The "Fahrenheit Universities" community established | Gdańsk University of Technology

The event was attended by the rectors: prof. Marcin Gruchała (MUG), prof. Krzysztof Wilde (Gdańsk Tech) and prof. Piotr Stepnowski (UG). Among other participants there were also the director of the FarU, prof. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska with her deputy - Katarzyna Zygmunt, who hosted the ceremony, as well as representatives of local authorities, who supported the joint activities of the three largest universities in Pomerania from the very beginning. The academic communities of the MUG, Gdańsk Tech and UG were accompanied by: Pomeranian Voivode Dariusz Drelich, Pomeranian Voivodship Marshal Mieczysław Struk and Gdańsk Vice-President Alan Aleksandrowicz.

At the beginning, the chairman of the Assembly, prof. Krzysztof Wilde asked everyone to celebrate with a minute of silence Prof. Tadeusz Dmochowski, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Gdańsk, who died the night before. Then he read the occasional letters sent by the Minister of Education and Science Przemysław Czarnek and Deputy Minister of Health Piotr Bromber. As emphasized by the Minister of Education, "close cooperation within the Daniel Fahrenheit Union creates favorable conditions for the consolidated centers to compete with the best European and world universities. It also directly translates into an improvement in the quality of Polish science and higher education".

–The activities undertaken so far as part of cooperation among the strongest universities in the region arouse my particular admiration. I am thinking in particular of projects implemented in cooperation with the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway and the Gdańsk Economic Development Agency, as well as the successful debut at the largest technology conference in Central and Eastern Europe - Infoshare. I am convinced that the agreement signed today will open up new opportunities for Gdańsk universities and will become a solid foundation in the process of building a strong research center - emphasized Minister Czarnek in his letter.

Piotr Bromber, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health, expressed his deep support for the wide-ranging cooperation among the Fahrenheit Universities.

– Thanks to the close cooperation, the Universities will have (...) a better opportunity to implement new forms of education, and the student and doctoral student councils of these Universities will have easier cooperation in undertaking various initiatives – emphasized Deputy Minister Bromber. – I believe that the activities undertaken in the near future will lead to the creation of the first federation of universities in our country. I would like to express my belief that the initiative of Gdańsk Universities will be a model for other units of the higher education and science system to strengthen cooperation.

Gdańsk Tech Rector prof. Krzysztof Wilde introduced the audience to the goals and values ​​of the established Community, pointing to the most important ones.

– Our community draws on the academic traditions of Gdańsk, which go back to the times of the patron, Daniel Fahrenheit. We cultivate common values, such as: individual dignity, social equality, interpersonal solidarity, tolerance, equal treatment of diversity and social inclusion – Rector Wilde explained. – By promoting cooperation for freedom, including freedom of science, we want to act to improve the living conditions of present and future generations.

Next prof. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska, director of the Fahrenheit Universities, took the floor and briefly presented the main activities of 22 inter-university teams, established to develop consolidation scenarios. Among the most important initiatives the professor mentioned a scholarship program funded by the president of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, and cooperation with the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway in terms of its expansion by a new line connecting Gdańsk Śródmieście (Inner city) with the southern districts and the neighboring communes of Pruszcz Gdański, Kolbudy and Żukowo.

 – The research infrastructure is a key element in scientific research, therefore, in order to facilitate the use of this infrastructure by the teams of our three universities, we have made an inventory of the key research equipment. An important undertaking is the joint purchase of the library system, which will not only allow the introduction of a common library card, but also reduce the costs of purchasing this system. Work is underway to establish inter-university postgraduate studies. They are aimed at increasing the competences, knowledge and skills of the students, which will serve to mitigate the impact of human activity on the formation of the so-called anthropogenic greenhouse effect and the adaptation of cities to climate change - enumerated prof. Zaleska-Medynska.

The director of FarU also announced the upcoming events, including the May Fahrenheit Day celebration and the Science picnic in Hevelianum, a joint integration weekend for first-year students in September combined with discovering Gdańsk, and finally - the joint opening ceremony of the next academic year with a march through the city.

At the end of the ceremony, the honorary guests - the Voivode, Marshal and Vice-Mayor of Gdańsk – also addressed the community of Fahrenheit Universities.

– This initiative is important not only for our region, for Gdańsk, but also for Poland. We need development impulses, such as those given by the three largest Pomeranian universities. (...) We Poles, despite the differences, are able to unite around common causes. This is the case with aid for war-torn Ukraine and its inhabitants. It is similar in the case of universities, in matters related to science, education, ideas (...) – said the Pomeranian Voivode, Dariusz Drelich.

As the Marshal of the Province added, the creation of a community is always a long-term process and it is never really completed.

– When we talk about community, however, we primarily think about values. Today, in the face of the terrible war in Ukraine, these values ​​on which the Fahrenheit community is to be based take on special importance. Freedom, truth, solidarity, tolerance, social inclusion and the affirmation of diversity. These are the values ​​that also bind our Pomeranian community and make it open to those in need - emphasized Marshal Mieczysław Struk.

The Marshal also thanked the universities and the entire Pomeranian academic community for the extensive support provided to thousands of refugees from Ukraine seeking shelter, in particular Ukrainian students.

– I have a feeling of deep satisfaction and pride that the Fahrenheit community, before it was formally constituted, has already passed the test of commitment to the values ​​that are its foundation - added Marshal Struk at the end.

The Mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, was represented by Vice-President Alan Aleksandrowicz.

– Strong universities mean a strong region and a strong city. Today, when we have basically been dealing with a pandemic for two years, and now with the war in Ukraine, just across the eastern border, we need a community. A community in every dimension, and in particular the community of universities - said Vice President Aleksandrowicz. – First of all, I wish you every success on your way to build the federation of Fahrenheit Universities. Not only these three universities, but also others that will join the community.