Odessa's Ilya Mechnikov National University students visited the University of Gdansk to participate in the III Congress of Young Science. As part of the Congress, they delivered six papers on a wide variety of topics, ranging from economic issues, political science and international relations to science and experimental science. Visitors from Odessa also took part in panels of their choice and a poster session.

The visit to the Congress was also an opportunity to explore Gdańsk: thanks to the kindness of prof. Mariusz Czepczyński and dr. Grażyna Chaberek from the Department of Spatial Management, the guests from Odessa took part in the Gdańsk Cultural Landscape Transformation Tour, during which they visited, among others, the centre of Gdańsk and the vicinity of the Second World War Museum.

They also visited the European Solidarity Centre, where they broadened their knowledge of the democratic changes in Poland and the role that Tricity played in them. During their tour of the Oliwa campus, the Odessa students learned about the impact of some of our university's graduates and staff on Polish history.

They were shown around the Faculty of Biology by Bartosz Chojnacki, President of the UG Students' Parliament, and other buildings by staff and students of the University of Gdańsk.

The students also met with the Vice-Rector for Students and Quality of Education, dr Arnold Kłonczyński, prof. UG, who was among the initiators of cooperation with Odessa and thanks to whom the visit took place. Prof. Arnold Kłonczyński talked about the UG's activities to date in relation to cooperation within the SEA EU and with the University of Odessa and, importantly, about further plans.

The Centre for Student and Doctoral Activities at the University of Gdansk is preparing a project called the Forum for Cooperation between the University of Gdansk and the Ilya Mechnikov National University of Odessa. Within the framework of the project, employees, students and doctoral students from our and Odessa universities will be able to find partners for joint scientific research, as well as for cultural and organisational cooperation. The first meeting of the forum is planned for September.

Some of the Congress participants will also take part in two summer schools implemented during the summer holidays by the Centre for Student and Doctoral Activities at the University of Gdańsk.