Zero-stress zones, co-working spaces, covered bike racks and green areas - these are the results of the previous edition of the University of Gdańsk Academic Citizens' Budget programme. Submissions for the fifth edition open on 18 May! This year brings many new features: first and foremost, the distinction between student and staff projects has been removed, and a new project category has been introduced: ‘Events and Recreation’. Do you have an idea for improving the university campuses or for an interesting event involving the academic community? Submit it to ACB UG!
In the four previous editions, 12 projects selected by our university’s academic community were implemented across the university campuses in Gdańsk-Oliwa and Sopot during the first three years of the competition. Five further ideas, which proved to be the best last year, are currently being prepared for implementation.
To recap, the student projects include “Biotech Chillzone - your campus sanctuary” and “Plan for a university-wide ZERO-STRESS zone at the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdańsk - continuation”, whilst the selected staff ideas include:
“A friendly place for meetings, relaxation and inspiration in front of the Faculty of Chemistry building”, as well as “Purchase of pedalos for the University of Gdańsk Holiday Centre in Łączyno” and “A gazebo at the University of Gdańsk Holiday Centre in Łączyno”.
What changes can we expect this year?
We are starting the competition a little later than usual; in previous years, it was in April. This time, we are launching on 18 May. On that day, at 8:00 am, the panel for submitting ACB UG projects for the 2026 edition will open. Access will be available after logging into the Employee Portal (staff) or the Student Portal (students and doctoral students) and selecting the Academic Citizens' Budget tab.
The second significant change is the removal of the distinction between staff and student projects.
In this year’s edition, all interested members of our academic community will submit their ideas together, without any division into target groups.
The final significant change is the inclusion of so-called ‘soft’ projects in the competition by allowing applicants to submit initiatives in a completely new category: ‘Events and Recreation’ . This may include cultural events (such as concerts, performances, exhibitions, picnics), sporting events, and social events and campaigns, aimed at both students and doctoral students and university staff.
The second category of projects, entitled: “Infrastructure and Equipment”, will comprise ideas “of an infrastructural nature, covering investment or renovation projects, as well as material projects involving the purchase of materials, equipment and furnishings”.
Important information
As in previous years, a total of 200,000 PLN has been allocated for the 2026 edition of the ACB UG, broken down as follows: 150,000 PLN for projects in the “Infrastructure and Equipment” category and 50,000 PLN for the “Events and Recreation” category.
The maximum cost of a single project may amount to PLN 70,000 for infrastructure and equipment projects and PLN 10,000 for events.
The rules and key information about the competition are available on the website acb.ug.edu.pl.
Authors have four weeks to submit their ideas, from 18 May to 14 June this year.
Voting on projects in both competitions will take place
from 19 to 26 October, and the results will be announced in early November this year.
We encourage you to take an active part in our initiative.
