From June 11 to 13, 2025, the city of Castelo Branco, Portugal, hosted the first B4EU Forum, one of the most important events organized within the framework of this European university alliance. The Forum brought together over 150 participants from 9 partner universities, offering a platform to strengthen relationships, reflect on the first six months of collaboration, and discuss joint plans for the coming years.
The program included meetings with regional partners, roundtable debates featuring representatives from other invited alliances, as well as sessions of the Alliance Councils and teams working on individual Work Packages (WPs).
Welcoming the delegations, Prof. Antonio Fernandes, Rector of the Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (IPCB), emphasized:
“Building alliances with regional partners has always been part of our strategy, which is why their participation in this year’s Forum is so important,” and added:
“We believe this first B4EU Forum is the largest international event in IPCB’s history — something we are proud of, and we hope to host the eleventh edition in the future.”
He also offered symbolic and heartfelt words to all Forum participants:
“‘All’ is one of my favorite words - short, yet rich in meaning, diversity, and even contrasts. It is my great pleasure to see you ALL here today - welcome to ALL of you.”
The University of Economics in Katowice was represented by:
- Prof. dr hab. Celina Olszak - Member of the B4EU Rectors’ Council
- Prof. dr hab. Wojciech Dyduch - Member of the Rectors’ Council and Steering Committee
- Paweł Kadłubiak – Member of the Administrative Council of B4EU
- Dr hab. Artur Walasik, prof. UE - Member of the Academic Council of B4EU
- Dr hab. Monika Klimontowicz, prof. UE - Member of WP3 team, Academic Coordinator of WP6
- Dr Krystyna Mitręga-Niestrój - Academic Coordinator of WP10
- Karolina Borys - Administrative Coordinator of WP10
- Dariusz Rajfura - Member of WP2, Task 2.1
- Magdalena Skowron - Leader of Task 11.2 in WP11
- Yelyzaveta Kashlieva - Administrative Coordinator of WP4
- Wiktor Dutkiewicz - Member of the Students’ Council
- Miłosz Serafin - Member of the Students’ Council
- Nguyen Hoa - Member of the Doctoral Students’ Council
- Edyta Lachowicz-Santos - Institutional Coordinator of the Alliance
We are pleased to announce that the next B4EU Forum will take place in Katowice from June 22 to 25, 2026. We are already looking forward to planning the event together and welcoming our partners from across Europe!
Join us