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About the Foundation

Competence – a range of knowledge, skills and experience.

Employers more and more often do not demand qualifications, but look for workers with specific competence. Regional Competence Center was established to fill a need for the development of competence in the region.

Regional Competence Centre Foundation is a non-profit organization, which was created thanks to the commitment of representatives of the various groups operating in education and competence development.

Activities of the Centre are based on the development of competence among teachers, students, graduates, and staff of the regional economy. The form of competence development is adjusted to the nature and needs of the recipients. In the Center, competence development is directly connected with the needs of the regional economy and created exclusively in collaboration with entrepreneurs.

Regional Competence Centre Foundation team meeting

Our Objectives

The objective of the Foundation is to support:

  • Projects, organizations, institutions and entities that are promoting and developing education, skills and qualifications, as well as supporting the development of schools, educational institutions and universities.
  • Activities for European integration and the development of contacts and cooperation between people, nations and organizations.
  • Activities that support economic development and entrepreneurship development.
  • Activities that support the development of local communities and local authorities.
  • Initiation of innovative solutions in learning, teaching, schooling and education.
  • Creation of the conditions for innovation and entrepreneurship in the education sector.
  • Publication of educational, cultural, social, charitable, health, environmental, occupational, and economic information.
  • Development of human resources for modern education and culture.
  • Promotion of projects equalizing educational opportunities.
  • Organisation of school and extracurricular education.
  • Activities leading to mitigation of the effects of unemployment.
  • Local development – farmers, rural residents, small towns – to adapt to the economic and social conditions of the EU.
  • Equalization of opportunities for people from the cities and rural areas, men and women, the disabled, national and social minorities, and people at risk of social exclusion.

Develop your competencies with us!

Our Mission & Values

Education First

We believe that quality education is the foundation of a thriving regional economy. We work with schools, universities and vocational centres to raise the bar for learning outcomes across the Podlaskie region.

Entrepreneurship

We foster an entrepreneurial mindset by connecting educators with business leaders, ensuring that curricula reflect real-world skills that employers actually need today and in the future.

Inclusiveness

Equal access to competence development is a core value. We actively work to reduce disparities between urban and rural communities, supporting people regardless of background or circumstance.

Innovation

We champion new approaches to teaching and training, piloting creative methods, digital tools and project-based learning formats that keep our region at the forefront of educational innovation.

Collaboration

No single organisation can transform a region alone. We build bridges between public institutions, private companies, NGOs and individuals, creating lasting networks that multiply impact.

Regional Development

Every project we undertake is designed to strengthen the Podlaskie region – creating jobs, retaining talent and building a more resilient local economy for the next generation.

14+
Years of Activity
3,000+
Programme Participants
50+
Regional Partners
30+
EU-Funded Projects

Our Team

Our Foundation is driven by a dedicated team of professionals with backgrounds in education, business development, project management and community engagement. Together, we share a passion for building a stronger, more skilled Podlaskie region.

AM

Anna Malinowska

Foundation President

Over 20 years of experience in regional education policy and non-profit management. Anna leads the Foundation's strategic vision and represents RCK in national and EU-level forums.

PK

Piotr Kowalski

Education Programme Director

A former university lecturer with deep expertise in curriculum design, Piotr oversees all teacher training and skills development programmes run by the Foundation.

MN

Maria Nowak

Project Coordinator

Maria manages the day-to-day delivery of our EU-funded projects, ensuring milestones are met, budgets are on track and participants receive outstanding support.

JW

Jan Wiśniewski

Partnerships & Cooperation Manager

Jan builds and nurtures relationships with businesses, schools and public institutions across the region, creating the collaborative networks that power our programmes.

KZ

Katarzyna Zając

EU Projects Specialist

With expertise in Erasmus+ and European Social Fund frameworks, Katarzyna identifies funding opportunities, writes project applications and manages compliance reporting.

TL

Tomasz Lewandowski

Communications & PR

Tomasz shapes the Foundation's public voice – managing media relations, social channels, publications and events that raise our profile across the Podlaskie region and beyond.

RCK Foundation office building in Białystok

Where We Work

Our headquarters are located in the heart of Białystok, the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship – a vibrant city known for its multicultural heritage and growing innovation ecosystem.

From our offices at ul. Częstochowska 16/3, we coordinate programmes that reach schools, universities, vocational centres and businesses across the entire region. Our meeting rooms and training spaces host dozens of workshops, seminars and partner events every year.

We are proud to be embedded in the local community and to work alongside the public institutions, entrepreneurs and educators who make the Podlaskie region such a dynamic place to live and work.

Get in Touch

Our History

From a small group of passionate educators to a thriving regional foundation – here is our journey.

2010

Foundation Established

A group of educators, entrepreneurs and regional leaders came together to found the Regional Competence Centre in Białystok, recognising the gap between academic qualifications and real workforce competences.

2012

First EU-Funded Projects

The Foundation secured its first European Social Fund grants, launching teacher training programmes and skills workshops for over 300 participants in the Podlaskie region.

2014

Partnership Network Grows

We expanded our cooperation network to include 25 regional businesses, 10 schools and three universities, creating a robust ecosystem for competence exchange and joint programme development.

2016

New Headquarters & Online Presence

We moved to our current premises on ul. Częstochowska 16/3 and launched this website to broaden our reach and engage more stakeholders across the region and beyond.

2018

International Projects

The Foundation joined Erasmus+ consortia, partnering with organisations in Germany, Finland and the Czech Republic to exchange best practices and develop cross-border competence frameworks.

2020–Present

Digital Transformation

Adapting to the challenges of a changing world, we expanded into online training, digital skills programmes and remote collaboration tools – reaching more participants than ever before.