The University of Gdańsk Senate’s last meeting before the summer break took place on 2 July 2026. It was chaired by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Piotr Stepnowski, who began by presenting letters of congratulations to those who had recently been awarded the title of professor. The meeting’s agenda also included, amongst other items, a report on the implementation of the University of Gdańsk Strategy, a report from the University of Gdańsk Council, and a proposal to change the logo of the University of Gdańsk Library.

Before the agenda was adopted, the Rector, Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, congratulated those who had been awarded an academic title. A letter of congratulations was received by the Head of the Department of European Law and Comparative Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration, prof. dr hab. Tomasz Tadeusz Koncewicz, who in June this year was awarded the title of professor in the field of social sciences, in the discipline of legal sciences. The academic title was also awarded to prof. dr hab. Małgorzata Pilot from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Gdańsk (in the discipline of biological sciences), who was unable to attend the Senate meeting.

The Rector also congratulated the faculties offering degree programmes that featured in the TOP 10 lists of this year’s ‘Perspektywy’ degree programme ranking. Representatives of the following faculties received their diplomas:

• Faculty of Biology (programme: biology)
• Faculty of Chemistry (programme: environmental protection)
• Faculty of Languages (programme: cultural studies)
• Faculty of History (programmes: archaeology and history)
• Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics (programme: computer science)
• Faculty of Social Sciences (programmes: psychology and sociology)
• Faculty of Law and Administration (programmes: law and administration)
• Faculty of Oceanography and Geography (programme: geography)
• Faculty of Management (programmes: computer science and econometrics)
• Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG (programme: biotechnology)

Following the presentation of diplomas and letters of congratulations, the agenda was approved (item 1).

The second official item on the agenda concerned proposals for the appointment as university professor of dr hab. Iwona Krupecka from the Faculty of Social Sciences and dr hab. Tomasz Brodzicki from the Faculty of Economics. The proposal regarding the appointment of dr hab. Iwona Krupecka was presented by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, prof. dr hab. Michał Harciarek. The Dean highlighted the researcher’s academic achievements (in Polish and German) and her contributions as Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy at the University of Gdańsk. The second proposal, concerning the appointment of dr hab. Tomasz Brodzicki (following a competitive selection process rather than a promotion), was presented by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, dr hab. Wojciech Bizon, prof. UG. The Dean of the Faculty of Economics highlighted the candidate’s wide-ranging experience in both academia and business, concluding that ‘he is one of the best macroeconomists in Europe when it comes to economic forecasting’. Both motions were adopted by the Senate.

The third item on the agenda concerned the installation, in the Neophilology building in the immediate vicinity of the Prof. Jerzy Limon Theatre Hall, of a placard commemorating the professor’s life and work. As noted by the Dean of the Faculty of Languages dr hab. Małgorzata Jarmułowicz, prof. UG, who presented the motion, there is currently no detailed information about the theatre hall’s namesake in the vicinity, and the plaque will be an ideal way of honouring the memory of this outstanding scholar. The motion was adopted unanimously.

The next item concerned the naming of Room 022 (also in the Neophilology building) after Prof. Zenon Ciesielski. This scholar, who passed away last year – an outstanding Scandinavianist and theatre expert – had been associated with the University of Gdańsk since its inception, making a significant contribution to the development of the Faculty of Languages, and in particular the Institute of Scandinavian Studies. The motion was once again presented by the Dean of the Faculty of Languages, prof. Małgorzata Jarmułowicz. The Senate also approved this motion.

Subsequently, the Chair of the University of Gdańsk Council, prof.dr hab. Marcin Gruchała of the Medical University of Gdańsk, presented a report on the Council’s activities for the year 2025 (full text attached). During the period covered by the report, the Council held 10 meetings and adopted 17 resolutions.

Prof. Marcin Gruchała had nothing but warm words for the University of Gdańsk, emphasising the institution’s strengthening national and international standing, its growing academic prestige, and the excellent cooperation between the Council and the Rector’s Office. The Senate approved the report.

Under the sixth item on the agenda, the Vice-Rector for Development and Finance at the University of Gdańsk dr hab. Paweł Antonowicz, prof. UG presented a report on the implementation of the University of Gdańsk’s Strategy for 2025. The Vice-Rector presented the Senators with an overview of the management dashboards, showing the current status of reporting and the level of achievement of strategic objectives and initiatives within the cascade of objectives. He referred both to the implementation of the Strategy across the entire university and within individual faculties and units of the University of Gdańsk. He emphasised that both the implementation of strategic tasks and the reporting on them, using a dedicated management monitoring tool, were more than satisfactory. The report was approved by the Senate.

The next item concerned amendments to the Regulations of the University of Gdańsk Library. It was presented by the Director of the UG Library (BUG), dr hab. Arnold Kłonczyński, prof. UG. The proposed amendments essentially concerned two annexes to the Regulations: one was purely organisational in nature and related to a change in the library’s structure (already implemented by other legal acts), whilst the other concerned a change to the BUG logo. Prof. Arnold Kłonczyński pointed out that the current logo is not widely recognised by external partners and requires the University of Gdańsk logo to accompany it in all visual communications. As the UG Library is a university-wide unit, the proposed new logo is identical to the University of Gdańsk logo, with the addition of the word ‘Library’. This is intended to ensure a more consistent visual identity and to avoid confusion in communications and an excess of logos in published graphic materials. The Senate approved the motion.

The next three items concerned the establishment of degree programmes at the University of Gdańsk. They were presented by the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs at the University of Gdańsk dr hab. Urszula Patocka-Sigłowy, prof. UG. Item 8 concerned the establishment of first- and second-cycle study programmes and integrated master’s programmes in the fields of study offered at the University of Gdańsk, for both full-time and part-time modes of study. Item 9 concerned the approval of the curriculum for the Intercollegiate Biotechnology Doctoral School of UG and MUG. The proposed changes were largely of a technical nature and related, amongst other things, to the need to bring the terminology used into line with current national standards. Item 10 concerned the approval of postgraduate study programmes offered at the University of Gdańsk to ensure they remain up to date and compatible with market requirements. All three proposals were adopted by the Senate.

Item 11 on the agenda concerned the University of Gdańsk Senate’s opinion on the establishment of university-wide units within the structure of the University Centre for Applied and Interdisciplinary Research. The proposal for the establishment of the Centre for Security and Defence Research was presented by the Vice-Rector, prof. Paweł Antonowicz, whilst the proposal to establish the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning for the Baltic Sea Region was presented by the Dean, prof. Wojciech Bizon. Both proposals received a favourable opinion.

Under the agenda item on open discussion and current affairs, the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Piotr Stepnowski, recalled recent events at the university. He informed the Senators that, at the request of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Anton Zeilinger – an eminent quantum physicist, Nobel Prize laureate and holder of an honorary doctorate from the University of Gdańsk – had been elected a foreign member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. He referred to the 1st Baltic Rectors’ Forum and the signing of the Gdańsk Declaration that marked its conclusion, whilst thanking the individuals and organisations involved in organising this unprecedented event. The Rector also referred to the Metropolitan Act passed on 11 June this year by the Polish Parliament and the development of the National Internationalisation Strategy, in the drafting of which the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations at the University of Gdańsk, dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG, is heavily involved. The Rector has already invited the Senators to the next meeting of the University of Gdańsk Senate, which will take place in the second half of September this year, and to the traditional ‘Fahrenheit University’ parade marking the start of the academic year, ‘Long live science!’, which will take place on 10 October.

Vice-Rector prof. Urszula Patocka-Sigłowy also took the floor, recalling the University of Gdańsk’s success in the ‘Open University’ ranking. The ranking recognised universities that create a friendly, accessible and inclusive learning environment; it was compiled by the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland, and the University of Gdańsk came third in the ranking. The Vice-Rector thanked everyone who had contributed to this success, particularly the students, the Vice-Deans for Student Affairs at the various faculties, and the staff of the Disabilities Office.

At the end of the meeting, Julia Łaska from the Centre for Student and Doctoral Activities invited those present to the Young Science Congress, which is due to begin on Friday, 3 July 2026.