Foundations of dreams
Nasim Mondal is not only a distinguished young scientist, an ambassador of Polish higher education and science abroad, but also someone who is incredibly passionate about building social ties between foreign students.
He comes from India and is studying for his PhD at the University of Warsaw. He works under supervision of Prof. Paweł Kaczmarczyk and Dr. Weronika Kloc-Nowak. He came to Poland in 2022 and since then has been actively engaged in academic research and intercultural initiatives. He gained wide experience both in qualitative and quantitative research when working for UNICEF and Population Council.
His research focuses on migrants and their behaviours related to fertility in Europe. He was published by prestigious periodicals, such as the “Journal of Migration and Health,” “BMC Pediatrics.” He presented his work at international conferences, including IMISCOE 2023 and the Conference of Young Demographers in Prague in 2024. He received some prestigious scholarships, including the 2024 Excellence Initiative – Research University scholarship (IDUB).
He proudly promotes Polish science on the international arena. On 5 April 2024 he had a lecture titled “How to Get PhD Admission Abroad” on invitation from the International Institute for Population Sciences Alumni Association (IIPSM) in Mumbai. He presented the possibilities of financing doctoral programmes, sub-doctoral positions and grants available in Poland. “My goal is popularising Polish science and drawing more foreign students to local academic institutions. This is the result of my engagement in promoting Poland as a world-class centre of education in research,” Nasim Mondal says.
Nasim was invited by Warsaw School of Economics to hold a lecture on “Academic Experience of an International Student from the East.” During his lecture he presented a comparative analysis of his academic experiences in India and in Poland. He emphasised the four key advantages of the Polish academic environment: impartial administration, supporting critical thinking, high quality of scientific research, and freedom to implement innovative ideas.
He also came up with the idea of a monthly “Open Mic Night” in the student halls, where students from various countries meet to present their talents, such as singing, stand-up, guitar-playing and many others. This event is a creative platform for cultural exchange and building social ties.
“I consider Nasim Mondal a distinguished international PhD student for his excellent academic achievements, diligence, leadership skills and engagement in promoting understanding between various cultures,” says Dr Weronika Kloc-Nowak from the University of Warsaw Centre of Migration Research, who recommended the candidate. “He also demonstrated great research skills. His project, called “Does perceived global uncertainty impact intended fertility?” was selected for financing as part of the University of Warsaw Central European Social Survey module, which proves the value and originality of his research. He willingly shares his knowledge and helps others in their academic research. When asked what he values in Poland and his university, Nasim Mondal says: “I love Poland, because it is my new mother – a country that gave me new life and unending possibilities. I learned to dream and see the world from a multidimensional perspective. University of Warsaw is not just my university; it is the foundation of my dreams and the guiding light of my future.”