On February 19, 2025, Polish Science Day, a meeting of the Program Council of the 2025 Economic Education Congress was held at the National Center for Economic Education. Representatives of public administration, financial institutions, academia, experts, and practitioners involved in economic and financial education discussed key issues that should be included in the Congress program and the challenges facing economic education and the development of entrepreneurship in Poland.
Discussion on the future of economic education in Poland
Long-standing collaboration between numerous institutions and entities in the field of economic education is yielding tangible results, but its widespread dissemination is still necessary. Michał Polak, Vice President of the Warsaw Institute of Banking, co-organizer of the Congress, summarized previous editions of the Financial Education and Entrepreneurship Congress. This year, the event will be held under a new name – the Economic Education Congress – consistent with the Year of Economic Education and the National Center for Economic Education. The theme of this year's edition is "Economic Education on the Path to Economic Security for Poland and Europe." .
Waldemar Zbytek, President of WIB, emphasized that the Council's meetings are held at the headquarters of the National Center for Economic Education, which continues the Year of Economic Education. The goal of the KCEE is to inspire as many people and institutions as possible to engage in economic education, as without economic and financial education, Poland's development will be impossible. All organizations involved in the KCEE's activities are working to ensure that future generations can work, save, and invest effectively.
The GPW Foundation, the other co-organizer of KEE 2025, was represented by Vice President Robert Stankiewicz, who emphasized in his speech that economic education should be based not only on theoretical knowledge but also on teaching practical skills. One example of such activities is training young people in investing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Research trends and inspiring discussions – the foundation for the event program
Dr. hab. prof. Katarzyna Sekścińska presented the TOP 5 trends in economic education and knowledge, which resulted from her research. These include false knowledge, retirement awareness and saving for this purpose, attitudes and beliefs about investing, and parents' economic education of children.
Practical aspects of financial education
The discussion emphasized the importance of economic education in the context of economic development and economic security, including challenges related to public finances. According to the Council, economic education cannot be limited to basic financial knowledge. Young people should understand the impact of personal finances on the national economy and the importance of responsible financial management. The discussion then turned to the practical aspects of education, including tailoring activities to the needs and capabilities of various target groups – children, youth, adults, seniors, and entrepreneurs. Educating consumers and encouraging them to independently acquire economic knowledge and identifying tools useful in this process is also crucial. The growing popularity of "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) lending models, which requires a conscious approach to managing financial obligations, education on cybersecurity and protection against financial fraud, and the need to educate micro-entrepreneurs, were also discussed. Building healthy financial habits that support long-term personal budget management is also essential. Participants emphasized that economic education is a key element of Poland's socio-economic development.
Economic Education Congress 2025
The Economic Education Congress 2025 will take place on April 16-17. KEE 2025 is a platform for ideas, diagnosis, dialogue, and inspiration for the cross-community exchange of experiences, establishing cooperation, and setting directions for action to increase the financial literacy of Poles and to shape entrepreneurial attitudes as one of the long-term conditions for our country's economic development.
