The first meeting of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities (KRUP) was held on October 22 at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. The session was chaired by KRUP President, prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk.
The KRUP President, prof. Piotr Stepnowski welcomed prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska, Rector of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, as the former President and current President of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland. He also declared KRUP's constructive support for CRASP activities.
The rectors of the assembly were hosted by the UMCS in Lublin in connection with the inauguration of the university's 80th-anniversary celebrations. The host of the event, the Rector of UMCS, prof. Radosław Dobrowolski, took the floor, presenting the achievements of his academic community.
According to the planned agenda of the meeting, the rectors gave a positive opinion on the candidatures for the chairpersons of the KRUP commissions for the 2024 - 2028 term. The University Education Commission will be chaired by prof. Joanna Wójcik (UAM), the University Internationalisation Commission by prof. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler (UG), the University Finance Commission by prof. Zbigniew Bukowski (UKW) and the University Science Commission by prof. Zbigniew Lalak (UW). The committees are tasked with supporting the activities of the CoRUP in specific areas. The newly elected committee chairs presented their action plans for the coming term.
A resolution to award prof. Bogumila Kaniewska the title of KRUP Honorary Chair was also adopted by acclamation.
In the further part of the meeting, the KRUP Assembly adopted amendments to the regulations of the KRUP and individual committees, and the issues of increasing the subsidy for the National Science Centre, the manner and amount of funding for higher education, the issue of improper issuance of visas, the ongoing evaluation and its operation in the future, and the proposed amendments to the Law on Higher Education and Science were discussed.
After the plenary part of the meeting, the rectors met with the Minister of Science, Dariusz Wieczorek, with whom they discussed the problems of higher education.
A day later, on 23 October, the official inauguration of the academic year and the jubilee celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin took place. Prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of UG and President of KRUP, received from the hands of the Rector of UMCS prof. dr hab. Radosław Dobrowolski a jubilee limited medal designed by dr Radosław Skóra.