Towards social sustainability in the cross-border region Symposium of rectors of Polish and German universities
This two-day event (28 and 29 October 2024) organised by the UNESCO Chair for Social Sustainability in cooperation with the University of Applied Science in Neubrandenburg was the first joint meeting of rectors of universities from the border region since the transformation after 1989.
The invitation from the authorities of the University of Szczecin and the UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Social Development was accepted by the rectors and representatives of the University of Greifswald, University of Applied Science in Neubrandenburg , University of Applied Science in Stralsund , the University for Sustainable Development in Eberswalde, the Maritime University and the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin.
The meeting discussed, among other things, the challenges facing higher education in the border area. The Rector of the Hochschule Neubrandenburg, Professor Gerd Teschke, drew attention to the need to integrate the scientific communities on both sides of the border. The Rector of the University of Greifswald, Professor Katharina Riedel, emphasised the role of universities in creating Polish-German cooperation in creating German-Polish cooperation in the field of culture.
The Rector of the University of Szczecin, Prof. Waldemar Tarczyński drew attention to the new context of German-Polish cooperation. The development of the region and environmental problems are not confined within national borders, we need to exchange knowledge and experience if we want to solve them effectively – said the Rector Tarczyński.
The participants declared that they would like to start working on the creation of a network of universities in the Polish-German borderlands of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Western Pomerania and Brandenburg.
Dr. Paweł Bartnik, representing the Association of Municipalities in the Euroregion of Pomerania, emphasised the importance of such an agreement in the work of establishing a new financial perspective for regional funds.
It is excellent that we are embarking on a new stage of scientific cooperation, as we are operating in a different world than 10 years ago, said in conclusion Prof. Maciej Kowalewski, Head of the UNESCO Chair for Social Sustainability, ’We are living in a time of polycrises, i.e. crises occurring simultaneously in various fields. Problems of the global economy, armed conflicts, environmental threats manifest themselves at the regional level and we should study them together.
The following day at the Hochschule Neubrandenburg saw working groups of researchers representing a range of research disciplines: from the natural sciences, to the social sciences.
Guests present at the meetings on October 28:
Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel, Rektorin der Universität Greifswald
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Gerd Teschke, Rektor der Hochschule Neubrandenburg
Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Ralph Sonntag, Rektor der Hochschule Stralsund
Prof. Alexander Pfriem, Vice President for Research and Transfer der Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde
Dr. ing. Izabela Bodus-Olkowska – Vice-Chancellor for Education and Development at the Maritime University in Szczecin
Prof. Sebastian Kwiatkowski – Plenipotentiary of the Rector of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin for German-Polish cooperation
Prof. Waldemar Tarczyński, Rector of the University of Szczecin
Prof. Andrzej Skrendo, Vice-Chancellor for Science
Prof. Renata Podgórzańska. Vice-Rector for Education
Prof. Jacek Batóg, Vice-Rector for Finance
Dr. Paweł Bartnik – Director of the Office of the Association of Polish Municipalities Euroregion Pomerania, Member of the University Council of Szczecin
Dr. Norbert Obrycki – Plenipotentiary of the University of Szczecin Rector for Territorial Cooperation
Prof. Maciej Kowalewski – Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Social Development
Prof. Jarosław Korpysa – Head of the Doctoral School US, Head of the Scientific Committee of the UNESCO Chair
Dr. Joanna Misiukajtis – Head of International Cooperation Department
all photographs by: Magdalena Seredyńska
