“FOCUS ON UKRAINE” CONFERENCE
GDAŃSK, 3–4 APRIL 2023
Theatre Room, Modern Languages Building, Faculty of Languages, University of Gdańsk
Wita Stwosza 51
3 April, Monday
9:00 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 Formal inauguration of the conference
Ceremonial opening speech by the conference host, Rector of the University of Gdańsk,
Prof. Piotr Stepnowski
Opening speech by the Director General of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA),
Dr Dawid Kostecki
Opening speech by the Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Education and Science,
Dr Tomasz Rzymkowski
Opening speech by Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine for digital development, digital transformation and digitization
Dmytro Zavgorodniy
10:40 – 11:20 Introduction
Supporting the academic community of Ukraine – NAWA’s “Solidarity with Ukraine” programme, Magdalena Kachnowicz, Director of the Department of Programmes for Students, NAWA
Psychological and legal support for Ukrainian students and refugees, Katarzyna Ksenicz, Deputy Director of the Communication and Service Department, SWPS University of Humanities and Social Sciences
Experience of the "Solidarity with Ukraine" programme - presentation by Prof. Taras Hutsol, Polissia National University (Ukraine)
Studies in Poland during the war in Ukraine – speeches by refugee students
11:20 – 12:30 Discussion panel (PL)
International co-operation of universities as an instrument for counteracting social crises
Chair: Prof. Jerzy Lis, Rector of AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, coordinator of CRASP’s activities related to the situation in Ukraine, member of the European University Association’s task force to support the reconstruction of higher education in Ukraine
Panellists:
- Prof. Arkadiusz Mężyk, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, President of CRASP
- Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology
- Prof. Grzegorz Mazurek, Rector of Kozminski University in Warsaw
- Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Kurczewska, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Łódź for Environmental Relations
- Prof. Volodymyr Bugrov, Rector of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Vice-President of the Union of Rectors of Ukrainian Universities
- Prof. Borys Samorodov, Vice-Rector of Vasyl Karazin Kharkiv National University
- Piotr Semeniuk, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Science
12:30 – 13:10 Discussion panel (PL)
Recognition of refugee students’ education from the perspective of war: experiences and challenges
Chair: Hanna Reczulska, Director of the Department for Academic Recognition, NAWA
Panellists:
- Monika Czerepak, Deputy Head of the International Relations Office, Gdańsk University of Technology
- Samir Hećo, Council of Europe (online)
- Viktoria Sergienko, Director of the National Academic Mobility Information Centre ENIC Ukraine (online)
- Joanna Nyga, Department for Academic Recognition, NAWA
13:10 - 13:30 Coffee break
13:30 – 14:10 Discussion panel (EN)
Institutional and government support for Ukrainian refugees
Chair: Irina Ferencz, Director of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)
Panellists:
- Maija Airas, Head of Unit, International Higher Education Cooperation, Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI)
- Aneta Sergeant, Head of Study in Czechia, Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS)
- Gerhard Volz, Director for International Cooperation in Higher Education, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD)
- Karla Zimanova, Deputy Director of Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA)
14:10 - 14:20 Special appearance by a representative of the Safe Country Foundation (Ukraine)
14:20 – 15:30 Lunch break
15:30 – 16:40 Discussion panel (EN)
European Universities as a model example of internationalization of higher education: challenges and areas of cooperation
Introduction: Solidarity with Ukraine – European Universities: Prof. Paweł Śniatała, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Poznan University of Technology
Chair: Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for International and Domestic Cooperation, University of Silesia in Katowice, Chair of NAWA Council
Panellists:
- Prof. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, University of Gdańsk
- Prof. Andrii Smitiukh, Vice-Rector for Research, Teaching and International Cooperation, Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University
- Prof. Ksenia Smyrnova, Vice-Rector for Education, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
- Prof. Jean-Marc Planeix, Vice-Rector for Academic Partnerships and Governance, University of Strasbourg, Strategic Coordinator of the EPICUR alliance
- Dr Magdalena Wiśniewska-Drewniak, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of History, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
- Prof. Rafał Witkowski, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
16:40 – 17:30 Discussion panel (PL)
Digital future – how technologies can support the reconstruction of a free Ukraine
Chair: Waldemar Siwiński, founder of Perspektywy Education Foundation, President of IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence
Panellists:
- Justyna Orłowska, Plenipotentiary of the Prime Minister for GovTech - Head of the GovTech Centre (online)
- Prof. Paweł Śniatała, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Poznan University of Technology
- Dr Bianka Siwińska, President of Perspektywy Education Foundation, initiator of the “Girls to Technical Schools” public campaign as well as projects “IT for SHE” and “New Technologies for Girls”, and originator of the “Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit”
- Kateryna Suprun, Acting Head of Digital Transformation of Education and Science Expert Group Directorate of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (online)
- Grzegorz Robak, Director of the Center for International Cooperation, Warsaw University of Technology
18:30 Gala dinner
4 April, Tuesday
10:00 – 10:15 Special address by Oleksandr Plodystyi, Consul General of Ukraine in Poland
10:15 - 10:30 Special address by Dr Emily Borzcik, Regional Director Europe Scholar Rescue Fund, Institute of International Education (IIE), USA
10:30 - 10:45 Special address by Dr Maija M. Kukla, Program Director, National Science Foundation (NSF), USA
10:45 – 11:45 Discussion panel (PL)
Local government initiatives: how local governments cooperate with academic centres to support refugees from Ukraine?
Chair: Marcin Witkowski, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
Panellists:
- Wiktoria Herun, Head of the Division for Cooperation with the Academic Community, Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Lublin Municipal Office
- Iryna Ozymok, Local Economic Development Program Manager, Western NIS Enterprise Fund
- Anna Wawdysz, Deputy Director of the City Development and International Cooperation Department of the City of Poznan, Mayor's Plenipotentiary for Youth and Academic Cooperation of the City of Poznan
- Mirosław Lebiedź, Project Manager of the “Study in Wroclaw” project, Agencja Rozwoju Aglomeracji Wrocławskiej S.A.
11:45 – 12:00 Coffee break
12:00 - 12:50 Discussion panel (PL)
Academic initiatives as a form of supporting Ukrainian students
Chair: Dr Zofia Sawicka, Deputy Director of NAWA
Panellists:
- Yevheniia Polishchuk, Member of the Young Scietists Council at the Ministry of Education and Science in Ukraine
- Aleksandra Lewandowska, Representative for International Cooperation, Polish Representation of Doctoral Candidates (KRD)
- Dr Igor Kilanowski, Chair of the Young Scientists Council
- Dr Jacek Kolanowski, Chair of the Young Scientists’ Academy PAS (AMU PAN)
12:50 – 13:40 Discussion panel (PL)
Scientific initiatives to support refugees from Ukraine
Chair: Dr Dawid Kostecki, Director General of NAWA
Panellists:
- Agnieszka Ratajczak, Director of the International Cooperation Office, National Centre for Research and Development
- Dr Andrzej Dybczyński, President of Łukasiewicz Research Network (online)
- Prof. Maciej Żylicz, President of the Executive Board, Foundation for Polish Science
- Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, Advisor to the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- Dr Tomasz Szumełda, Discipline Coordinator in the Division of Science and Technology, National Science Centre
13:40 - 14:00 Closing of the conference
14:00 Lunch
*Each discussion panel is going to include a session for questions from the floor.
*Simultaneous translation is provided throughout the conference: PL, EN, UA.