Twenty-five higher-education institutions took part in the project. Seven received the title of laureate, while a further six were distinguished for their good practices. Lodz University of Technology was among the latter group and was the only university from Łódź to receive this distinction.
The conference was hosted by the University of Warsaw and took place in the Column Hall of the Faculty of History.
Among the invited guests were Professor Maria Mrówczyńska, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education; Professor Bogumiła Kaniewska, Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University and Chair of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (KRASP); and Janusz Krasoń, Chief Labour Inspector.
The Safe University project was carried out by a team of staff from the University of Warsaw, led by Professor Jacek Męcina. The research aimed to identify effective ways of preventing undesirable phenomena at Polish higher-education institutions, such as workplace bullying and discrimination. Another important objective was to demonstrate how academic institutions establish systems to protect employees, doctoral candidates and students.
The project was addressed to all types of public and non-public higher-education institutions. Its nationwide scope encouraged a broad exchange of experience and helped identify procedures and good practices worthy of wider dissemination.
During the discussions, speakers stressed the need to adapt existing procedures to changes in labour law, as well as the importance of providing psychological support to people in difficult circumstances. Participants also shared their experiences of implementing good practices aimed at preventing workplace bullying and discrimination.
During the event, Lodz University of Technology was among the institutions recognised for taking action to create a safe and welcoming environment for work and study. Lodz University of Technology was one of 20 institutions selected for the second stage of the competition for the best anti-bullying and anti-discrimination practices, organised as part of the project.
On behalf of Lodz University of Technology, the distinction was accepted by Professor Łukasz Albrecht, Vice-Rector for Science. He was accompanied by members of the team involved in implementing good practices for equal treatment and the prevention of undesirable conduct: Beata Radziłowska-Matusiak, MA, of the Rector’s Office for Equal Treatment, and Dr Andrzej Rafał Hołasek of the Human Capital Management Centre.
The measures undertaken by the University were appreciated and presented as examples of good practice in the project’s concluding publication, “Good Practices: Preventing Mobbing, Discrimination and Undesirable Conduct in Higher Education”, by Jacek Męcina and Małgorzata Seredyńska.
