Staff Week at Gdańsk Tech - professional development, wellbeing and dialogue | Gdańsk University of Technology

GREAT Programme - Flexible Learning for Today’s Academic Environment

ENHANCE Staff Week also showcases the GREAT Programme (Global Recognition of Employee Achievement and Training in Higher Education Institutions), which supports professional development without interrupting daily work responsibilities.
The programme brings together staff members from ENHANCE universities who work in similar roles, fostering exchange of ideas, peer learning, and the development of practical skills that can be applied immediately. It focuses on both professional expertise and essential transversal and soft skills needed in today’s academic landscape.

GREAT responds to the demands of modern higher education by offering:

• flexible, primarily online learning formats,
• short, high-impact on-site sessions,
• concise modules tailored to busy schedules,
• access to recorded content via a dedicated learning platform.

Rather than separating learning from everyday work, the programme integrates development into daily practice. It forms a coherent ecosystem that supports career growth, job enrichment, and institutional transformation.

Built on proven initiatives such as RWTH Aachen’s Certificate International for Employees (CIE) and Politecnico di Milano’s AWESOME programme, GREAT expands access to development opportunities, promotes internationalisation, and strengthens motivation through formal recognition. Participants who complete a learning track receive a GREAT Certificate – an official ENHANCE microcredential documenting their achievements.

Inclusive and Personalised Learning Paths

Inclusivity is at the heart of the GREAT Programme. It is designed to ensure equitable access and meaningful participation for diverse staff groups, including administrative, technical, and international employees, as well as individuals with varied backgrounds and needs.

To reflect different experience levels and professional goals, GREAT offers three flexible learning tracks:

• Basic Track – “Foundations of Internationalisation”
  Designed for staff with little or no experience in international collaboration. It combines online sessions, introductory meetings with a job shadowing partner, and an on-site job shadowing experience at an ENHANCE partner university.
• Advanced Track – “Expert Development”
  Intended for participants who wish to deepen their expertise and exchange best practices within a specific thematic area.
• Guided Track – “Personalised Learning Path”

Allows participants to create an individual learning journey by combining topics across different areas. During this year’s edition at Gdańsk Tech, activities will be organised within five Knowledge Hubs:

1. International Exchange Hub
2. Methodological Hub (for teachers)
3. Open Science Hub
4. Employee Functional Diversity Hub
5. Wellbeing Hub

Some activities will take place in parallel within these thematic groups, while others – particularly those focused on wellbeing – will bring all participants together. Depending on the selected track, participants can either specialise in one hub or combine multiple topics.

Wellbeing as a Core Theme

Employee wellbeing is an overarching theme of this year’s Staff Week. It is embedded throughout the programme – from reflective sessions to social activities – creating space for connection, mutual support, and long-term collaboration across institutions.

Through joint sessions and hub-specific discussions, participants will explore topics such as healthy work environments, mental health, digital balance, and inclusive workplace practices. The goal is to exchange practical approaches that enhance staff wellbeing and, in turn, strengthen the quality and resilience of our universities.

Participants are also encouraged to actively contribute by sharing their own ideas and experiences, becoming part of a collective effort to shape healthier academic workplaces.

Dialogue Week - Building Understanding Across Differences

A key element of the programme is Dialogue Week, which creates a unique space for one-to-one conversations across universities, cultures, and experiences.

These conversations focus on diversity, inclusion, and the future of higher education. Rather than debating or persuading, participants engage in open, respectful dialogue aimed at mutual understanding. By listening, sharing, and reflecting, they are invited to consider perspectives that may challenge their own.

In a time when many discussions around these topics are increasingly polarized, Dialogue Week offers an alternative approach based on openness, curiosity, and a genuine willingness to engage. It is an opportunity to reflect on personal viewpoints, learn from others, and help build a more connected and inclusive European academic community.

ENHANCE Staff Week at Gdańsk Tech is more than a training event – it is a collaborative space for sharing knowledge, fostering dialogue, and co-creating solutions for the future of higher education in Europe.