Students at meeting with rectoral authorities
Representatives of student organisations, including the International Student Network, which brings together international students, met on 17 November with the Rector of the University of Wrocław, prof. Robert Olkiewicz, and the UWr Vice-Rector for student affairs, prof. Maciej Cesarz. The date was no coincidence, as 17 November is International Students’ Day.
Urszula Broda, head of the International Office, who attended the meeting, emphasises that it was intended to familiarise the University authorities with the activities of student organisations, but above all to listen to their position regarding the functioning of international students in the academic community.
During the meeting, the need to strengthen dialogue and participation in decisions of international students was pointed out. To this end, the Student Self-Government emphasised the role of the creation of a representative of the University Student Self-Government Board for international students, who will be presented to international students in the near future so that they can report their problems and their desire to be active for the University to him.
Stella Krzemień from the Student Self-Government, who attended the meeting, became this proxy. The meeting in the Senate Hall discussed the important role of international students at our University, highlighting their unique contribution to the academic and cultural life of the community. In doing so, it was highlighted that international students, despite their numbers, are underrepresented.
Among other things, plans were discussed to create a new place, ‘free space’, next to the “Dwudziestolatka” student house, as a space for the integration of students and the organisation of various events and the integration of foreign students with Poles in the student house. The local government initiated discussions on the need for a comprehensive source of information for foreign students, with an emphasis on helping the local government, especially at the beginning of the academic year. – We came to the conclusion that there is no need for us to be another organisation arranging events for foreign students (thus competing with BWM and ISN). A better option would be for our self-government to support the already existing organisations and cooperate with them to increase the effectiveness of their activities for foreign students, believes Stella Krzemień from the University of Wrocław Student Self-Government. The actions already taken by the self-government will become the starting point for further discussions and actions to improve the living and learning conditions for international students at our University. The Student Self-Government runs social media and communicates all communications in a bilingual manner. He also declared his willingness to deepen the relationship with the International Office. Also present at the meeting were mgr Marta Bakun, Student Ombudsman, Jagoda Andrzejewska from NZS, Katarzyna Kubacka from AZS, Kacper Górak – on behalf of Nomen Omen Artistic and Theatre Ensemble. From ISN, Aleksandra Szymczyna, Marta Nowacka, Khatia Stepanovi and Adel Fahe were present at the meeting
Translated by Bartłomiej Dłubak (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
