A + V

Up to PLN 4 million for developing university offerings – how to include AV systems in the new NCBR call

Digital transformation and the growing need for reskilling are forcing universities to rapidly adapt to the needs of adult learners. At the same time, higher education institutions are facing a major opportunity – in April, a new NCBR program was launched with a total budget of PLN 120 million (FERS funding), offering up to PLN 4 million per project to support the development of educational offerings.

The key question is: how to invest these funds wisely so that the investment strengthens the institution’s prestige for years to come? As an audiovisual integrator, we suggest a clear answer, the key lies in advanced AV infrastructure.

Flexible learning paths for adults – an opportunity for higher education institutions

Lifelong learning (reskilling) is no longer optional, it is a necessity. The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) has recognized this trend and launched a new call with a budget of PLN 120 million to support universities in developing educational offerings for adult learners.

NCBR representatives emphasize that investing in people and aligning education systems with real employer needs is essential for long-term economic growth. Academic experts who have successfully implemented similar initiatives point out that modern education no longer needs to rely on long, rigid courses.

Instead, it should be tailored to the professional lives of adults, effectively bridging the gap between traditional education and market demands. In this context, short and personalized training formats are becoming the foundation of success.

Key assumptions and timeline of the new FERS program

If your institution is planning modernization and wants to expand its educational offering, the „Lifelong Learning – development of university offerings” call is an excellent opportunity. Here are the key points:

• Applications can be submitted via the SOWA EFS system until June 29, 2026.
• The program is addressed to higher education institutions, while the target group of projects includes adults and in the case of people over 64, those who are still professionally active.
• The goal is to adapt adult qualifications to labor market needs (reskilling, closing skills gaps) by creating new programs, courses and workshops.
• The call offers FERS funding (European Funds for Social Development). The maximum project value can reach up to PLN 4 million, with funding covering up to 97% of eligible costs.

You can read more about how we support universities in securing FERS funding here.

Do not invest in one-off solutions – invest in technology for years to come

The „Lifelong Learning – development of university offerings” program is a unique opportunity to create modern, flexible learning paths for adults. The key to success lies in balancing the development of new educational programs with building a technological environment that enables their delivery at the highest level.

As A+V experts, we encourage you to look at the program budget more broadly, funding for new educational offerings is also a perfect opportunity for long-term technological modernization. Including professional infrastructure in your application such as advanced hybrid classrooms, automated lecture capture systems or digital signage solutions is an investment that will serve the institution for years.

A good starting point is to clearly define the educational goal, while leaving the technology selection and application justification to an experienced AV integrator.

Premium experience and the psychology of sound

At A+V, we design complete, integrated systems where lecturers can control the entire room from a single, intuitive interface. The quality of these solutions directly influences how both the institution and its faculty are perceived.

Why do we recommend, for example, investing in ceiling microphone arrays, even though they cost several thousand euros? Because they provide an immersive experience and excellent speech intelligibility, even when the lecturer moves freely around the room. They effectively eliminate background noise, which is especially important in supporting equal access for students with hearing impairments.

Research conducted by leading institutions such as Yale University and the University of Southern California (USC) clearly shows that audio quality directly impacts how a lecturer’s competence, intelligence and credibility are perceived.

How can we support your university?

Application support: We provide strong, substantive justification for your project, clearly explaining the value of investing in advanced AV solutions for professional hybrid classrooms and lecture halls.

Cost estimation and functional descriptions: We prepare detailed documentation required for a successful FERS funding application.

Concept and implementation: We design AV infrastructure from the ground up, both for existing spaces and new campus developments.

Turnkey delivery: We support the entire process: equipment delivery and installation, lecturer training, and long-term system maintenance and service.

If you want to successfully combine the development of educational offerings for adults with modern technological infrastructure, contact A+V, we will be happy to answer all your questions: www.aplusv.pl/en/contact/