Inauguration of the Lower Silesian EURAXESS Network project
On 9 April 2026 in Oratorium Marianum an inauguration conference for the Lower Silesian EURAXESS Network project took place. The project is funded by FERS and is a part of the NAWA – EURAXESS Network program. The event, organised by the International Office, has gathered the representatives of the academic community and regional institutions, as well as scientists interested in the internationalisation of research and academic mobility.
The conference began with and a networking session over coffee, which created a space for first conversations and an exchange of experiences. The official opening of the event was done by prof. Patrycja Matusz, the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation of the University of Wrocław. On behalf of the partners of the program, the guests were also welcomed by prof. Marzena Dominiak, the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation of the Wroclaw Medical University. City officials and other regional authorities have also spoken – Mrs Monika Sochacka from the Wrocław Academic Centre and Stanisław Huskowski, the Plenipotentiary of the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship for Relations with Higher Education Institutions. In their speeches they emphasised the significance of international collaboration as well as the role of initiatives like EURAXESS in the building of attractive communities for scientists around the world.
In the next part of the program dr Piotr Kępski, the Director of the Institutional Programmes Office at the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), presented the assumptions and ways of operating of the EURAXESS network, bringing attention to its relevance in supporting the mobility of scientists and the development of their research career. After that prof. Patrycja Matusz presented the main goals and initiatives of the project.
After a coffee break, the participants had a chance to listen to the speech by Vitaliya Bondarenko, representing EURAXESS Germany, who presented the national and regional perspective of the functioning of the network, sharing good practices and experiences from other European countries.
The next part of the conference was dedicated to the experiences of scientists. Prof. David Blaschke presented conclusions from the Bridge Professorship program, focusing on the matters of academic mobility and international collaboration. Next dr Emre Can Alptekin shared his personal academic journey – from the times he was a foreign student to becoming a scientist leading research at the University of Wrocław, emphasising the importance of institutional support and an open academic community.
The conference was led by Jakub Zieliński, the coordinator of the Erasmus+ InnHUB Wrocław/Opole project.
The event ended with a short summary and an invitation to further collaboration within EURAXESS network. The meeting finished with a networking lunch, which allowed the participants to deepen their connections and discussion about future initiatives and projects.
The conference marked an important step in the strengthening of international collaboration in the region and in building a coherent support system for scientists in Lower Silesia.
Photo report by Paweł Piotrowski.
Translated by Julia Siwiec (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
Date of publication: 10.04.2026
Published by: EJK
