On 11 October 2018, the first students of the International Security and Development programme began their studies at the Jagiellonian University. ISAD is an international MA programme held at the Institute of Political Science and International Relations since the academic year 2018/2019, thanks to EU financial support (Operational Programme Knowledge, Education, Development).
The ceremony was opened by Dr Marcin Grabowski, director of the MA in ISAD Programme. He welcomed Prof. Stanisław Kistryn, JU Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds, Prof. Andrzej Mania, Chairman of the ISAD Programme Board, Prof. Paweł Laidler, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of International and Political Studies for Educational Affairs, and Prof. Robert Kłosowicz, Director of the Institute of Political Science and International Relations, ISAD lecturers and numerous students of the programme.
Afterwards, short speeches were delivered by the Vice-Rector, the Chairman of ISAD Council and the Vice-Dean. They welcomed ISAD students at the Jagiellonian University, wishing them success and joy during the time spent at the oldest university in Poland.
The official part of the ceremony was concluded by a special lecture entitled The Influence of Special Operations on International Relations, delivered by Colonel Piotr Gąstał, former commander of the Special Military Unit GROM. The topic of the lecture fit in with the overall focus of the ISAD programme, emphasising links between military security and development. After the lecture, a question-and-answer session took place.
The second part of the opening ceremony served to integrate and inform its participants. Firstly, a short presentation was given by a representative of the JU Association of International and Area Studies (AIAS) who invited ISAD students to cooperate and engage in joint projects. The meeting concluded with a Q&A session conducted by Dr Marcin Grabowski.
International Security and Development is an international MA programme aimed at educating specialists in the field of global security and developmental cooperation. It responds to the need of in-depth reflection on complexity of interrelation between security and development. This programme proved attractive, as evidenced by over 100 applications from candidates of more than 30 countries. Among them, 46 has started their studies at the Jagiellonian University.
