The Commission for Social Responsibility of the University of Gdańsk met in a new line-up. The previous activities, plans and possibilities of disseminating information about the commission's activities to the UG academic community and outside were discussed.

Established in November 2019 by the decision of the Rector of UG, the Commission for the implementation of the policy of social responsibility of science was transformed into the current operating Commission for Social Responsibility of the University of Gdańsk. In May this year, the Rector prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski expanded the composition of the commission in such a way that each faculty had a representative. Composition of the commission

The Commission aims to act in three areas: social engagement of science and scientists, education of society and gender equality. 

The Chairperson of the Commission, prof. dr hab. Ewa Łojkowska, presented the Commission's activities to date - including work on the report "Women in Science" and the 'Plan for the implementation of gender equality policy at the University of Gdańsk. Equality measures for 2022-2023', which is one of the instruments for the implementation of Objective 3 of the Strategy of the University of Gdańsk for 2020-2025, assuming the development and implementation of a model of social inclusion, counteracting discrimination and social inequality and other elements of sustainable development policy, e.g. implementation and monitoring of anti-discrimination policy, building an academic community based on a science culture equality, as well as the development and implementation of a coherent gender equality policy monitoring system. Read about the report

With regard to the Commission's tasks concerning anti-discrimination and mobbing, information about the Office of the Ombudsman for Equal Treatment and Counteracting Mobbing was provided by the Ombudsman, dr hab. Joanna Kruczalak-Jankowska, prof. UG, who has been involved in the Commission's activities since its inception. - 'This year we will hold three training sessions on the subject,' - said the Ombudsman. - 'We can see interest in the subject, especially among young employees.'

As she stressed - it is important to promote knowledge of the Code of Ethics among academic teachers at UG. - 'This is a very well written document, it remains to be disseminated and applied,' - she added.

The Committee for Social Responsibility of the University of Gdańsk also deals with the issues of the university's openness to society, realisation of the idea of a green university and undertaking of actions in the scope of sustainable development.

The members of the commission also discussed possible ways of spreading knowledge about the goals and activities related to the ideas of social responsibility of the university. Suggestions included Oxford and Fahrenheit University debates on gender equality in academia, training on GEP for members of the Commission conducted by trainers after the MINDtheGEPs VIGO training or coaches from UG dr hab. Natasza Kosakowska-Berezecka and dr Magdalena Żadkowska, training at UG faculties and units, debates for male and female students on equality and changes to the UG website (e.g. listing the number of UG male and female students instead of the total number of students).