The University of Gdańsk, as the first public university in Poland, has received official accreditation from Ashoka - Journey to Changemakers' Campus. This distinction is awarded for the course of pedagogy of innovation, which engages students to introduce concrete, socially necessary changes.

The distinction awarded to the University of Gdańsk by Ashoka (an international non-governmental organisation of social innovators which brings together people who introduce unconventional solutions to social problems of the world) is a confirmation that the university is able to engage in solving such problems, especially in the field of education, and also organise research responding to the needs of society, including its students.

The signing ceremony between the representatives of the university and Ashoka and the unveiling of commemorative plaques took place on November 9, at the Rector's Office of UG.

- 'Nowadays universities have to change the model of functioning and teaching. Simple methods, based on providing information, no longer work. It's time to create a culture of management and cooperation that will develop and nurture in students and employees the skills necessary to build a better world in the future,' - said Misha Czerniak, Ashoka's representative, Director of the J2CC programme.

As dr Adam Jagiełło-Rusiłowski from the Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of Social Sciences, UG, argues, the Journey to Changemakers' Campus accreditation was a journey that began at UG over two years ago.

- 'During this time we worked with foreign specialists who had previously looked at other world universities and are well versed in change and social innovation. The result of this work was, among others, a report on self-development of the UG, highlighting the issue of involvement of students of pedagogy, economics, management or philology in social issues,' - says dr Adam Jagiełło-Rusiłowski. - 'This distinction is, therefore, a confirmation that the University of Gdańsk pursues the so-called third mission, the social mission, including elements of innovation and social entrepreneurship.'.

The University of Gdańsk was accredited for the course Innovative didactics with Montessori pedagogy, which through its programme and the possibility of learning social entrepreneurship involves students as 'changers'/innovators.

- 'The accredited field of study includes Montessori pedagogy. This is important because traditional education, based on a simple message and ready knowledge, does not meet the expectations of parents, does not ensure the development of children. What guarantees development is the lack of schemes, following the child, not imposing anything on him/her and allowing him/her to learn what he/she wants to learn according to his/her own plan. Unfortunately, such education is available in Poland mainly in non-public institutions,' - says dr Adam Jagiełło-Rusiłowski. - 'This is where the UG can act, as a lot depends on how we educate our students, pedagogues and teachers. We want our graduates, when they enter schools, to be ready to change them.'.

As WNS UG researchers stress, social change must be interdisciplinary.

- 'The need for change is the need to learn initiative, acquire competencies of the so-called "changers", i.e. people who cause changes, plan strategies to solve problems creatively, acquiring competencies necessary for this. We will continue our activities in this direction, focusing on three levels of social innovation and competence changes, i.e. knowledge, skills and attitude,' - convinces dr Adam Jagiełło-Rusiłowski.

Dr Jagiełło-Rusiłowski also notes that it is extremely important to instil in students the motivation and belief that they have a real impact on changes in the world. To this end, students are involved in various undertakings of international organisations, not as volunteers, but as enthusiastic 'changers' full of ideas. One of these is the ongoing work to organise a two-year academy for teenage girls from Nicaragua to learn coding to become programmers. The project is organised by the International Sustainable Education Foundation.

- 'The youth there has no future, poverty reigns. Help is needed to organise remote learning. We provide the girls with equipment, electricity, coverage, a safe place. But what is needed here is an army of people to help the girls learn the coding language, to make up for their losses and shortcomings, and then to organise internships and make sure they have careers in global organisations that employ programmers. There is an opportunity for our students to co-create this by participating in the project as part of a specific course from their studies,' - explains dr Adam Jagiełło-Rusiłowski.

Ashoka has existed in Poland since 1995 and so far has enrolled 77 people, leading social entrepreneurs. In Poland its members work for the benefit of children and adults in crisis, protection and care of the natural environment, counteracting and adapting to natural and climate changes, as well as people with disabilities, the long-term unemployed, education of children and youth, marginalised groups, building a democratic society, and many others.

Photos: Alan Stocki

Elżbieta Michalak-Witkowska / Press Office UG