The 2nd BAUHAUS4EU Forum was taking place at the University of Economics in Katowice. It was an international meeting of representatives of the partner universities of the BAUHAUS4EU Alliance - A European University for Resilient, Sustainable, Inclusive and Beautiful Regions. This year’s edition of the event brought together representatives of 10 universities from 9 European countries, including students, doctoral students, academic and administrative staff, representatives of university authorities and regional partners. The University of Economics in Katowice had the honour of hosting the second BAUHAUS4EU Forum. The event provided a space for dialogue, cooperation and exchange of experience concerning the future of European higher education, regional transformation, sustainable development, innovation and the creation of resilient, inclusive and beautiful places to live.
2nd BAUHAUS4EU Forum in Katowice [report]
Day one
The first day of the Forum was marked by the arrival of participants in Katowice and an evening integration meeting, which made it possible to begin the event in a positive atmosphere, renew relationships with colleagues who had not seen one another for a long time, and prepare for the following days of joint work within the Alliance.
During the evening meeting, held in Silesian Park, the guests were welcomed by representatives of the authorities of the University of Economics in Katowice: HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak, Vice-Rector for Science and Academic Staff Development prof. dr hab. Maciej Nowak, Vice-Rector for Teaching and International Relations prof. dr hab. Wojciech Dyduch, Vice-Rector for Development and Cooperation with External Environment dr hab. Robert Wolny, prof. UE, as well as Chancellor Paweł Kadłubiak.
The meeting was accompanied by numerous conversations, memories and moving moments, while the intimate atmosphere fostered relationship-building and the integration of representatives of the partner universities. It was a time not only for the official welcome of participants, but also for pleasant meetings, conversations after a longer break and the joint beginning of the next stage of cooperation within the BAUHAUS4EU Alliance.
Day two
Opening of the Green Campus
The second day of the event began with the ceremonial opening of the BAUHAUS4EU Green Campus space at the University of Economics in Katowice. The newly arranged campus space was created with the academic community in mind - students, doctoral students, staff, as well as national and international partners. It is intended to serve integration, learning, cooperation, relaxation and activities related to climate education.
During the inauguration of the Green Campus, a mural inspired by the idea of BAUHAUS4EU was also unveiled. The work, created by Wojciech Walczyk, refers to the values of the Alliance: aesthetics, inclusiveness, sustainable development, resilience and beauty. One of the main motifs of the mural is a windmill – an element of the BAUHAUS4EU logo, symbolising change, energy, youth, transformation and regional development.
The guests gathered for the inauguration were welcomed by HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak and University Chancellor Paweł Kadłubiak, who emphasised the importance of creating open, friendly and inspiring academic spaces that support dialogue, cooperation and the idea of sustainable development.
This is a place created with learning, cooperation, dialogue and meetings with partners from Poland and across Europe in mind. Today, we are opening a new chapter. We are inaugurating a space that will continue to develop and evolve, just like our Alliance, which is constantly growing stronger and expanding its activities. The fact that this inauguration is taking place during the second BAUHAUS4EU Forum in Katowice, bringing together representatives of 10 universities from 9 countries who are jointly shaping the future of our European University, is of particular significance. The Green Campus reflects the vision and values that form the foundation of the BAUHAUS4EU initiative - a European university for resilient, inclusive, sustainable and beautiful regions, said HM the Rector Celina M. Olszak.
Let us create this place in accordance with the values of the New European Bauhaus. Let it be sustainable, inclusive and beautiful. For many months, we met, exchanged ideas and worked together to find a symbolic way of capturing the very essence of our Alliance and translating it into visual language. Today, this space stands as a symbol of that commitment, emphasised Chancellor Paweł Kadłubiak.
International Conference “Transforming Regions for a Sustainable and Beautiful Europe”
On the same day, the International Conference “Transforming Regions for a Sustainable and Beautiful Europe” was held, constituting one of the main points of the Forum programme. The event was also open to the wider academic and regional community from outside the Alliance. The conference was devoted to regional transformation, sustainable development, innovation, and the role of universities and university alliances in building Europe’s future.
The conference guests were welcomed by:
- HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak,
- dr Łukasz Gołota - Deputy Director of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange,
- Dr. Ing. Tonia Schmitz - Secretary General of the BAUHAUS4EU Alliance.
We want to create a truly European academic community - open, inclusive, resilient to challenges and capable of generating positive change in the regions we serve. The name BAUHAUS reminds us that innovation emerges where different perspectives meet. It also reminds us that creativity flourishes when different disciplines, cultures and ideas come together around a common goal. I believe that this Forum provides an excellent opportunity not only to discuss our achievements to date, but also to reflect on our ambitions and plans for the future, emphasised HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak.
The conference programme included expert speeches, a fireside chat and panel discussions with representatives of academia, business, public institutions, regional partners and students. Participants discussed, among other topics, the transformation of Silesia, the role of university alliances in the European Higher Education Area, and what kind of university Europe needs today.
One of the important points of the programme was the panel discussion “What kind of university does Europe need today? Insights from global, regional and student perspectives”, moderated by HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak. The discussion was attended by representatives of partner universities, regional institutions and students, who jointly reflected on the challenges facing contemporary universities, their role in transformation processes and the importance of international cooperation in building the future of European higher education.
The official closing of the conference was delivered by HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak, who emphasised the importance of shared dialogue, partnership-based cooperation and the involvement of the academic community in creating a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive Europe.
Gala Dinner
In the evening, Forum participants met at the ceremonial Gala Dinner, which took place at Szyb Wilson in Katowice. During the ceremony, representatives of the partner universities received commemorative BAUHAUS4EU statuettes, inspired by the Alliance logo and the mural unveiled during the event. The sculptures were created by Silesian artist Radosław Jakubczyk. The statuettes symbolise the shared vision, cooperation and future of the European university being created within BAUHAUS4EU. The event provided an opportunity for further integration, conversations and relationship-building among Alliance partners in a unique space connected with the region’s industrial heritage.
The third day of the Forum included both meetings within work packages and strategic events devoted to summarising achievements to date and planning further activities in the BAUHAUS4EU project. An important point of the programme was the presentation of current achievements and plans. During the event, Tonia Schmitz, Secretary General, presented progress in the implementation of the BAUHAUS4EU project and discussed the most important action plans for the next stages of cooperation.
In addition, participants of the BAUHAUS4EU Forum worked within individual work packages, focusing on the tasks and areas for which they are responsible in the project. The meetings were of a working nature and served to discuss current activities, specify the next steps and further develop joint initiatives.
One of the key points of the third day was the high-level meeting of the Presidents’ Council, the joint meeting of the Advisory Council with the Presidents’ Council, and the meeting of the councils with representatives of the City of Katowice. Participants discussed the future of the Alliance, its strategic directions of development and the further strengthening of cooperation between partner universities.
Day four
Thursday was another day of intensive work within the BAUHAUS4EU Alliance. The programme included, among other items, presentation and Q&A sessions devoted to communication. Participants learned about the tools being developed within WP11 and solutions related to the Digital Platform implemented within WP2.
On that day, participants also had the opportunity to meet members of the Management Team and take part in selected meetings of BAUHAUS4EU task groups. The discussions concerned key areas of the Alliance’s development, such as joint study programmes, innovative teaching methods, regional cooperation, mobility, cultural transformation, quality assurance, and communication and dissemination activities.
In the evening, the official closing of the Forum took place during the Global Village event at the University of Economics in Katowice. It was a colourful, intercultural integration meeting during which participants of the BAUHAUS4EU Forum from different parts of the world presented their countries, sharing traditional dishes, music, costumes and social and economic curiosities. The Global Village became a symbolic culmination of several days of cooperation, discussions and the building of the international community of the BAUHAUS4EU Alliance.
Day five
The fifth day of the Forum was marked by the summary of the Blended Intensive Programme “Future Skills for Beautiful & Sustainable Regions”. It was attended by 33 BIP participants – bachelor’s and master’s students, as well as doctoral students representing the partner universities of the BAUHAUS4EU Alliance. The BIP programme constituted an important educational element accompanying the Forum and was an international and interdisciplinary initiative. Its aim was to develop future skills needed to respond to complex challenges related to regional transformation, taking into account the idea of beautiful and sustainable regions. On that day, participants presented the results of their work during the final project presentations. Afterwards, a certificate award ceremony was held.
The BAUHAUS4EU Forum confirmed the importance of international cooperation, dialogue between universities, cities and socio-economic partners, as well as joint action for more resilient, sustainable, inclusive and beautiful regions of Europe. We are pleased that the Katowice edition of the Forum became a source of good energy, inspiration and motivation for further activities within the Alliance. We are already looking forward with joy to the next BAUHAUS4EU Forum and future meetings, which will allow us to develop joint projects, strengthen relationships and shape the future of European regions together.
Photo galleries
Day one:
Day two:
- Opening of the Green Campus
- International Conference “Transforming Regions for a Sustainable and Beautiful Europe”
- Gala Dinner
Day three:
Day four:
Partners and patrons of the event
The partner of the event is Katowice Special Economic Zone S.A.
Honorary patronage over the event was granted by: the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship Wojciech Saługa, Mayor of Katowice Marcin Krupa, the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia, the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, and the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland.
Media patronage over the event was granted by: pulsHR.pl, nam! naszemiasto, Radio Katowice, Dziennik Zachodni, TVP Info, TVP3 Katowice, wkatowicach.eu.
More information
Detailed information is available on the Forum website.
Media about the event
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