Two Pomeranian universities, the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk, have signed a letter of intent with regard to scientific cooperation and a consolidation of activities aimed at a federation or full integration. The letter was signed by the university rectors Prof. Jerzy Gwizdała, of the University of Gdańsk, and Prof. Marcin Gruchała of the Medical University of Gdańsk.
The cooperation will concern scientific undertakings and activities regarding the transfer of scientific results to the economy, as well as didactic activities, including the creation of new research and didactic units. The universities intend to undertake joint activities aimed at fuller cooperation and possible consolidation or future federation. The action plan is being devised by a specially appointed team headed by the Dean of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG, Prof. Igor Konieczny.
At present, the universities are involved in close cooperation, which has resulted in joint projects and scientific undertakings and, most importantly, in the joint Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG&MUG, one of the leading faculties of biotechnology in Poland which in the last parametric evaluation by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education received the highest A+ category. The Faculty also received a distinction for the quality of education, awarded to the most outstanding institutions in the country by the Polish Accreditation Committee, and Biotechnology received the title of the Best Field of Study, awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The Faculty’s excellent scientific and didactic results have also led it to receive European funds as part of the Infrastructure and Environment Programme to build a UG Institute of Biotechnology. As a result, the UG’s Baltic Campus has gained one of the most modern research and didactic buildings in Poland, equipped with specialist workrooms, laboratories and didactic rooms.
The recently signed letter of intent is aimed at strengthening this cooperation:
“Our universities have been in involved in cooperation for many years and currently we wish to expand this cooperation and devise joint, more detailed solutions in the fields of didactics, research or transfer of technology to the economy. Should this prove beneficial for both universities, a possible future federation of universities may ensue. The signed letter of intent is also a reply to the project for a new law on higher education, by which interdisciplinary federations of universities and research institutions gain scientific and didactic strength”, said the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, Prof. Jerzy Gwizdała.
Dr Beata Czechowska-Derkacz, UG spokesperson
Photo: GUMed
