A chance to end the protest
The occupation of the teaching halls in the building at ul. Szewska by student protesters in defense of Free Palestine has been ongoing since June 2024. Today there was a chance to end this protest.
It should be emphasised that the university authorities have never been indifferent to the demands, but have strongly called for the legalization of the protest under the rules described in Article 106 sections 2-5 of the Law of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science.
Authorities of other Polish universities have also repeatedly expressed their positions on the situation in the Middle East in joint statements. Everyone is committed to ending human rights violations, bloody terrorist attacks and military actions against civilians.
During the occupation of the teaching halls, the participating students enjoyed full rights, and some of them won a seat in the UWr Student Parliament in the elections.
Talks with the occupying students have been ongoing at the University of Wrocław since September 2024, with the participation of Vice-Rector for internationalization, prof. Patrycja Matusz, Dean of the Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences, Prof. Paweł Klint, Vice-Rector for student affairs, dr Łukasz Prus, and most recently UWr Rector prof. Robert Olkiewicz.
In addition, student representatives have also held meetings in the Ministries and Parliament of the Republic of Poland to gain support for the Palestinian academic community. This resulted in a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Rectors to support Palestinians at Polish universities.
UWr Rector prof. Robert Olkiewicz wrote to Mr. Mahmoud Khalifa, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Republic of Poland, in a letter dated 29 October 2024, informing him that the University of Wrocław understands the Foreign Ministry’s appeal to increase the number of scholarship recipients from Palestine. Therefore, the UWr Rector has proposed an additional 20 places for Palestinian students with a reduction of up to 50% in the students houses fee and reduced tuition under the terms described in Appendix 7 of the Ordinance No. 13/2024 of the Rector of the University of Wrocław.
The academic debate “Porozmawiajmy o Bliskim Wschodzie” organised on 30 October 2024, under the auspices of the Rector of the University of Wrocław, seems to have been a breakthrough, which was highly appreciated and well received also by the protesting students who decided to take part in it. More: https://uwr.edu.pl/en/academic-debate-about-middle-east-summary-and-audio-recording/
Participants in the debate appreciated the extremely high level of the discussion, in which, as the student protesters said, each statement was substantive and showed the problem in a way that reflected the real situation, and given its dynamism, this seems extremely difficult. This is due to our scholars, who have clarified the complicated threads of the past and present situation in the Middle East.
The words of the Rector, prof. Robert Olkiewicz, about support for Palestinian students were welcomed.
– This is a unique gesture on a national scale that distinguishes our university and is a source of pride for both the authorities and the protesting UWr community,” the students said, hailing it as a joint success.
The scientific discourse has provided a solid foundation for further discussions.
On 14 November 2024, on the 165th day of the occupation of the teaching halls, UWr Rector prof. Robert Olkiewicz met with representatives of the protesting students, as well as a Representative of the UWr Student Self-Government Board, Vice-Rector for internationalization, prof. Patrycja Matusz and Vice-Rector for student affairs, dr Łukasz Prus.
In the talks, it was agreed that the parties would seek to reach an agreement and end the protest.
To this end, work has been undertaken to establish a rectoral committee for ethical evaluation of cooperation with foreign universities, which is to include student representatives.
Under the arrangements, the protesting students left one of the occupied halls of the Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology on 14 November 2024.
University authorities believe in a swift end to the protest based on academic dialogue.
Complied by Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz, UWr spokeswoman.
Date of publication: 25.11.2025
Added by: M.J.
