“Internationalisation of Science – Challenges and Opportunities” was the theme of a two-day conference held on 25–26 November at the University of Zielona Góra. The event focused on cross-border scientific cooperation and was organised as part of the anniversary project “60 Years of Discoveries, 60 Years of Inspiration: The University of Zielona Góra for Society.” The discussions highlighted good practices and challenges related to international collaboration in research.
The extensive programme included expert panels featuring specialists from Poland and Germany. Participants addressed the role of universities in international cooperation. The agenda also featured presentations of NAWA, Interreg, EUNICE, Horizon Europe and PROM projects, as well as discussions on space law and the potential of the regional space industry.
“We are talking with our partners about international cooperation that has already taken place, as well as our joint plans for the future. We are implementing projects under the Erasmus+ Programme and the National Agency for Academic Exchange, and together with our partners we also carry out initiatives within the European Universities framework. Today, we are meeting in a highly international group. Cross-border cooperation is of particular importance to us, as it offers many opportunities for exchanging experience, as well as student and staff mobility,” said Prof. Justyna Patalas-Maliszewska, Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at UZ.
Dr Magdalena Kowalczyk, Director of the NAWA Department of Programmes for Scientists, also highlighted the benefits of cooperation between universities located in border regions:
“Mobility is easier here. These are relations not only in the academic sphere, but also in tourism. Joint priorities can emerge—for example, the crisis surrounding the Oder River some time ago. Regional cooperation is therefore essential. It forms one of the dimensions of European and global internationalisation. My role during this meeting is to present the wide and diverse range of NAWA programmes. We focus primarily on initiatives that attract international students to Polish universities, and we also carry out the important mission of promoting the Polish language.”
During the first day, discussions centred on:
It is worth emphasising that the conference “Internationalisation of Science – Challenges and Opportunities” was organised within the anniversary framework of “60 Years of Discoveries, 60 Years of Inspiration: The University of Zielona Góra for Society.”
“For many years, UZ has proved that it is a university open to everyone. The 60th anniversary of the academic community in Zielona Góra provides a solid foundation for leading the entire region toward a better future. We confirm that universities play a crucial role in social development—not only scientific,” noted Prof. Maria Mrówczyńska, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education.
A significant element of the two-day event was the signing of an agreement enabling the Institute of Legal Sciences of the University of Zielona Góra (INP UZ) to join the Manfred Lachs Space Law Centre at the University of Warsaw.
“The space sector is a new but rapidly developing scientific field. For us and for our students, it is extremely important. It combines theory with hands-on experience gained through classes. Space law is a forward-looking sector, and interest in this topic is growing. It is, one could say, a promising glimpse of the future,” said Dr hab. Izabela Gawłowicz, Professor of UZ.
The substantive part of the Space MeetUp was opened by Justyna Redełkiewicz from GoCosmic, who emphasised the interdisciplinary nature of the space sector, which is open not only to engineers but also to professionals in fields such as law, AI, and management. The first panel focused on legal issues—including philosophical and legal perspectives, liability for space-related damage, and the impact of artificial intelligence. The second panel, featuring representatives of the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Space Technology Park, and the UZ Institute of Astronomy, explored the economics of space and development pathways for the sector, including opportunities for the Lubusz region.
The event concluded with a visit to the Space Technology Park in Zielona Góra, where the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences presented a humanoid robot used in innovative projects.
