Prof. Anton Zeilinger's nomination to the PAS, an honorary doctorate for Prof. Tomasz Jasiński, and changes to the statutes of The Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk were the most widely discussed items at the February meeting of the University of Gdańsk Senate.

After the traditional approval of the proposed agenda, to which item 6a (Expansion of the Senate Committee on Academic Staff) was added, the Dean of the Faculty of History, dr hab. Arkadiusz Janicki, prof. UG presented a motion to appoint dr hab. Monika Milewska to the position of professor at the University of Gdańsk. The motion was accepted. Next, the Director of the International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies, prof. Marek Żukowski, presented the justification for the draft resolution of the Senate of the University of Gdańsk on the nomination of Prof. Anton Zeilinger as a candidate for foreign membership of the Polish Academy of Sciences: ‘This is a very exciting moment for me. And for prof. Wiesław Laskowski. Neither of us would be here if it weren’t for prof. Zeillinger,’ he began his speech, in which he primarily presented the Nobel Prize winner’s influence on research conducted at the University of Gdańsk.

The Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, dr hab. Marcin Marciniak, prof. UG, also asked for support for the motion. The Rector, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, also informed the Senators about a meeting he had held with the Vice-Rector for Research, prof. dr hab. Wiesław Laskowski, and the Deputy Prime Minister, - Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski and Deputy Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Jacek Karnowski, during which they discussed the research and development potential of the University of Gdańsk in the field of quantum technologies and quantum cybersecurity. The Rector also recalled the Jan Hevelius Science Award of the City of Gdańsk, presented this week to quantum physicist prof. dr hab. Michał Horodecki.

The next item also concerned an outstanding scientist collaborating with the University of Gdańsk. The senators listened to the Dean of the Faculty of History, prof. Arkadiusz Janicki, who presented a motion (approved by the Honorary Dignity Convention) to award prof. Tomasz Jasiński an honorary doctorate from the University of Gdańsk and to appoint a committee and reviewers. The Senate approved the motion to appoint a committee consisting of prof. Arkadiusz Janicki, prof. Rafał Kubicki and prof. Sobiesław Szybkowski, as well as reviewers prof. Wiesław Długokęcki, prof. Roman Czaja and prof. Stanisław Rosiek.

The draft resolution of the Senate of the University of Gdańsk on amending the Statutes of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk was presented by Rector prof. Piotr Stepnowski, who noted that the proposed changes are necessary in order for the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk and the Academy of Music in Gdańsk to join the Union. The amendment concerns, among other things, the procedure for joining the association, i.e. the issue of obtaining the consent of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, who is also the minister responsible for art universities, alongside the Minister of Science and Higher Education.

‘We have also provided for the possibility of a university leaving the association in this amendment,’ said the Rector. Dean prof. Marcin Marciniak asked what stage the proceedings on federalisation were at and whether the two universities were interested in joining the federation. The Rector replied that the bill is already awaiting deliberation and voting in the Sejm, and that the rectors of the universities have declared their intention to join. Strong centres of the PAS, such as the Institute of Oceanology in Sopot, are also waiting for the opportunity to join the union.

The next item was presented by the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, dr hab. Urszula Patocka-Sigłowy, prof. UG, a draft resolution of the Senate of the University of Gdańsk on the establishment of study programmes at the University of Gdańsk: bioinformatics (full-time), English philology (part-time), Romance philology (full-time), cultural studies (full-time), political science (full-time) and sociology (full-time). Some of the changes, as explained by the Vice-Rector, are related to changes in the number of hours, ECTS credit calculation and a different approach to the description of the graduate profile, as greater importance is now attached to the competences and skills acquired by graduates rather than information on where they can be employed. The changes, adopted by the Senate, will come into force in the 2026/2027 academic year.

Item 6a added to the agenda concerned a change in the composition of the Senate Committee for Academic Staff, to which representatives of assistant professors and assistants were additionally appointed: dr Łukasz Nuckowski (WOiG), dr Gabriela Brzuska (IFB), mgr Julia Witkowska (WNS) and mgr Dominika Majkowska (WF). As explained by the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations, dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG, this change is based on the recommendations of the European Commission's auditors.

The Director of the Foreign Languages Centre, mgr Emilia Krzywańska-Frankowska, presented a report on the activities of the FLC for the 2024/25 academic year (see here). The Rector thanked her for the report and especially for additional activities such as the organisation of so-called staffs for UG staff. Vice-Rector prof. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler added that the evaluations of the courses conducted by the centre's lecturers are very high.

The next report, this time on the activities of the University of Gdańsk UG Publishing House for 2025, was presented by its Director, dr Joanna Kamień (see here). Vice-Rector prof. Wiesław Laskowski thanked the publishing house team for their very intensive work over the past year.

Both speeches were rewarded with applause from the Senators.

The next meeting of the Senate of the University of Gdańsk will be held on 12 March this year.