Event report Rectors’ Conference 2022
The Baltic University Programme's Rectors' Conference is a recurring event where all rectors at BUP participating universities are invited to share knowledge and experiences as well as discussing cooperation and long-term directions for the BUP.
During 28-29 September 2022 the BUP hosted the 6th Rectors' Conference at Uppsala University in Uppsala. In total close to 90 rectors and rectors' representatives from all ten member countries participated during the conference, both in person and online via Zoom. The Rectors' Conference also included the Programmes 30-year celebration held at Uppsala Castle. Read the program for the Rectors' Conference.
Voices from participants
Rafał Witkowski - Vice-rector for International Cooperation at Adam Mickiewicz University
Before I came to the conference I knew a lot about the Programme because my university has been involved in the BUP for years. My expectations were to meet the other participants who are also interested in this kind of international cooperation, to establish personal contacts and to find out what possible ways there are for our university's engagement in the BUP.
At the conference I could meet official representatives from all bodies of the BUP and the lectures and panel discussions were very instructive and innovative.
I would say that our university can contribute to the prosperity of the BUP by offering the specialities of our university, so I will go back to Poznan with the strong conviction that we should continue our involvement in the BUP as broadly as possible.
Regina Erlenheim - Vice-rector for Research at Estonian Business School
I had heard that The Baltic University Programme had a long history and I was looking forward to meeting all the people involved in the Programme with a lot of knowledge about the universities and activities that have been going on over the years.
I found the first day the most interesting, as it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the BUP participating universities, as our university is also a newcomer in the Programme. It really gave me a good background and understanding of what the BUP is working on.
I will bring back all of the good contacts that I have made here. I am looking forward to organising joint events together with the BUP. All of the work that the BUP is already doing we are looking forward to being a part of.
Seymur Inqilabli - Student Representative
The most important part of the conference for me was meeting the rectors, researchers and lecturers that took part in the conference because I learned many things that can benefit the quality of education at participating universities and even though our interests may differ we can find common ground.
One of the main aims for me in my role as a Student Representative is sustainability at universities, I really want to contribute to spreading sustainable knowledge at participating universities. We are doing good but we can do better and this conference has been a big step in the right direction.
Images from Rectors' Conference
Anders Hagfeldt, Rector at Uppsala University, welcomed the participants during the opening speech at the 6th Baltic University Programme Rectors’ Conference in Uppsala.
Photo: Adam Söderberg
Madeleine Granvik, Director of The Baltic University Programme, presented the Programme and what has happened since the last Rectors' Conference.
Photo: Adam Söderberg
During the first day the venue was the Humanities Theatre at Uppsala University and in addition to colleagues taking part in person, Ukrainian colleagues were able to attend the conference online.
Photo: Adam Söderberg
The Rectors' Conference is an opportunity to meet colleagues in person to exchange experiences and share knowledge. Pictured are Madeleine Granvik and Wolfgang Schareck, Rector at the University of Rostock.
Photo: Adam Söderberg
Lucyna Wozniak, Vice-rector at the Medical University of Lodz, gave a presentation during the session Quality Assurance of Higher Education.
Photo: Pontus Ambros
The first day of the Rectors' Conference concluded with The Baltic University Programme's 30-year celebration dinner at Uppsala Castle. During the dinner the choir Värmlands Nations Kör performed a selection of songs connected to the Baltic Sea Region.
Photo: Adam Söderberg
Lars Rydén, the founder and former Director of The Baltic University Programme, gave a speech about the early days of the Programme during the celebration dinner.
Photo: Adam Söderberg
During the second day of the conference there were panel discussions within different themes of relevance for the Programme. Here is the panel discussing the theme Sustainability at Universities.
Photo: Pontus Ambros
After the closing of the conference the participants were invited for a guided tour of Uppsala, here pictured in The Linnaean Gardens of Uppsala.
Photo: Hans Odöö
Presentations during the Rectors' Conference
During the Rectors' Conference BUP colleagues and Student Representatives held presentations where they shared experiences and best practice from their own universities.
The BUP Coordinating Secretariat initially presented the Programme and much of the work that has been done since the last Rectors' Conference during two presentations named The Baltic University Programme – 31 years of academic cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region and The Baltic University Programme – internationalization in practice.
Read the presentation by BUP colleagues and Student Representatives.
During the theme Challenges Ahead – strategic issues to address there was one presentation by Senior lecturer Sofia Ahlberg, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Read the presentation within the theme Challenges Ahead – strategic issues to address.
During the theme Challenges of Internationalization there were presentations by Vice-rector Łukasz Bogucki, University of Lodz, Poland, Rector's representative Remigiusz Panicz, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland and Rector Alojzy Z. Nowak, University of Warsaw, Poland.
Read the presentations within the theme Challenges of Internationalization.
During the theme Sustainability at Universities there were presentations by Senior lecturer Maria Forsberg, Uppsala University, Sweden and Rector Ryszard Sowiński, WSB University in Poznan, Poland.
Read the presentations within the theme Sustainability at Universities.
During the theme Quality Assurance of Higher Education there were presentations by Rector Eugenijus Valatka, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania, Rector Krzysztof Jóźwik, Lodz University of Technology, Poland and Vice Rector Lucyna Wozniak, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Read the presentations within the theme Quality Assurance of Higher Education.