Gdynia Maritime University GMU

A session of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools (KRASP) was held at the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) on 26-28 June 2024. The event was attended by HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit.

The first sitting was devoted to a summary of activities undertaken by KRASP in 2023. The Rectors listened to the report on activities carried out in 2020-2024 which they later accepted. The document consists of a summary of the actions taken by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools to improve academic science and teaching and benefit its member universities. It also outlines the most important financial information connected with cooperation with national and foreign partners, projects, and communication.

The Chair of KRASP and two deputies for the term 2024-2028 were elected during the second sitting. As in the previous term, HM The Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Professor Bogumiła Kaniewska, was chosen to lead the Conference for the next four years, whilst HM the Rector of AGH University of Kraków, Professor Jerzy Lis, and HM The Rector of Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Michał Zasada, were made her deputies.

HM The Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, Professor Adam Mężyk, was made an honorary Chair of KRASP. He additionally received an award “For Meritorious Service to Maritime Education” presented to him by HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit, for his outstanding leadership during the turbulent times of the 2020-2024 term.

Also held on the first day was an open session devoted to discussing amendments to the Act, the quality of education, university financing, common actions taken by KRASP and The General Council for Higher Education, and open universities. This part of the Session was attended by the Minister for Science and Higher Education, Mr Dariusz Wieczorek, representatives of the Ministry, MPs and institutions representing academic circles.

The final sitting was open to the public and organised in the form of a discussion hosted by SGH entitled “Universities for Business and Business for Universities”. An address was made by the Chair of the Rectors Conference of Armenia, HM The Rector of Yerevan State University, Professor Hovhannes Hovhannisyan. Further speeches from the representatives of The SGH Corporate Partners Club followed.

The Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools was established on 7 June 1997 by the Rectors of 73 academic schools - higher education institutions of various types who were its members at the time. Currently, the members of KRASP are the rectors of the 109 Polish Universities. A further 8 universities have the status of associate members. KRASP strives to inspire and coordinate cooperation between member universities and represent the common interests of academic schools.