Student Exchanges, Academic Conferences, and Economic Cooperation — Key Topics of Polish-Turkish Talks at the University of Zielona Góra
Student exchanges, academic conferences, and economic cooperation were the main topics discussed during a meeting between the authorities of the University of Zielona Góra and the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey. The talks took place on Friday, April 11th, at the UZ Rectorate. The meeting was also attended by the Lubusz Voivode, the Deputy Marshal of the Lubusz Voivodeship, and the Deputy Mayor of Zielona Góra. All participants agreed: the region offers many assets that support both academic and economic international development.
Currently, nearly 50 Turkish students are enrolled at the University of Zielona Góra. Through exchange programs, they pursue degrees in English philology, mechanical engineering, and computer science, among others. The University also boasts more than 40 cooperation agreements with Turkish universities.
“This shows the scale of our cooperation, and we would like to see even more Turkish students coming to Zielona Góra. We are also considering implementing dual degree programs with Turkish universities. These were among the topics discussed during the meeting. We are pleased to welcome students not only from Turkey’s largest universities but also from smaller, regional academic centers,” said Professor Wojciech Strzyżewski, Rector of the University of Zielona Góra.
International students — in this case from Turkey — also present an opportunity for economic growth. International cooperation opens doors to establishing new laboratories, fostering technological initiatives, and signing further research agreements.
“Turkey is very interested in strengthening its ties with our region. As a member of the European Union, Poland offers strong potential from Turkey’s perspective. In addition, our region is seen as safe and stable — a promising location for Turkish investment, not least because of the significant presence of U.S. military forces here. We are viewed as a gateway to Western Europe,” said Marek Cebula, Voivode of the Lubusz Voivodeship.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Rauf Alp Denktaş, expressed particular interest in the Space Technology Park — a modern center located in Nowy Kisielin (Zielona Góra), which may become one of the region’s most attractive assets, potentially drawing in Turkish capital. He also noted that cooperation with the University of Zielona Góra has already been ongoing for some time, and the current phase is focused on refining the details of future partnership.
The City of Zielona Góra is also looking to strengthen this Polish-Turkish relationship.
“We would like to establish a broader partnership — not only in terms of student exchanges but also by boosting the local economy through attracting high-tech investors from Turkey,” said Dr. Jarosław Flakowski, Deputy Mayor of Zielona Góra.
The meeting at the UZ Rectorate was one of several events during the Ambassador’s visit to Zielona Góra. His Excellency delivered a lecture for students titled “Turkish Foreign Policy and Turkish-Polish Bilateral Relations” and attended a Friday evening concert of Turkish music held at the Zielona Góra Philharmonic as part of the “Music Without Borders” festival.
