The organization of the meeting in Lodz demonstrates the growing role of Lodz University of Technology in the European academic arena. It is also proof that the university is actively co-creating modern models of teaching and research in response to changing civilizational challenges.
“This is a great honour and also a responsibility for us – we want to present Lodz University of Technology as an innovative university, fully engaged in building the European university of the future,”
said Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik, Rector of TUL, before the start of the session.
A Shared Vision of the Future
The main goal of the meeting was to discuss the consortium’s development directions, innovative teaching methods, ongoing scientific research, and ways of responding together to global challenges. A key highlight was the ECIU Council session attended by the rectors of member universities and representatives of the consortium’s strategic bodies.
Jan-Ingvar Jönsson, ECIU Chair, emphasized that one of ECIU’s main goals is a focus on the future – both in student development and societal progress. He stated:
“We work in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship, delivering future-oriented competences to industry. This is part of our DNA.”
According to TUL Rector Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik:
“ECIU is a wonderful family that gives us opportunities to establish contacts and work together on new models of education. It also facilitates access to funding – for example, from the Horizon programme – for developing research and implementing innovations.”
The importance of future-focused solutions was also underlined by Assoc. Prof. Dorota Piotrowska, Head of the International Faculty of Engineering:
“I see European alliances, European universities as centres where co-creation, innovation, and cooperation can shape the society of tomorrow. I believe that together we can bring about smarter, more ecological, and more sustainable progress and change.”
Individuals particularly distinguished for their contribution to TUL were awarded the “Merited for Lodz University of Technology” badge. Recognized for long-standing collaboration with TUL were:
- Katrin Dircksen – University of Twente
- Olga Wessels – ECIU Brussels’ Office
- Niall Power – Director, ECIU University
- Antonio Pita Szczesniewski – Tecnológico de Monterrey
Badges of “Merited for Lodz University of Technology” were presented to ECIU representatives at the Professor Jan Krysiński Hall photo: Marcin Szmidt
Expert Cooperation
The event included sessions of six ECIU expert groups, which also feature representatives from TUL:
- VP for Education – Assoc. Prof. Andrzej Romanowski, Vice-Rector for Education, and Assoc. Prof. Witold Pawłowski, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs
- VP for Research – Prof. Łukasz Albrecht, Vice-Rector for Science
- Institutional Coordinators – Assoc. Prof. Dorota Piotrowska, Head of the International Cooperation Centre
- EduCo Expert Group – Assoc. Prof. Dorota Piotrowska, Justyna Kopańska, and Małgorzata Jarczyńska from the International Cooperation Centre
- R&I Expert Group – Agnieszka Dybała-Defratyka, PhD, DSc, Director of the TUL Research Support Centre, Agnieszka Tiele, Martyna Stawiana from the same Centre, and Zbigniew Szamel, PhD, Director of the TUL Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre
- IPR Group – Konrad Lewik, specialist from the Patent Attorneys Section of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre
These meetings allowed for strengthening international cooperation, sharing best practices, and planning joint activities in education, research, and technology transfer.
ECIU is not only about institutional collaboration but also practical actions for students and society. Consortium partners emphasize that joint projects and the implementation of innovative educational solutions meet the real needs of the future.
The Voice of Students
Students from ECIU universities also gathered at TUL. During the “Student Representatives Summit,” they debated key issues important to student governments, including interrelations, inter-university cooperation, and procedures for reaching common positions.
ECIU Universities
The consortium brings together twelve universities:
- University of Twente (Netherlands)
- Dublin City University (Ireland)
- Hamburg University of Technology (Germany)
- Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
- Linköping University (Sweden)
- Tampere University (Finland)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain)
- University of Aveiro (Portugal)
- University of Stavanger (Norway)
- University of Trento (Italy)
- INSA Group (France)
- Lodz University of Technology (Poland)
Associated Partner: Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico)
Activities are carried out under the European Universities Support Programme, financed from the European Union funds as part of the project entitled “Support for European Universities Alliances,” project number FERS.01.05-IP.08-0219/23.