Academic staff exchange, student exchange and common research projects are the main points of the memorandum between the University of Gdańsk and the University of Iceland. Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the President of Iceland visit to the state-of-the-art research vessel Oceanograf, owned by the University of Gdańsk.
The cooperation between the University of Gdańsk and the country of Iceland began in 2018. That year, the University of Gdańsk bilateral agreement with the University of Akureyi and the agreement between the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdańsk and the Icelandic School of Business in Science were signed. At the same time, the North Atlantic Producers Organization, together with the Faculty of Management of the University of Gdańsk, University of Akureyi and the Icelandic School of Business in Science initiated PISCES (Polish Icelandic Scholarship – Exchange Studies) scholarship competition, supporting Polish students about to study at the University of Akureyi under the Erasmus Plus Program.
The signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Gdańsk and the University of Iceland took place on 5 March 2020 at the University of Gdańsk owned, r/v vessel, Oceanograf. Vice-Rector for IT Development and Internationalization, Professor Aneta Oniszczuk-Jastrząbek signed the memorandum on behalf of the University of Gdańsk, whereas the University of Iceland was represented by its Rector - Dr Jón Atli Benediktsson. The Memorandum of Understanding establishes framework for academic staff exchange, student exchange and common research and organizational projects.
The meeting was preceded by a short cruise, where the current University of Gdańsk relations with Iceland and the cooperation between Gdańsk City Council and Nordic countries were presented.
Vice-Rector for Research and Foreign Cooperation, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski introduced the University of Gdańsk, its cooperation with Iceland and a potential cooperation with regard to the Polish Studies. Deans and Deputy Deans from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Faculty of Management and Faculty of Economics - dr hab. Waldemar Surosz, prof. UG, dr Angelika Kędzierska-Szczepaniak and dr hab. Monika Bąk, prof. UG discussed the cooperation between their units and Iceland. Agnieszka Tomasik, the headmistress of ZSO nr 8 (Secondary Schools Complex no 8) in Gdańsk talked about ‘Kreatywna Pedagogika’ (Creative Pedagogy) project, whereas Grzegorz Kryger, Deputy Director for Education from the Department of Social Development at the Gdańsk City Council presented aspects of educational cooperation between the City Council and Nordic countries.
Oceanograf is one of the most advanced Polish research vessels, designed to facilitate student education and conduct interdisciplinary research on the environment and nature of the Baltic Sea. There are specialized laboratories, student multimedia seminar halls, marine birds and mammals observing decks on board of the vessel.
