A Polish-Turkish Centre for Studies is being established at the University of Gdańsk - a new intercollegiate body aimed at developing long-term scientific, educational and institutional cooperation between Poland and Turkey. Dr hab. Wojciech Grabowski, prof. UG, from the Institute of Political Science, has been appointed as the Centre’s Organising Representative.
A milestone in the establishment of the Polish-Turkish Centre for Studies at the University of Gdańsk was when the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Piotr Stepnowski signed a letter of intent with Istanbul University and Istanbul Technical University. The establishment of the Centre is also a continuation of the academic cooperation between Poland and Turkey that has been developing in recent years. In 2025, the First Forum of Rectors of Poland and Turkey was held in Ankara, marking the start of a new phase of inter-university dialogue and launching a series of joint research and teaching initiatives. The next edition of the event - the 2nd Forum of Rectors of Poland and Turkey - will take place at the University of Gdańsk in early May this year, further strengthening the University of Gdańsk’s role as one of the key centres developing Polish-Turkish cooperation.
The Centre’s activities will be interdisciplinary in nature and will encompass the implementation of joint research and development projects, the development of study programmes - including English-taught courses - as well as the intensification of student and academic staff mobility (including under the Erasmus+ programme). Another key area of activity will be the organisation of conferences, seminars and summer schools, as well as cooperation with the socio-economic environment.
The Centre will function as a platform integrating academic communities and external partners, focusing on the development of joint grant projects (including under Horizon Europe, NSC, and TÜBİTAK), the creation of international teaching programmes (including BIP and COIL), as well as the organisation of scientific and cultural events and the strengthening of academic mobility.
Dr hab. Wojciech Grabowski, prof. UG has been appointed as the Centre’s Organisational Representative, having been appointed to this role by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk on 27 March 2026.
‘In the first phase of the Centre’s activities, we intend to focus on three key areas. Firstly, on the development of research cooperation - initiating joint projects and preparing grant applications, so that the Centre is visible in the international scientific community from the outset. Secondly, on teaching and mobility - launching English-language programmes, joint teaching modules and intensifying student and academic staff exchanges. Thirdly, on academic diplomacy, understood as building lasting relationships with foreign partners and strengthening the University of Gdańsk’s presence in international cooperation networks,’ says prof. Wojciech Grabowski.
The establishment of the Centre is part of the University of Gdańsk’s strategy for internationalisation and for developing cooperation with partners outside the European Union. This initiative responds to Turkey’s growing importance as a scientific, economic and political partner, and also strengthens the University of Gdańsk’s position as a hub for academic cooperation between the Baltic and Black Sea regions.