photo: Paweł Piotrowski
Arqus: In Wrocław, European guests discuss integration and diversity.
As part of the Arqus European University Alliance, the group WP 10 “Inclusion and Diversity Hub” is actively working to ensure that all Arqus activities are accessible and inclusive! Expanding access and promoting diversity across member universities is pivotal for the Arqus European University Alliance. At the same time, Arqus aims to raise awareness within local and regional communities about various forms of inequality, issues of excluded groups, diversity and integration. Arqus also aims to influence the politics of inclusion on a regional and national level.
From 5th to 7th February, the University of Wrocław and our beautiful city will host members of WP 10 Arqus! They attend meetings focused on accessibility and diversity.
We’re proud that on the first day of the visit, scientists, administrative staff and students from the University of Wrocław had the opportunity to present the University’s efforts in promoting accessibility, addressing inequality, and offering psychological and institutional support to our community.
Dr Łukasz Prus, the University’s rector’s representative for the safety of students and doctoral students, presented “Równy i pomocny UWr” (Equal and Supportive University of Wrocław) program to participants of WP 10 Arqus. It consisted of procedures and resources available to the University to counter discrimination and promote safety and secure environment for all. Maria Kaczmarek from the University’s psychological counselling service shared insight into the professional and free mental health support offered to students and bout methods for those in psychological crisis. Jessica Moś from the Support Team for Students and Doctoral Students with Disabilities, discussed how the University assists members of the academic community with disabilities. Ewa Zając, a student from the Faculty of Social Sciences, talked about the accommodations she receives as a student with a disability. Arsen Yasenko, a doctoral student from the Faculty of Social Sciences, spoke about support for students from Ukraine, who relocated to Poland following the outbreak of the war. Dr Dariusz Szrejder from the Institute of Sociology of the Faculty of Social Sciences, a member of the “Wrocław Without Barriers” Office, a long-time advocate for the people with disabilities and an initiator of the “Disability Simulator” laboratory. He presented not only equipment used for safe evacuation of the people with disabilities, but also simulation tools – such as special glasses – which allowed to experience what it’s like to live with visual impairments. The meeting also featured a presentation by prof. Justyna Deszcz-Tryhubczak and dr Mateusz Świetlicki, who spoke about the “Seen and Heard: Young People’s Voices of Freedom of Expression” educational project. The said project is coordinated by the University of Malta in cooperation with the University of Wrocław, Humboldt University of Berlin and Amnesty International Poland. The project is funded by the European Commission.
Translated by Marcin Dolata (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice under the supervision of Maria Kozan.
