On 9 October, JU Rector Prof. Jacek Popiel met with the Consul General of the Republic of France Cédric Peltier together with Magdalena Bożek from the Institut Français de Pologne à Cracovie. The meeting, held in Collegium Novum, was also attended by JU Vice-Rector for International Relations Prof. Dorota Malec and Director of the JU Institute of French Studies Prof. Wacław Rapak.
During the meeting, Prof. Dorota Malec discussed the long history of collaboration between the Jagiellonian University and French academic and scientific centres, stressing that the JU conducts teaching activities that allow students to familiarise themselves with the French language and culture and spearheads numerous research initiatives together with partner institutions from France. Moreover, the Jagiellonian University cooperates with French higher education institutions within the framework of many international research networks. In this context, she recalled the visit paid to the oldest Polish university by the French President Emmanuel Macron on 4 February 2020, during which he delivered a speech on the concept of a ‘European university’, embodied by the Una Europa network co-founded by Jagiellonian University.
Prof. Jacek Popiel expressed his conviction that the most important initiative organised jointly by the Jagiellonian University and representatives of French diplomacy in the near future is the award ceremony of the Goncourt Prize, which will be held on 25 October. JU Rector stated that the fact that the event will be attended by members of the Goncourt Academy is a source of great joy and pride for the academic community, particularly since it contributes to increasing the popularity of French language and culture, making it a ‘counterweight’ of sorts for the English influences that are currently dominant in Europe.
Cédric Peltier, who was appointed the Consul General less than three weeks ago, emphasised that meeting with representatives of the Jagiellonian University was a priority for him, considering that the oldest university in Poland is recognised in France as one of the leading academic and cultural institutions in Poland. In relation to the previously discussed award ceremony, he assured the participants of the meeting that the upcoming, jubilee edition of the Goncourt Prize will be a very extraordinary event and expressed his readiness to take part in its preparation.
