamosc’s most important capital. We know that many of them will leave to pursue their studies, but we want them to return here after gaining knowledge and experience and help shape the future of the city. Initiatives such as ‘The Fifth Element’ show that investing in young people’s education is the best investment in the development of the local community,” said Rafał Zwolak, Mayor of Zamosc.
The programme was also created to give young people access to an educational environment that combines academic knowledge with business experience.
“We want to show young people that they have a real opportunity to study in a place that offers enormous development opportunities. Scholarships are a way to support their ambitions and dreams, while also giving an impulse to regional development through young people who may wish to return here and make an impact in the future,” noted Dr Sylwia Hałas-Dej, Vice-Rector for Development and External Relations and President of the Kozminski University Development Foundation.
Cooperation between the Foundation and business
In 2024, Elemental Group, as the first patron of a higher education institution in Poland, contributed a significant amount to Kozminski University’s endowment fund, while also declaring its intention to increase its support in the years to come. The Kozminski University Development Foundation manages the perpetual fund, whose generated profits are allocated to the university’s development, including scholarship programmes, research projects, and the development of academic staff.
However, “The Fifth Element” programme operates independently of this mechanism – it is Paweł Jarski’s personal scholarship initiative, through which he directly funds scholarships for selected students. The Foundation is responsible for the implementation of the programme, the recruitment process, and designing the development path for scholarship recipients. In practice, patronage of the endowment fund builds a lasting source of financing for the university’s initiatives, while “The Fifth Element” translates this support into tangible development opportunities for young people already today.
What is “The Fifth Element”?
In ancient philosophy, quinta essentia meant the highest form of matter – the essence that gives meaning to everything. Today, it symbolises a strategic element and a driving force. In the scholarship programme, “The Fifth Element” is a metaphor for young people who think beyond established patterns, are open to the world, and want to become leaders of change in their communities.
The programme is addressed to secondary school graduates from Zamosc and Grodzisk Mazowiecki who want to study at Kozminski University and consciously build their future thanks to comprehensive development support.
What does the programme offer?
Recipients of “The Fifth Element” scholarship receive:
- full funding for first-cycle studies or long-cycle master’s studies (full-time or part-time) at Kozminski University,
- participation in a talent programme developing leadership and business competencies,
- mentoring from business leaders and experts,
- contact with business already during their studies and the opportunity to work on real projects,
- membership in the Young Club of the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts, supporting the development of creativity and cultural sensitivity.
Who can apply?
The scholarship is open to individuals who:
- have graduated from a secondary school in Zamosc or Grodzisk Mazowiecki,
- are applying for first-cycle studies or long-cycle master’s studies at Kozminski University,
- have a profile in the university’s admissions system,
- apply form and a 120-second self-introduction video.
In the recording, candidates should speak, among other things, about their passions, plans, and why they consider themselves to be “The Fifth Element”.
Applications for the programme are open until 10 June 2026.
All details regarding “The Fifth Element” programme and other forms of support for applicants to study at Kozminski University can be found at: https://miliontalentow.kozminski.edu.pl/
