Colombia-Poland Academic Exchange: UE Katowice Deepens Expertise in Just Energy Transition

The delegation consisted of:

• Dr Marcin Kraśniewski,
• Dr Aleksandra Lubicz-Posochowska,
• Grzegorz Zych - members of the project team.

The team spent eight intensive days in Colombia, where they met, among others, Prof. Clara Inés Vergara Hernández, Vice-Rector of the University of Cartagena.

Cartagena: introductory meetings, substantive workshops and a lecture on global energy challenges

The visit began at the University of Cartagena, a leading public university, where the delegation from Katowice was officially welcomed by the institution’s leadership and academic staff. The researchers presented the objectives of the project and the scientific profile of the Department of Energy Transition, while Colombian academics introduced their educational and research programmes in the fields of energy, public policy and management.

The substantive programme included:

• workshops on Colombian energy regulations and renewable energy,
• a seminar on the concept of energy justice in Latin America,
• discussions with practitioners from the energy sector,
• a library inquiry focusing on market regulation and the green transition.

A key moment of the visit was a lecture delivered by dr Marcin Kraśniewski for International Business students, entitled “International Aspects of the Energy Transition: Law, Policy, Regulation and Global Challenges”.

The official meeting with Vice-Rector Prof. Clara Inés Vergara Hernández opened the door to deepening academic cooperation and developing future joint initiatives. The delegation was supported locally by Prof. Andres Escobar, a member of the interdisciplinary research team at the University of Cartagena.

Bogotá: insights into Colombia’s energy sector, mining law and academic networking

The second part of the visit took place at Universidad Externado de Colombia and included participation in a seminar hosted by the governmental agency ProColombia. Colombian experts outlined the structure of the national energy sector, key systemic challenges and the country’s strategic pathway towards a low-carbon economy.

The delegation also took part in classes with students of the Mining and Energy Law specialisation, where they discussed differences between European and Latin American approaches to energy-market regulation. The programme further included networking meetings with energy-sector practitioners, during which opportunities for joint research, publications and international cooperation were explored.

In Bogotá,dr Marcin Kraśniewski delivered a lecture to Colombian students entitled “Global Energy Transition: The Role of International Partnerships”. Meanwhile, Grzegorz Zych presented the objectives of the project and offered an overview of how the energy sector operates in Poland.

The project team was supported by Lyndon Winston Jay Huffington from the Departamento en Derecho Minero Energético and the Observatorio en Transición Energética, as well as Prof. Milton Fernando Montoya Pardo, Director of the Mining and Energy Law Institute at Universidad Externado de Colombia.

A visit that strengthens expertise and builds long-term partnerships

The Colombian study visit marks a significant step in the development of the Department of Energy Transition at UE Katowice. The knowledge gained and partnerships established will contribute to a deeper understanding of the global dynamics of the just energy transition and enhance the University’s capacity to support the transformation of the Silesian region.

The visit also underscores UE Katowice’s strategic commitment to internationalising research and building lasting cooperation with leading academic centres around the world.

Visit our partner's websites:  Universidad de Cartagena, Universidad Externado de Colombia