The three largest universities in the region — the University of Lodz, Lodz University of Technology, and the Medical University of Lodz — have decided to join forces to attract international researchers to the city. Their goal is ambitious: to make Lodz’s academic community visible, competitive, and simply attractive on the international research map.
This is exactly what the Lodzkie for International Researchers (L4R) project, coordinated by the University of Lodz, aims to achieve. It is more than just another “paper project.” At its centre are the people who decide to continue their academic careers abroad — from the first thought of coming to Lodz, through formalities and university work, to everyday life in a new environment.
The project, funded under the NAWA–EURAXESS Network program, provides further evidence that the Lodz Academic Partnership knows how to cooperate effectively. The simple truth is that without good collaboration, it’s hard to build a system that truly works. The project partners understand this well. That’s why they are developing unified support standards — so that, regardless of the university, foreign researchers can count on clear procedures, assistance, and a sense of stability.
The meeting was attended by Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Łukasz Albrecht.
One of the practical outcomes will be the “Foreign Researcher’s Stay Guide” — a manual guiding readers step by step through the complexities of both university and administrative procedures. It will be complemented by the Mobile Researcher Assistant, and activities such as integration events for researchers and their families will round out the initiative. After all, building an international community is not just about work — it’s about relationships and a sense of belonging.
Lodz University of Technology is responsible for part of the project, coordinating the exchange of good practices and the development of solutions that can be implemented across all partner institutions. As noted by Agnieszka Tiele, who leads the project at the university, inter-institutional expert groups have already been formed and are working on tangible improvements.
The project’s symbolic beginning was marked by its inauguration on March 27, 2026. The event gathered not only university authorities — including Prof. Rafał Matera, Rector of the University of Lodz; Prof. Łukasz Albrecht, Vice-Rector of Lodz University of Technology; and Prof. Agnieszka Piastowska-Ciesielska, Vice-Rector of the Medical University — but also international researchers already working in Lodz, experts on academic mobility, and public administration representatives.
This sends an important message: Lodz not only aims to attract talent from around the world but is also creating a place where it’s truly worth staying.
