04 listopada 2019
On 7th-8th November representatives of 4EU+ Alliance and other consortia, which were selected for funding in the first pilot ‘European Universities’ call for proposals, will meet in Brussels to launch this initiative. In June the European Commission selected 17 European University alliances, which will obtain funding for their projects to become the ‘European Universities’ of the future.
The 4EU+ mission is to develop a barrier-free and continuously deepening cooperation in education, research and innovation within the Alliance. Through this collaboration and working in partnerships, the Alliance serves society to the highest level with our core values, e.g. academic and research freedom, collaboration in an interdisciplinary approach, integrity, creativity and openness, and internationalisation. The 4EU+ Alliance is among the consortia selected for funding in the first pilot ‘European Universities’ call for proposals, launched as part of the 2019 Erasmus+ programme. Out of 54 proposals submitted in response to the call, the European Commission selected 17 European University alliances, which will obtain funding for their projects to become the ‘European Universities’ of the future.
The official Erasmus+ “European Universities” kick-off event will start on 7th November in Brussels. Among attendants of the meeting there will be Rectors, Vice-Rectors and students representing universities from the selected consortia, as well as EU politicians responsible for the higher education area and Tibor Navracsics, EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
The 4EU+ Alliance will be represented by Rectors or members of Steering Committee from the alliance’s universities, as well as students representatives.
The meeting will be divided into two parts. The aim of the first one is to bring together the 17 selected European Universities to discuss the way forward for their European Universities and for the European Universities Initiative as a whole. The attendants will talk about the support they need from their Member States and the European Commission. The session will include interactive world-café style discussions on the transformative power of the European Universities initiative and how to lead these changes.
The second part of the meeting will be concentrated on the information session on the second call for proposals on the European Universities initiative, followed by panel discussions on the transformative role of the European Universities initiative for higher education.
On 8th November there will be a meeting of the managers of pilot “European Universities” projects and representatives of administrative staff of the universities who will be responsible for managing the projects.
Source: www.en.uw.edu.pl
Fifteen European associations of universities have joined efforts to call for an ambitious “Horizon Europe” budget that would invest in excellent, cross-border research, education and innovation. More than 300 universities, research centres and other organisations signed this call. One of them is the University of Warsaw.
“Seize our common future” is a call of European scientific institutions to strengthen the R&I investment at European level and urge them to raise the budget of the next EU Programme for R&I (2021-2027), “Horizon Europe”, to at least €120 billion. “Horizon Europe” is a planned 7-year European Union scientific research initiative. Among the aims of this programme there are: supporting the EU’s science and technology base, as well as the research area in Europe, enhancing the innovative capacity, and meeting citizens’ priorities.
As it’s written in the document, “even though a greater amount would be needed to solve the big challenges mentioned above and match the programme’s ambitions, this commitment would give the right signal to boost the public and private R&I investment in Europe. It would also demonstrate Europe’s leadership to rise to the challenges ahead. The European R&I community is fully committed in playing its part together with societal actors”.
More than 300 universities, research centres and other organizations have signed the call. One of the #EUInvestInKnowledge campaign’s participants is the University of Warsaw.
Source: www.en.uw.edu.pl
30 października 2019
The University of Warsaw received a grant in the first competition in the framework of the “Excellence initiative – research university” programme. Experts evaluating the UW application gave it the highest evaluation score.
The possibility of receiving the research university status was introduced by the new Law on Higher Education and Science. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education opened the call in March. Higher Education Institutions could submit their application from 15th May to 24th July. Out of 20 applications submitted in response to the call, the Ministry has selected 10 HEIs. The selected HEIs, including the University of Warsaw, will receive a state subsidy increased by 10% annually for 6 years (2020-2026).
The main objective of the programme is to identify HEIs in Poland that have the highest potential to improve their quality of research and teaching, strengthen international collaboration and develop management practices promoting scientific excellence.
“The excellence initiative complements other existing UW strategic activities that have been taking place at the university for a few years,” says Prof. Marcin Pałys, UW rector. “We develop our infrastructure within the multi-annual development plan ‘The University of Warsaw 2016-2025’, and modern education thanks to the University’s Integrated Development Programme (2018-2022). As a university, we participate in the 4EU+ Alliance that was selected as a European university. We are planning to create a federation with the Medical University of Warsaw. We are involved in developing projects that were awarded European Research Council grants and other international initiatives, e.g. Knowledge and Innovation Community,” he adds.
The UW application, selected by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, was widely consulted.
“We asked our scientists to indicate fields in which our university should develop and carry out research. They pointed out strategic areas on which we want to focus in the foreseen future. They represent both exact and natural sciences, as well as humanities and social sciences,” stresses Prof. Maciej Duszczyk, UW vice-rector.
Approximately 150 employees were working together on this proposal.
Thanks to the “Excellence initiative – research university” grant, UW will develop five priority research areas addressing main contemporary societal challenges.
Thanks to the grant, it will be possible to:
- set a scholarship programme for scientists that includes funds to create a research team after returning to the University of Warsaw;
- co-fund the costs of trips to conferences and schools for employees, doctoral candidates, and students;
- develop the existing internal grant programme at the university;
- provide soft skills training (e.g. writing articles, presenting scientific results, project management);
- set a programme for visiting professors;
- open new study programmes related to priority research areas;
- finance the scholarship system and research camps for the best candidates;
- open a kindergarten in Ochota and childcare centers in the city center.
UW strenghts
The University of Warsaw was highly evaluated among other HEIs taking part in the competition. Evaluators stressed the fact that UW has already been carrying out world-class research in areas considered as priority research areas. What is more, they tackle global challenges. Evaluators indicated strengths of the University of Warsaw, e.g. good research performance, international collaboration, promising potential, modern research infrastructure, and excellent location.The project that UW is planing will certainly have a positive impact.
Source: www.en.uw.edu.pl
21 października 2019
Position of postdoc in the EURAMET (EMPIR) Project 18SIB04 „Towards quantum-based realizations of the pascal”, financed by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, is open for application. Project leader: Prof. dr. Bogumił Jeziorski. Deadline for applications: 14 November 2019. For more info see >> pdf
16 października 2019
In October, the “We Are All Equal” social campaign has been launched. It aims to emphasize the diversity of the UW community and equality among its members.
The University of Warsaw is a place where there is no room for any kind of discrimination. We strive to create a friendly, peaceful, and safe atmosphere where everyone, regardless of their nationality, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, and religion, will feel comfortable.
People who experience discrimination will find support at the university. In 2011, the University of Warsaw appointed its ombudsman, a fully independent and neutral university officer, to whom students, faculty, and administrative staff may turn for assistance in matters related to the university and its community, informally and confidentially. The ombudsman supports the staff and students in problem-solving and sees to it that all members of the academic community are treated fairly and honestly. Since 2016, UW has its Equal Opportunity Chief Specialist who is engaged in anti-discrimination policy, equal treatment, and diversity at our University. This person takes steps to fully respect and implement the principle of equal treatment, and to prevent discrimination. At the University of Warsaw, there is also the Rector’s Committee for Preventing Discrimination. More information >>
The “We Are All Equal” campaign consists of a set of posters and social media activities. Materials will also appear on university websites and fan pages. Members of our community, representing groups particularly at the risk of discrimination and unequal treatment, featured in a video.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of discrimination, hate speech, mobbing, and how to counteract these phenomena.
The campaign was created in cooperation with many university units. The UW Promotion Office, the project coordinator, organised it in close cooperation with Dr. Anna Cybulko (academic ombudsman), Dr. Julia Kubisa (equal opportunity chief specialist), and Magdalena Miksa (anti-mobbing coordinator).
The campaign is part of the activities implementing the European Charter for Researchers and the HR Excellence in Research strategy at the University of Warsaw. The strategy includes the implementation of activities in the area of equal treatment and increasing knowledge and awareness in the field of anti-discrimination.
More information
Source: www.en.uw.edu.pl
10 października 2019
The UW Volunteer Centre team organises a meeting for all members of our community during which it presents its offer and encourages other people to get involved. It takes place on 10th October in front of the Old Library building.
Students, doctoral students, and employees are invited to stop by and have a conversation with the Volunteer Centre of the University of Warsawmembers. The aim is to get to know each other and show that helping and engaging in social activities can be easy.
Participants of the meeting can:
- learn how to make zero-waste gadgets for dogs that will be delivered to a shelter in Warsaw,
- find out more about the Volunteer Centre of the University of Warsaw and learn how to join it.
UW Volunteer Centre gives a lot of possibilities. One can contribute to the life of local communities, support and help others, meet great people from around the world, discover and develop own potential and acquire skills and competences.
The event takes place on 10th October from 9:30 to afternoon on the Main Campus of the University of Warsaw, in a tent in front of the Old University of Warsaw Library.
Find out more about the Volunteer Centre of the University of Warsaw >>
Source: www.en.uw.edu.pl
Position of post-doc in the OPUS 16 project of no. 2018/31/B/ST4/00406 entitled „Interactions of statins with biological membranes – implications for safe systems of drug delivery” financed by Polish National Science Centre is open for application. Project leader: prof. Renata Bilewicz. Deadline for applications: 20 November 2019. For more info see >> pdf
09 października 2019
Position of PhD student in the project entitled „Modelling of crystal and magnetic local structure in potential quantum spin liquid (QSL) alpha-RuCl3” financed by National Science Centre (NCN) is open for application. Project leader: dr Wojciech Sławiński. Deadline for applications: 10 November 2019. For more info see >> pdf
Position of adjunct (group of research staff) in the project entitled „Modelling of crystal and magnetic local structure in potential quantum spin liquid (QSL) alpha-RuCl3” financed by National Science Centre (NCN) is open for application. Project leader: dr Wojciech Sławiński. Deadline for applications: 10 November 2019. For more info see >> pdf
08 października 2019
International long term students are invited to take part in the communication and multiculturalism workshop. This event will take place on 11th-12th October and 25th-25th October.
Students from abroad who get an education at the University of Warsaw have a unique possibility to learn more about Poland, the city of Warsaw, culture shock experience, communication in a multicultural environment.
The event is organised by the UW Welcome Point.It will consist of two integral parts: cultural and communicational. During both segments of the workshop, participants will be introduced to various theories regarding culture and get the practical tools to understand them.
There are two dates dedicated to a particular group of students:
- 11th-12th October – first-year long term students of the first cycle (BA) and Foundation Year. Registration >>
- 25th-26th October – second cycle (MA), long term students of 2nd and 3rd year of the first cycle (BA), long term students of 4th and 5th year of uniform master-level studies. Registration >>
Both workshops will take place at the University of Warsaw Library (56/66 Dobra Street) on both days from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
More information is available at welcome.uw.edu.pl/communication-and-multiculturalism.
Source: www.en.uw.edu.pl
