The results of the 6th call for applications for the ‘UG Visiting Professors’ programme are now known. This year, thanks to funding under this programme, fifteen researchers from thirteen countries around the world will visit our university! The visits will take place in ten faculties and units of the University of Gdańsk.

‘UG Visiting Professors’ is a programme created as part of the ‘Excellence Initiative - Research University’ at the University of Gdańsk; its aim is to increase the internationalisation of the University of Gdańsk in the areas of scientific research and teaching. It enables short-term (2-4 weeks) and medium-term (5-12 weeks) visits by eminent scientists from abroad, which allows for the establishment and development of international cooperation.

As part of the sixth edition of the programme, 36 applications were submitted, 15 of which (41.67%) received a positive assessment. The University of Gdańsk will host scientists from 13 countries: Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Spain, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, the United States, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The winners will conduct a total of 130 hours of teaching and will carry out research in the humanities, social sciences, and exact and natural sciences. There are also plans for joint publications in renowned scientific journals and work on obtaining grants.

The 'Visiting Professors' programme is part of a long-term policy to strengthen research and teaching excellence at the University of Gdańsk through a strategic approach to internationalisation,' says Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG, chair of the application evaluation committee. 'In selecting projects, we were guided by the prestige of the professors' home institutions, existing strategic partnerships, and the potential for sustainable transfer of knowledge, research expertise, and modern teaching methods. We want to be a recognisable player in the European and global research and education space, capable of co-creating scientific agendas and innovative study programmes, and not just implementing them. We treat internationalisation as an institutional commitment: we are consistently developing a foreigner-friendly campus, a high-quality research and teaching environment, and a professional support ecosystem that makes the University of Gdańsk an attractive and reliable partner for the best scientists and students from around the world.'

Laureates of the sixth edition of the programme

Vincent Rinterknecht (Centre National Pour la Recherche Scientifique, France), invited by dr Karol Tylmann from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography.

The visit will include testing a new laboratory, teaching classes on cosmogenic nuclide dating, and working on joint publications.

Naoko Koda (Kindai University in Osaka, Japan), invited by dr hab. Anna Mazurkiewicz, prof. UG from the Faculty of History.

The visit will include lectures on post-war Japanese history, in particular the history of trade union activism, as well as research on trade unions in the face of authoritarian rule.

Mats Eriksson (Linkoping University, Sweden), invited by dr Grzegorz Olszewski from the Faculty of Chemistry.

The purpose of the visit is to conduct research on radioactivity and marine radiation measurements (including optimisation and calibration of a germanium detector).

Henry Linger (Monash University, Australia), invited by dr hab. Bartosz Marcinkowski, prof. UG from the Faculty of Management.

The visit will include research activities and workshops for doctoral students on ethics in scientific research.

Andy Chia (National University of Singapore, Singapore), invited by prof. dr hab. Tomasz Paterek from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics.

The visit will include 15 hours of teaching on quantum nonlinear dynamics and synchronisation, and 9 weeks of research on the quantisation of open systems and the feasibility of simulating nonlinear quantum dynamics.

Koen Martens (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Ghent University, Universidade Estadual de Maringa, Belgium), invited by prof. dr hab. Tadeusz Namiotko from the Faculty of Biology.

The purpose of the visit will be joint research (with plans for publication) on the taxonomy, ecology and genetic diversity of non-marine ostracods, as well as a lecture on speciation in ancient lakes.

Lucas Krüger (Science Department of the Chilean Antarctic Institute, Chile), invited by dr Anna Panasiuk from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography.

During his visit, he will conduct classes on innovative methods used in the study and monitoring of marine predators (with particular emphasis on seabirds). The purpose of his stay will also be to analyse research on the biology and ecology of Antarctic seabirds and to work on a joint publication.

Indria Wahyuni (University of Airlangga, Indonesia), invited by dr. hab. Maciej Nyka, prof. UG from the Faculty of Law and Administration.

During her stay at the University of Gdańsk, she will teach classes on environmental law (including the links between law, energy transition and environmental management) and hold a seminar for doctoral students. The purpose of the visit will also be to conduct research on coal phase-out programmes as a strategy for justice and sustainable energy transition, as well as to work on joint publications and develop new grant applications.

Michalis Drouvelis (University of Birmingham, United Kingdom), invited by dr hab. Anna Blajer-Gołębiewska, prof. from the Faculty of Economics.

During the visit, classes in behavioural and experimental economics are planned, as well as (on the research side) working meetings in this area. A joint publication is also on the agenda.

Nieves Gomez Aguilar (University of Cádiz, Spain), invited by dr Joanna Próchniak from the Faculty of Management.

Her visit is related to the international STORM programme, implemented as a joint study programme within the SEA-EU alliance. The programme of her stay includes teaching activities (international auditing, sustainable development reporting) and research on factors influencing information disclosure by companies (with particular emphasis on the impact of individual countries).

Catarina Frade (University of Coimbra, Portugal), invited by dr hab. Joanna Kruczalak-Jankowska, prof. UG from the Faculty of Law and Administration.

The purpose of the visit is to work on a project concerning insolvency issues, focusing primarily on law in action, and to give a lecture to students of the Faculty.

Andrew Vince (University of Florida, United States), invited by dr. hab. Filip Strobin, prof. UG from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics.

The purpose of the visit is joint research (and publication) on the Iterated Function System (IFS), as well as teaching classes on fractal geometry and graph theory.

Anke Winchenbach (University of Surrey, United Kingdom), invited by dr. hab. Piotr Zientara, prof. UG from the Faculty of Economics.

During her stay at the University of Gdańsk, she will conduct classes in the field of sustainable social development and tourism ethics. She will also work on a publication on risk management (violation of workers' rights and the involvement of non-affiliated trade unions as a corporate risk).

Marina Prilutskaya (Nord University, Norway), invited by dr Aleksandra Zahorska from the Centre for Teacher Training.

At the University of Gdańsk, she will conduct classes on intercultural communication, communication with children with migration experience, and intercultural communication in outdoor education, as well as non-violent communication and classroom management in Norwegian experiences. In addition, academic seminars on intercultural communication and the issues of linguistic communication with children from migrant families are planned, as well as work on a joint grant (SEA-EU).

Sarah Lynne Bowman (Uppsala University, Sweden), invited by dr Kornel Bielawski from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

During her visit, she will conduct classes on role-playing games, their role in educational activities and in shaping values, beliefs and identity. As part of the research activities, it is planned to develop a joint research programme on transformative play, lay the groundwork for a joint publication, research seminars and consultations. The possibilities for long-term institutional cooperation will also be explored.