The four-day meeting of the SEA-EU coastal alliance continues. On December 1, at 2:30 pm, members of the (expanded) Executive Committee met at the UG Rector's Office. The topic of the meeting was the SEA-EU achievements so far as well as future projects.
The coordinator of the ReSEArch-EU project is the Spanish University of Cadiz. - 'This year we managed to achieve almost all main objectives. We organised 3 workshops on transdisciplinarity, delivered our project manual to the European Union Commission and prepared a data organisation plan,' - said Juan Ramón Real, UCA representative.
After the presentation of the completed projects, the meeting participants were introduced to the next objectives for SEA-EU. In 2022. Among other things, ReSEArch-EU plans to send its position paper on carbon footprint and a description of the principles guiding the coastal alliance to the European Commission. SEA-EU is an Erasmus+ funded project, such close cooperation with the European Commission may positively influence further cooperation between the two organisations.
The further part of the meeting was chaired by prof. Leandra Vranješ Markić from Split University. The Croatian scientist presented the candidates from each university for the official SEA-EU Think Tank.
The second element of the presentation by the representatives of the University of Split was the main principles and methods of the SEA EU Academy project. - 'The Academy should be a place where we could train our employees. We want each of them to be able to acquire relevant skills, "know-how" and practice in the given field,' - said prof. Vranješ Markić.
After lengthy discussions, the UG guests went on a sightseeing tour of Gdańsk. - 'Although my visit here is short, I know that Gdańsk is a place I would like to return to. The Old Town is amazing and the newer part of the city is very attractive,' - said Laura Howard from the University of Cadiz after the tour.
One of the attractions prepared for the representatives of the seaside universities was a visit to the European Solidarity Centre. After getting acquainted with the centre's main exhibition, SEA EU members gathered in the Temporary Exhibition Hall. - 'Gdańsk is called the city of freedom and solidarity. These two words resound even louder here, inside the ECS. They not only refer to the history of our city but also represent hope for a bright future. Our alliance of European universities is such hope. Welcome to Gdańsk and our University!' - The meeting was opened by the Rector of the UG, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski.
The meeting was also attended by Basil Kerski, director of the ECS, who spoke briefly about the history of Solidarity and presented a film depicting the idea of Poland's largest trade union.
- 'Cities have the potential to change the world, but they cannot do so without the help of an outstanding scientific community. The University of Gdańsk is one such community. I am very pleased that the meeting of the scientific alliance SEA-EU takes place here,' - said the Deputy Mayor of the City of Gdańsk, Piotr Grzelak.
The words of gratitude from the Rector of the UG ended the official part.
Photo: Piotr Wajda
