From May 14 to 16, 2025, the Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG) hosted the international conference “ACE²-EU – Challenges and Opportunities.” The event marked an important step in advancing collaboration within the ACE²-EU alliance, which brings together nine European universities, and served as a platform for dialogue with representatives from other academic institutions and members of the Daniel Fahrenheit Association of Universities (FarU).
Official Opening and Partner Presentations
The conference was officially opened by MUG Rector Prof. Michał Markuszewski, who emphasized the importance of international cooperation in academia:
“Our responsibility is to support collaboration and engage with our communities. Science does not exist solely for itself. We, as scholars, have a significant social duty toward others,” he noted.
“Our responsibility is to support collaboration and engage with our communities. Science does not exist solely for itself. We, as scholars, have a significant social duty toward others,” he noted.
That day featured presentations from all ACE²-EU partner universities, as well as institutions affiliated with FarU. A key point in the program was the presentation by Dr. Paweł Skubida from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), who highlighted initiatives supporting academic mobility and international project development aligned with the alliance’s objectives.
Sharing Experiences and Best Practices
The second day of the conference focused on collaboration between universities participating in different European university alliances. Representatives of the University of Gdańsk (SEA-EU alliance) and Gdańsk University of Technology (ENHANCE alliance) shared their insights into the governance, challenges, and achievements in managing such consortia.
One of the highlights was the panel discussion “Challenges and Opportunities for Alliances – Exchange of Experiences between ACE²-EU and FarU.” Panelists discussed opportunities for joint actions in education and research, as well as the need for building sustainable models of administrative and academic cooperation.
Governance and Integration
A meeting of the ACE²-EU Board was also held during the conference to coordinate the alliance’s strategic activities, including the integration of the NAWA-funded project with other initiatives led by the partner institutions.
Participants also joined the Diversity Day event, organized by MUG’s Internationalization Office, which promoted multiculturalism, openness, and inclusion within the academic environment.
Significance for MUG and Future Collaboration
Hosting the conference in Gdańsk was not only an opportunity to promote ACE²-EU’s goals but also a step toward strengthening ties between partner universities. The workshops and working meetings fostered joint planning for future academic and administrative initiatives.
ACE²-EU, as a European university alliance, focuses on developing education, research, and innovation based on shared values: democracy, human rights, solidarity, and sustainable development. The Gdańsk conference represented another milestone in the effort to build a cohesive European academic community and reinforced MUG’s role as an active contributor to international academic cooperation.
