The first summit of the international SEA-EU 2.0 team took place in Cadiz from February 7-10, 2023, with representatives from all universities and partner cities. The Kick-Off Meetings officially launched the project's second edition, in which we welcomed new members from the universities of Naples, Algarve and Bodø. The aim of the activities will continue to be the creation of an international, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and interdisciplinary European University that will strengthen scientific and teaching cooperation and foster innovation and knowledge transfer.
The meeting in Cadiz was of exceptional importance for the University of Gdańsk, which assumed the presidency of the SEA-EU alliance in the first six months of its activities. On this occasion, it was attended by the UG Rectors' authorities, the SEA-EU UG office and experts responsible for preparing the application and legal aspects.
The programme's main highlight was the Supervisory Board meeting, which comprised all partner university rectors and students. The Rector of the UG, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski gave the opening speech. : 'We have experienced pandemic crises, war, and all countries have struggled with worsening economic conditions. In these difficult times, we have shown that our international community is truly a community, bringing together academics, and administrators, supporting mobility and new educational courses for students, and organising sporting and cultural initiatives, the Rector emphasised. - Three years of cooperation between the Universities of Gdańsk, Cadiz, Brest, Kiel, Split and Malta culminated in a research cruise from Poland to Spain by the University of Gdańsk's research vessel RV Oceanograf. The cruise was a confirmation of our excellent cooperation between SEA-EU universities. Its success proves that, in addition to excellent scientific initiatives, we act based on common European values, not forgetting our friends from the University of Odessa. We have shown that we can make our dreams come true.'
The Council meeting also discussed the critical objectives for SEA-EU as a European university. These include developing diverse educational pathways and standard curricula while removing academic barriers. All activities are intended to promote inclusion, diversity, and gender equality and create an environment of European identity, in addition to supporting a commitment to sustainable development in fulfilling the SDG goals. The initiatives undertaken also aim to encourage increased physical, mixed and virtual mobility of students and staff, which is one of the biggest challenges for partner universities. Prof. Fidel Echevarria, the general coordinator of SEA-EU from the University of Cadiz, additionally stressed that SEA-EU has the potential to be a role model for other universities in Europe and the world as it functions as a 'testing ground' experimenting with innovative approaches.
The Supervisory Board's proceedings culminated with the swearing-in ceremony of the rectors of the nine universities, who presented themselves in university togas by delivering short speeches in their native languages and signing letters of intent. The rectors pointed out the importance of existing cooperation and the potential of an alliance strengthened by new partners. The University of Gdańsk was represented by the Vice-Rector for Students and Education Quality, dr hab. Arnold Kłonczyński, prof. UG. His speech included a symbolic passage reflecting the nature of the Alliance: - 'In the book "Wind, Sand and Stars", Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote, "Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that love is not to gaze at one another but to gaze in the same direction. There is no comradeship except through unity on the same rope, climbing towards the same peak" I believe that this symbolic rope, which is joint action, research, and exchange of experiences, will allow us to climb together to take on new challenges - to achieve ever new goals and broaden our horizons - research, scientific, human.'
A meeting of the Executive Committee, comprising task package leaders and the project coordinator, had a more working character, where expert teams from the individual partner universities and the project's most important goals were presented. The Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG opened the meeting. She emphasised the importance of the new model of education and academic exchange created within the SEA-EU. The Vice-Rector also highlighted the crucial tasks facing the University of Gdańsk responsible for the critical work package 'European Campus Life', which will aim to create inclusive, digital, ecologically interdisciplinary and innovative educational pathways. The task will be overseen by a specially appointed team of experts composed of students and UG academic and administrative staff.
The meeting was also attended by the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development—dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG, the Vice-Rector for Students and Educational Quality—dr hab. Arnold Kłonczyński, prof. UG, the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Management—dr hab. Angelika Kędzierska-Szczepaniak, prof. UG, and student representatives—Joanna Jakubowska from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Hubert Czyż from the Faculty of Biology.
The programme of events at the University of Cadiz also included meetings of the project coordination team to discuss the adopted assumptions concerning the budget, communication and timetable of activities. The University of Gdańsk was represented by Marlena Rutkowska-Myzyk—SEA-EU 2.0 project manager at the UG, Natalia Lubińska—SEA-EU office manager, Paulina Pawelska—quality and ethics expert, and Paulina Jędrzejczyk—head of the Procurement Procedures Unit.
On the last day, meetings of the Quality and Ethics team took place, with the participation of Maciej Siwy—coordinator of the Office of Legal Advisers of the UG, and Paulina Pawelska from the Development Projects Office, as well as a meeting of representatives of partner cities and ports, in which Gdańsk was represented by the advisor to the Mayor of Gdańsk—dr hab. Mariusz Czepczyński, prof. UG.
On the occasion of the SEA-EU summit in Cadiz, meetings of the reSEArch-EU team were also held, in which the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development, dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG and Justyna Sikorska from the Analysis and Expertise Office participated.
SEA-EU 2.0 will involve nine universities educating more than 150,000 students and employing 18,000 staff. The research community from Cadiz, Brest, Kiel, Gdańsk, Split, Malta, Naples, Algarve and Bodø will share knowledge, platforms and resources to deliver joint curricula or modules across disciplines. For all members, this also means working closely with businesses, local authorities, academics and researchers to find solutions to the challenges of sustainable economic development. For more details on the objectives of the SEA-EU 2.0 project, please see the dossier.
