State Higher Vocational School in Tarnow (SHVS) was called into being as the first state vocational school in Poland by the order of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland in May 1998. It is a higher education institution of a new type, educating its students at the "licentiate" and "engineer" level. Its activities are regulated by the Act on Higher Vocational Schools from 26 June 1997.

In academic year 2009/2010 there are at SHVS almost 6 000 students, in 14 study areas (5 departments):

Institute of the Humanities:

• Philology
  • English
  • German
  • Roman
• Polish Philology

Institute of Mathematical and Natural Science:

• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Environmental Protection

The Polytechnic Institute:

• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics with Telecommunication Engineering
• Computer Sciences
• Materials Engineering

Institute of Health:

• Physical Education
• Physiotherapy
• Nursing

Administration with Economics Department:

• Administration
• Economy

Nowadays we co-operate with other higher schools, some international organizations, non- profit organization as well as higher education institution. As partner in the international nets we cooperate with universities and institutions all over the Europe and many countries in other continents. Some of our partners:

Austria:
Pädagogische Hochschule, Wien

Belgium:
Haute Ecole du Luxembourg Blaise Pascal, Bastogne
Haute Ecole Namuroise Catholique, Malonne

Germany:
Hochschule Wismar
Abendsschule Unna
BZ der Finanzverwaltung, Fachhochschule Königs-Wusterhausen

France:
Institut Universitare de Technologie de Besancon
Universite de Franche- Comte Besancon
Institut Universitare de Formatin des Maitres d’Outreau

Finland :
Keski-Pohjanmaan Ammattikorkeakoulu - Mellersta Österbottens Yrkeshögskola Politechnik, Kokkola

Great Britain:
Blackburn College, an Association of Lancaster University

Greece:
National Technical University of Athens

Italy:
Universita per Stranieri di Perugia
Universita degli Studi di Trieste
Universita degli Studi di Napoli

Ireland:
Macra na Feirme - organisation

Turkey:
Gaziantep Universitesi

The priorities of our co-operation:
- Mobility (teachers and students)
- Thematic actions and projects
- Language competencies (certification of knowledge of languages)
- Reference materials.

Aims of international co-operation activities
1. Enhancing quality of teaching and learning
2. Creation of optimal model for efficient functioning of SHVS Higher vocational education is a brand-new educational sector in Poland, therefore experiences of foreign partners are particularly important.
3. Stimulation of regional development - SHVS is the largest higher education institution (and the only state higher education institution) in Tarnów region.

Description of general plans for the strategic development (over the medium term):
Increase of the number of offered degree courses;
Strengthening of own human resources (significant part of staff are part-time teachers working parallel in higher education institutions in Kraków as: Jagiellonian University, University of Mining and Metallurgy, University of Physical Education and Agricultural University);
Active policy in foreign language teaching (with stress on professional language for management, agriculture, administration, engineering etc.);
Close co-operation with local environment:
- Schools and local educational authorities,
- Local administration (City of Tarnów, Tarnów County, and regions),
- Regional enterprises and organizations, in particular – industrial works and agricultural organizations.

Plans for European and international co-operation:
To realize the strategic development plan it is necessary to develop European and international co-operation with various institutions in foreign (mainly EU) countries:
Non-university higher education institutions in order to prepare students and staff exchanges, common actions for curriculum development, intensive courses, as well as to set up proper quality assurance mechanisms;
Universities – to co-operate in creation of new study areas, discuss common plans for development of applied research etc;
Enterprises – to promote international co-operation of regional industries, prepare for EC activities, look for the other possibilities of practical placements and field practices for SHVS students (on the reciprocity basis) etc.

Other University Initiatives
Regional Centre of European Information in Tarnów
Common Agricultural Policy Training Centre for Local Community Leaders
Language Certificate Centre
Modern Technologies Park