On 20-21 October 2022 the General Assembly of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities was held at the Jagiellonian University. The meeting of the academic network was attended by rectors and vice-rectors of its member institutions.
The participants were welcomed by the JU Vice-Rector for International Relations Prof. Dorota Malec, who expressed her satisfaction that for the first time the Jagiellonian University was hosting the most important meeting of the prestigious network of European Universities. A welcome address was also delivered by the Chair of the Guild, the Rector of the University of Oslo Prof. Svein Stølen, who pointed out to the long and rich academic history of the Jagiellonian University, which provides a very good basis for discussions about contemporary challenges of the European academia. The meeting participants also included JU Vice-Rectors Prof. Armen Edigarian and Prof. Jarosław Górniak, as well as the JU Rector’s Proxy Prof. Stanisław Kistryn, one of the initiators and founders of The Guild.
During the two-day meeting, members of the Guild discussed such issues as rethinking inclusiveness from Ukraine to Western Balkans: Universities and the challenges of reconstruction, values and principles governing European research, collaboration with the ARUA - African Research Universities Alliance, Poland’s added value to European research and innovation, as well as European research and innovation priorities. The guest speakers included the Chair of the Central Council for Science and Higher Education Prof. Marcin Pałys, the Polish MP and the former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland Jadwiga Emilewicz, and the acting Director General of DG Research & Innovation at the European Commission Signe Ratso. During the General Assembly, the participants also discussed some crucial issues regarding The Guild’s activities, including the priorities, workplan, budget and policies of the network.
Founded in 2016, the Guild comprises twenty one of Europe’s most distinguished research-intensive universities in more than a dozen countries, and is dedicated to enhancing the voice of academic institutions, their researchers and their students. The Guild is committed to the pursuit of excellence, the importance of truth-seeking and trust-building as the foundation of public life, and the creation of new knowledge for the benefit of society, culture, and economic growth.
