The University of Gdańsk will host the 2nd Forum of Rectors of Poland and Türkiye, which will take place on 8 May. The meeting of university authorities from both countries, dedicated to the development of academic cooperation, will be a continuation of the dialogue initiated during the first forum, which occured in September 2025 in Ankara.
Deepening relations between the academic communities of Poland and Turkey and developing specific tools to support institutional cooperation between universities are the main objectives of the meeting scheduled for 8 May. An important element of the event will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding concerning cooperation in the field of higher education between the two countries. The document will be signed by the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education, Marcin Kulasek, and the President of the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Erol Özvar.
The 2nd Forum of Rectors of Poland and Türkiye is a continuation of the process initiated during the first meeting, which took place in September 2025 at Gazi University in Ankara. It was attended by 50 Rectors and Vice-Rectors representing 43 leading universities from Poland and Turkey, as well as representatives of the ministries responsible for higher education in both countries.
The programme of this year’s Forum in Gdańsk combines a strategic perspective with practical instruments of cooperation and covers issues such as:
- institutional instruments supporting bilateral cooperation,
- the creation of joint study programmes,
- the development of international research centres,
- and good practices in managing partnerships between universities.
The detailed programme of the event is available at:
Organizers:
- University of Gdańsk
- Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland)
- Council of Higher Education in Türkiye (YÖK)
- Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP)
- "Perspektywy" Education Foundation
Partners:
- Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA)
- Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE)
The project is funded by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Republic of Poland.
PROGRAM
09:00 - 09:30
Participant registration and networking
(simultaneously)
09.00 - 09.15
A press conference with the participation of Minister Marcin Kulasek and President Erol Özvar, President of CRASP, Rector UG and representatives of NAWA, Perspektywy and FRSE
09:15 - 09:20
Official opening of the Polish - Turkish Studies Centre at the University of Gdańsk by Minister Marcin Kulasek and President Erol Özvar in the presence of the rectors of Istanbul University, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa and Gazi University
09:30 - 11:00
Opening Session: Political and Strategic Frameworks for Polish-Turkish Cooperation in Higher Education
(Language: English and simultaneous interpretation: Polish/Turkish)
- National anthems
- Welcome address by the host: Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk
- Dr MARCIN KULASEK, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Poland
- Prof. EROL ÖZVAR, President of the Council of Higher Education of Türkiye (YÖK)
- RAUF ALP Denktaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Poland
- Prof. BOGUMIŁA KANIEWSKA, President of CRASP
- Prof. HÜSNÜ KAPU, Term Chairman of Inter-universities Board
- Dr Wojciech Karczewski, Director of NAWA
- Prof. Uğur Ünal, Rector of Gazi University (host of the 1st Forum)
- Dr Bianka Siwińska, President of the Perspektywy Education Foundation
- AdA Guźniczak, Member of FRSE Board
11:00 - 11:10
Ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in Science and Higher Education
Minister Marcin Kulasek and President Erol Özvar
11:10 - 11:15
Photo session
11:15 - 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 - 12:15
Panel I: Development of Dual-Use Technologies at Technical Universities in Poland and Türkiye
(Language: English)
Moderator:
Prof. Marek Pawełczyk, Rector of Silesian University of Technology
Panelists:
- Prof. Hasan Mandal, Rector of Istanbul Technical University
- Prof. TEOFIL JESIONOWSKI, Rector of Poznań University of Technology
- Prof. NACI ÇAĞLAR, Rector of Bursa Technical University
- Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik, Rector of Łódź University of Technology
- Prof. MEHMET KUL, Rector of Sivas Science and Technology University
- Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of Gdańsk University of Technology
12:15 - 13:00
Panel II: Perspectives for Polish-Turkish Cooperation in Social Sciences and Humanities
(Language: English)
Moderator:
Prof. MUSTAFA HATİPLER, Rector of Trakya University
Panelists:
- Prof. Rafał Matera, Rector of University of Łódź
- Prof. Hüseyin DALGAR Rector of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University
- Prof. Roman Cieślak, Rector of SWPS University
- Prof. Osman Bülent Zülfikar, Rector of Istanbul University
- Prof. MARIUSZ POPŁAWSKI, Rector of Białystok University
- Prof. Mehmet Cahit Güran, Rector of Hacettepe University
13:00 - 13:15
Intervention I: Cooperation in joint research projects - Cezary Błaszczyk, National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)
13:15 - 14:15
Lunch
14:15 - 14:30
Intervention II: (comparative analysis) NCN’s experience to date in organizing and funding bilateral programmes - Justyna Woźniakowska, National Science Centre (NCN)
YUNUS ALPER ALTAY, Vice Chairman of Turkish National Agency
14:30 - 15:15
Panel III (under the patronage of NAWA): Institutional Partnerships, Language Support and Research Centres as Bridges for Cooperation
(Language: English)
Moderator:
Dr Damian Syjczak, Deputy Director of NAWA
Panelists:
- Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar, Rector of Gebze Technical University
- Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, Rector of Białystok University of Technology
- Prof. YUSUF BARAN, Rector of IYTE
- Prof. Jan Kazak, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences
- Prof. OSMAN NURİ ÇELİK, Rector of Konya Technical University
- Prof. HACER TOPAKTAŞ ÜSTÜNER, Istanbul University
15:15 - 16:00
Panel IV Opportunities for Polish-Turkish Cooperation in Medical and Natural Sciences
(Language: English)
Moderator:
Prof. Dr. Hamit Emrah BERİŞ, Rector of Çukurova University
Panelists:
- Prof. Bayram YILMAZ, Rector of Dokuz Eylül University
- Prof. Karolina Pawlak, Vice-Rector of Poznań University of Life Sciences
- Prof. Ahmet HacıMÜFTÜOĞLU, Rector of Atatürk University
- Prof. Lucyna Woźniak, Vice-Rector of the Medical University of Łódź
- Prof. Nuri Aydın, Rector of Cerrahpaşa University
- Prof. Michał Markuszewski, Rector of Medical University of Gdańsk
16:00 - 16:30
Coffee break
16:30 - 17:15
Panel V: (under the patronage of FRSE): Polish-Turkish academic cooperation - from Erasmus mobility to partnerships
(Language: English)
Moderator:
Renata Decewicz, FRSE Deputy Director
Panelists:
- Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska, Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University
- Prof. Sambor Grucza, Vice-Rector of University of Warsaw
- Emre Can Alptekin Ph.D., University of Wrocław
- Hatice Kübra Öz, student of Adam Mickiewicz University
17:15 - 18:00
PANEL VI: Realizing Potentials and Opportunities in Turkish Universities for Polish Students and Academicians
Moderator: Prof. Uğur Ünal, Rector of Gazi University
Panelists:
- Prof. HAMDULLAH ÇUVALCI, Rector of Black Sea Technical University
- Prof. ADNAN OZCAN, Rector of Eskisehir Technical University
- Prof RAMAZAN BAYINDIR (Vice Chairman of Turkish Quality Council (YÖKAK)
- Assoc. Prof. ESAT İPEK, Council of Higher Education in Türkiye (YÖK)
18:00 - 18:10
Summary and closing of the Forum
18:10 - 18:30
Time for signing inter-university agreements
18:30 - 22:00
Gala dinner
