SGGW co-funds the Green European University UNIgreen
Over 200 people met in the SGGW Crystal Hall to discuss the mission, goals and values of The Green European University – UNIgreenAlliance
Conference
Rector of Warsaw University of Life Sciences prof. dr hab. Michał Zasada welcomed guests, including:
Professor Stanislav M. NIkolaienko, Rector of National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
Professor Vadym M. Kondratyuk, Vice-Rector for Scientific and pedagogical Work, International Activity and Development,
Professor Petro Lakyda, Director of the Education and Research Institute of Forestry and Landscape-Park Management,
Dr hab. Viacheslav Bratishko, Dean of Mechanical and Technological Faculty
Professor Oksana Bialkovska, Vice-Rector for Education, Research, Innovation and International Affairs, Podillia State University,
Doctor Anastasiia Polishchuk, Head of the Department of International Relations, Podillia State University,
Mr. Vitalii Bilyi, Embassy of Ukraine,
Dr. Dawid Kostecki, Director of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange,
Ms. Katarzyna Aleksy, Director of Department – Programmes for Institutions at NAWA Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange,
Ms. Oliwia Surman, Chief Specialist, Department – Programmes for Institutions at NAWA.
‘When about a year ago, on 17 February 2022, I signed a declaration of accession to the initiative of the European University UNIgreen, an alliance of eight European universities in the areas of Agro, Bio and Life Sciences, I felt gratitude for many years of efforts to implement the idea of mutual cooperation in terms of innovation and growth. Today, I consider this event as the launch of the mission of uniting the scientific community, which has always been the core of SGGW’s activities, and our great success in the international arena’, said the SGGW Rector.
Then, Professor Stanislav Nikolaenko, Rector of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NULES) in Kyiv, thanked for the help given to Ukraine, presented his university, and pointed to the enormity of challenges faced by Ukrainian universities during the war.
The participants gathered in the Crystal Hall to commemorate the students, graduates, and employees who died fighting for their homeland in a one-minute silence. During that solemn moment, the faces of the fallen and the slogans were displayed on the screen: Eternal memory and glory to the Heroes! Heroes Never Die!
The presence of Ukrainian guests was possible thanks to the UNIgreen+UA project, a part of the UNIgreen alliance activities. Its goal is to support cooperation between SGGW and Ukrainian universities within The Green European University project.
The UNIgreen+UA project under the NAWA’s Solidarity with Ukraine Program was developed to provide comprehensive assistance to the scientific community in Ukraine, and to support cooperation with partner institutions from Ukraine: The National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NULES) in Kyiv and Podillia State University (PDATU) in Kamianets-Podilskyi.
The funds allocated for this purpose will finance the organization of scientific internships and webinars for Ukrainian Ph.D. students, as well as study visits of representatives of Ukrainian universities to UNIgreen partner universities.
The European University initiative
Dr hab. Marta Mendel, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, SGGW, quoted the words of President Emmanuel Macron, who in 2017 at the Sorbonne, Paris pointed out the need to create supranational universities, which he called the European universities.
‘A network of universities across Europe with programs that have all their students study abroad and take classes in at least two languages. These European Universities will also be drivers of educational innovation and the quest for excellence, said Emmanuel Macron. Referring to these words, Rector Mendel indicated a given point in the history of recent Europe, which led us to where we are today.
European Universities comprise international universities that are intended to be the European universities of the future. The term ‘universities’ should be considered in terms of all types of higher education institutions.
Main Assumptions
The basic assumptions of the ‘European Universities’ are:
A joint integrated long-term strategy covering education, research, innovation and society;
A common European “campus” where students, PhD students and staff can move (physically or virtually) to study, train, learn, do research, work, or provide services for all partner institutions;
All study levels include integrated mobility; new joint and flexible curricula are implemented based on interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approaches; practical or work-based experiences are provided during studying (development of entrepreneurial attitudes and civic participation); the student community reflects the diversity of the population (in social, economic and cultural aspects);
European Knowledge Creating Teams (‘Challenge Approach’) are composed of students and academics, involving researchers, businesses, and regional authorities. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the teams may respond to social and other challenges through innovative learning and training, creating innovative solutions that can be used in different European regions.
The ‘Green University’ objectives
Dr. hab. Karol Chrobak, Rector’s Plenipotentiary for ‘The Green European University – UNIgreen’ presented the universities associated with the alliance: University of Almería (Spain) – coordinator, Agricultural University of Iceland (Iceland), Agricultural University Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Haute Ecole de la Province de Liège (Belgium), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (Portugal), Paris Sup’Biotech (France), Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy).
Dr. Chrobak mentioned the ‘Four Pillars’ of the UNIgreen concept:
1. Supporting the ‘Green Transition’ – developing scientific and technological frameworks in the fields of sustainable agriculture, green biotechnology and environmental and life sciences to promote the green transformation.
2. Intensifying innovative activities – attracting talented students, researchers and stakeholders from around the world to intensify activities in the area of innovation to strengthen local and regional development by offering cutting-edge solutions.
3. Strengthening global links – establishing strong links between education, research, technology and services through a global partnership for a knowledge-based society.
4. Promoting an open educational community – shaping an integrated and diverse educational environment based on the principles of equity and diversity. Creating conditions for members of the academic community to help them develop as creative, responsible and socially engaged citizens who share a common European identity.
How we operate at UNIgreen
The implementation of the idea of the European University is an organizational challenge. Therefore, the UNIgreen project teams (Work Packages – WP), were created by experts from partner universities. The tasks of the given WP are carried out at the inter-university level. At the UNIgreen Inaugural Conference, 9 teams became the starting point for an internal debate on the potential, challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of the UNIgreen project.
Over 200 people – scientists, administrative staff, students and doctoral students met at the workshop, to discuss the tasks of the alliance.
UNIgreen – what next?
The summary of the event was held in the form of panel discussions led by the coordinators of given WP groups. The conclusions clearly indicate that the SGGW academic community sees many opportunities for the European University, the idea of which will be implemented over the coming years. The conference was an opportunity to meet and talk about new topics connected with academic everyday life, to build a new European quality.
UNIgreen socia media
Please, follow the official profiles of UNIgreen
Please, use #WeAreUNIgreen in your communication channels.
