Under the banner ‘Happy 5th Birthday SEA-EU. Everybody is Welcome!’, the University of Gdańsk celebrated the 5th anniversary of the SEA-EU alliance at the newly opened UG Welcome Centre, a dedicated space for international guests. The event brought together university and faculty leaders, local government representatives, external stakeholders, FarU university delegates, and, via online connection, academic communities from all SEA-EU partner universities.
‘I am delighted that we are gathered here today, especially as we mark a double celebration: the inauguration of the Welcome Centre and the 5th anniversary of the SEA-EU alliance,’ stated prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk. ‘Over the past five years, we have not only welcomed international students, hosted numerous visiting professors, and facilitated mobility opportunities for our staff and students, but, most importantly, we have fostered a culture of internationalization at UG.’
In a symbolic gesture, Rector prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk for Mobility and Security Piotr Borawski, and Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG jointly blew out a candle on the SEA-EU anniversary cake and unveiled the ‘Welcome Centre’ sign.
‘Thank you for inviting me to the opening of this fantastic space and for your continued collaboration in building SEA-EU. The City of Gdańsk wholeheartedly supports your initiatives, both through our words and through the active participation of our city institutions in various conferences and initiatives that benefit our maritime region,’ emphasised Piotr Borawski. ‘Two years ago, this venue hosted a major SEA-EU conference, and it looked vastly different then. Today, it is a beautifully transformed space. Congratulations on your vision and dedication.’
The Welcome Centre, managed by the Office for Cooperation and International Relations, is a new hub on the University of Gdańsk campus. It will serve as a central point of contact for international students, professors, and all foreign visitors. Additionally, the centre will host workshops, conferences, and meetings focused on international collaboration. The facility was established with support from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) and the Foundation for the Development of the Education System.
‘Today, the international heart of the University of Gdańsk beats here, filling me with immense joy and pride. I see only smiling faces of individuals deeply committed to the internationalization of our university,’ said prof. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler. ‘Our SEA-EU alliance, which began as a vision on paper, has evolved into a vibrant international community of people and friends, reshaping the landscape of European higher education.’
Simultaneously, all SEA-EU partner universities celebrated the alliance's fifth anniversary with local events, including the distribution of branded pastries, special gatherings for academic communities, and a celebratory song during a student concert.
The celebrations culminated in an online meeting of all SEA-EU partners, during which rectors and university representatives highlighted the key elements of their joint efforts. These included the implementation of mobility programs, innovative educational approaches, the development of joint study programs, and knowledge transfer. These initiatives are transforming the experiences of students and academic staff and laying the groundwork for a modern European education.
Welcome Centre: a space open to all
‘The Welcome Centre, as part of the Office for Cooperation and International Relations, is a space that integrates international visitors with our academic community, welcoming anyone who needs support or a workspace. It is a place where international students, researchers, and doctoral candidates can find assistance with daily academic challenges and administrative matters such as residence permits and accommodation. The centre also organizes various workshops promoting multiculturalism, multilingualism, Polish culture and language, mental resilience, and work-life balance, as well as orientation meetings to facilitate integration. Welcome Centre staff are always ready to support students and researchers in their academic journey on our international campus,’ said Magdalena Sawicz, Director of the Office for Cooperation and International Relations.
SEA-EU: five years of a transnational university alliance
‘The fifth anniversary of SEA-EU is a time for reflection not only for the partner universities. In early 2025, a European Commission report recognized SEA-EU's activities as best practices among European University alliances. We are also preparing for the mid-term report of the second phase of SEA-EU implementation, which will showcase our key achievements from 2023 to 2024. Throughout these evaluations, it is clear that SEA-EU is continuously progressing and positively transforming its partner universities. The alliance's initiatives inspire ambition within the academic communities of our partner universities and elevate international collaboration to new heights,’ said Marlena Rutkowska-Myzyk, SEA-EU 2.0 Project Manager.
