The creation of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk is one of the most significant events in the academic history of Gdańsk and Pomerania. The vision of the Union’s development and the next relevant steps were introduced to the Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, who talked on 12 March this year with the Rectors: Prof. Marcin Gruchała (MUG), Prof. Krzysztof Wilde (GUT) and Prof. Piotr Stepnowski (UG). The meeting was also attended by the Director of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk, Prof. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska, and by Katarzyna Zygmunt, the Deputy Director of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk.

– The creation of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk is an ambitious and necessary initiative, said Minister Przemysław Czarnek during the online meeting. – We intend to support the Rectors of the MUG, Gdańsk Tech and UG in their pursuit of the main goal, which is the federalisation of the region's strongest universities. I am positive that the creation of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk and close cooperation between the three academic centres in Gdańsk will translate into the increase of the quality of Polish science and higher education.

During the meeting, the assumptions to the Union’s activity and the prospects for the development of the member universities were discussed. The Minister also virtually presented the Rectors with a cheque confirming a PLN 2.98 m subsidy for the Union’s activities. The funds were obtained within the project Supporting university consolidation processes co-financed by the European Social Fund and implemented as part of the operational programme Knowledge Education Development.

As emphasised by the Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk, the creation of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk with the largest academic centres in Pomerania was another important step towards strengthening the successful long-term cooperation between the UG, Gdańsk Tech and MUG.
– I am convinced that by using our mutual potential more intensively and effectively, we will soon be able to compete successfully with the best universities in Europe and in the world. In Pomerania, we want to create attractive jobs and places of study offering scientists friendly conditions for development and achieving their aspirations at any stage of their careers – emphasised Prof. Marcin Gruchała, Rector of the MUG.

– The plans for the development of cooperation between the universities in the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk are far-reaching and cover many aspects – added Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of the Gdańsk Tech. – Our most significant joint mission is to build a strong academic centre in Gdańsk. We want to foster relations with industry and business, build Pomerania’s economic strength, assist in solving the region’s social problems and make the most talented high school graduates and young scientists choose Gdańsk as a suitable place to study and build their professional careers.

– The discussion with the Minister permits the assumption that the way the universities in Gdańsk perform consolidation activities within the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk of universities not only met with approval by the Ministry, but also aroused keen interest – said Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the UG. – I do think that the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk created by our universities will be a model project, whose example will be followed by other universities in Poland.

In autumn 2020, the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk created the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk. The Union’s main objective is to build jointly Gdańsk's leading position as an academic centre in Poland and abroad, and the initiators of the Union’s creation, that is the rectors of the academic centres mentioned above, underlined that the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk opened the way towards the future federalisation of the universities in the region.

– Through our joint action, in the future we could be one of the strongest academic centres in Poland – said the Union’s Chairman, Prof. Krzysztof Wilde. – This would permit us to make academic Gdańsk much more attractive and highly recognised, and enable the dynamic development and more efficient procurement of funds for academic and teaching activity.
Photo: Krzysztof Krzempek/PG