The establishment of the Fahrenheit University Association is one of the most important events in the academic history of Gdańsk and Pomerania. On Friday, the Minister of Education and Science, Mr Przemysław Czarnek, acquainted himself with the plans for the development of the Association's activities and the opportunities that the consolidation of Pomeranian universities may bring.

Last autumn the Medical University of Gdańsk, the Technical University of Gdańsk and the University of Gdańsk established the Daniel Fahrenheit Association of Universities in Gdańsk. The main objective of its establishment is to jointly build the leading position of Gdańsk as an academic centre in Poland and abroad. The initiators of the Association, i.e. the rectors of the aforementioned academic centres, emphasised after the cooperation was established that the Association opens the way to the future federalization of the strongest universities in the region.

- 'Through joint action, we could in the future belong to the strongest academic centres in Poland,' - said prof. Krzysztof Wilde, rector of PG and chairman of the University Union. - 'This would allow us to significantly increase the attractiveness and recognition of academic Gdańsk, as well as its dynamic development and more effective acquisition of financial resources for scientific and didactic activities.'

On Friday, the Minister of Education and Science, Przemyslaw Czarnek, got acquainted with the vision of the Union of Universities development and the nearest activities in this field. He discussed the matter via teleconference with the rectors: prof. Marcin Gruchała (GUMed), prof. Krzysztof Wilde (PG) and prof. Piotr Stepnowski (UG).

Minister on the University Union: An ambitious and necessary undertaking

During the conversation, Minister Przemysław Czarnek and rectors of Pomerania's leading universities discussed the assumptions of the Association's activity and perspectives for the development of universities which are its members. He also virtually handed over to the rectors a cheque certifying co-financing of the Association's activities for PLN 2.98 million, which was obtained as part of the 'Supporting universities consolidation processes' project co-financed by the European Social Fund and implemented under the 'Knowledge, Education, Development' operational programme.

- 'Establishing the Fahrenheit University Association in Gdańsk is an ambitious and necessary undertaking,' - said Minister Przemysław Czarnek during the meeting. - 'We intend to support the Rectors of GUMed, PG and UG in their pursuit of the main goal, which is the federalization of the strongest universities in the region. I am convinced that the creation of the Association and close cooperation of the three academic centres in Gdańsk will translate into a higher quality of Polish science and higher education.'

- 'The establishment of the Union of Universities with the largest academic centres of Pomerania is another important step on the way to tightening long-standing and successful cooperation between UG, PG and GUMed,' - said prof. Marcin Gruchała, Rector of GUMed. - 'I am convinced that using the mutual potential more intensively and effectively, we will soon be able to successfully compete with the best universities in Europe and in the world. We want to create an attractive place to work and study in Pomerania, offering scientists at every stage of their careers friendly conditions to develop and achieve their aspirations.'

- 'The plans for the development of cooperation between the universities within the Union are broad and multifaceted,' - emphasised prof. Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of PG. - 'Our most important common mission is to build a strong academic centre in Gdańsk. We want to strengthen the relations with industry and business, build the economic strength of Pomerania, help in solving social problems of the region and make the most talented high school graduates and young scientists choose Gdańsk as the right place to study and build their careers.'

- 'The conversation with the Minister allows us to assume that the way the Gdańsk universities consolidate their activities within the Union of Universities has not only gained the Ministry's approval but also aroused real interest,' - said prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of UG. - 'I believe that the union created by our universities will be a model project, which other universities in Poland will follow.'