PROGRAM

2nd Forum of Rectors of Poland and Türkiye
Gdańsk, 8 May 2026

Venue:
Main Library of the University of Gdańsk, Oliwa Campus

Organizers:
University of Gdańsk
Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland)
Council of Higher Education in Türkiye (YÖK)
Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP)
Inter-University Board in Türkiye (ÜAK)
Perspektywy Education Foundation
Partners:
Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA)
Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE)

09:00 - 09:30
Participant registration and networking

09.00 - 09.15
A press conference with the participation of Minister Marcin Kulasek and President Erol Özvar, President of CRASP, Rector UG and representatives of NAWA, Perspektywy and FRSE

09:15 – 09:20
Official opening of the Polish - Turkish Studies Centre at the University of Gdańsk by Minister Marcin Kulasek and President Erol Özvar in the presence of the rectors of Istanbul University, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa and Gazi University

09:30 – 11:00 Opening Session
Political and Strategic Frameworks for Polish–Turkish Cooperation in Higher Education
(Language: English and simultaneous interpretation: Polish / Turkish)

• National anthems
• Welcome address by the host: Prof. PIOTR STEPNOWSKI, Rector of the University of Gdańsk
• Dr MARCIN KULASEK, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Poland
• Prof. EROL ÖZVAR, President of the Council of Higher Education of Türkiye (YÖK)
• RAUF ALP DENKTAŞ, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Poland
• Prof. BOGUMIŁA KANIEWSKA, President of CRASP
• Prof. HÜSNÜ KAPU, Term Chairman of Inter-universities Board
• Dr WOJCIECH KARCZEWSKI, Director of NAWA
• Prof. UĞUR ÜNAL, Rector of Gazi University (host of the 1st Forum)
• Dr BIANKA SIWIŃSKA, President of the Perspektywy Education Foundation
• ADA GUŹNICZAK, Member of FRSE Board

11:00 – 11:10
Ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in Science and Higher Education
Minister MARCIN KULASEK and President EROL ÖZVAR

11:10 – 11:15 Photo session

11:15 – 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 – 12:15 Panel I
Development of Dual-Use Technologies at Technical Universities in Poland and Türkiye
(Language: English)

Moderator:

• Prof. MAREK PAWEŁCZYK, Rector of Silesian University of Technology

Panelists:

• Prof. HASAN MANDAL, Rector of Istanbul Technical University
• Prof. TEOFIL JESIONOWSKI, Rector of Poznań University of Technology
• Prof. NACI ÇAĞLAR, Rector of Bursa Technical University
• Prof. KRZYSZTOF JÓŹWIK, Rector of Łódź University of Technology
• Prof. KRZYSZTOF WILDE, Rector of Gdańsk University of Technology
• Prof. MEHMET KUL, Rector of Sivas Science and Technology University

12:15 – 13:00 Panel II
Perspectives for Polish–Turkish Cooperation in Social Sciences and Humanities
(Language: English)

Moderator:

• Prof. MUSTAFA HATİPLER, Rector of Trakya University

Panelists:

• Prof. RAFAŁ MATERA, Rector of University of Łódź
• Prof. HÜSEYIN DALGAR Rector of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University
• Prof. ROMAN CIEŚLAK, Rector of SWPS University
• Prof. OSMAN BÜLENT ZÜLFIKAR, Rector of Istanbul University
• Prof. MEHMET CAHIT GÜRAN, Rector of Hacettepe University
• Prof. MARIUSZ POPŁAWSKI, Rector of Białystok University

13:00 – 13:15 Intervention I
Cooperation in joint research projects - CEZARY BŁASZCZYK, National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)

13:15 – 14:15 Lunch

14:15 – 14:30 Intervention II
(comparative analysis) NCN’s experience to date in organizing and funding bilateral programmes - JUSTYNA WOŹNIAKOWSKA, National Science Centre (NCN)
Dr. Kemal BAŞCI, Director of Higher Education at Turkish National Agency

14:30 – 15:15 Panel III
(under the patronage of NAWA): Institutional Partnerships, Language Support and Research Centres as Bridges for Cooperation
(Language: English)

Moderator:

• Dr DAMIAN SYJCZAK, Deputy Director of NAWA

Panelists:

• Prof. HACI ALI MANTAR, Rector of Gebze Technical University
• Prof. MARTA KOSIOR-KAZBERUK, Rector of Białystok University of Technology
• Prof. YUSUF BARAN, Rector of IYTE
• Prof. OSMAN NURİ ÇELİK, Rector of Konya Technical University
• Prof. JAN KAZAK, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences
• Prof. HACER TOPAKTAŞ ÜSTÜNER, Istanbul University

15:15 – 16:00 Panel IV
Opportunities for Polish–Turkish Cooperation in Medical and Natural Sciences
(language: English)

Moderator:

• Prof. Dr. HAMIT EMRAH BERİŞ, Rector of Çukurova University

Panelists:

• Prof. BAYRAM YILMAZ, Rector of Dokuz Eylül University
• Prof. KAROLINA PAWLAK, Vice-Rector of Poznań University of Life Sciences
• Prof. AHMET HACIMÜFTÜOĞLU, Rector of Atatürk University
• Prof. LUCYNA WOŹNIAK, Vice-Rector of the Medical University of Łódź
• Prof. NURI AYDIN, Rector of Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa
• Prof. MICHAŁ MARKUSZEWSKI, Rector of Medical University of Gdańsk

16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break

16:30 – 17:15 Panel V
(under the patronage of FRSE): Polish-Turkish academic cooperation – from Erasmus mobility to partnerships
(language: English)

Moderator:

• RENATA DECEWICZ, FRSE Deputy Director

Panelists:

• Prof. BOGUMIŁA KANIEWSKA, Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University
• Prof. SAMBOR GRUCZA, Vice-Rector of University of Warsaw
• EMRE CAN ALPTEKIN Ph.D., University of Wrocław
• HATICE KÜBRA ÖZ, student of Adam Mickiewicz University

17:15 – 18:00 PANEL VI: Realizing Potentials and Opportunities in Turkish Universities for Polish Students and Academicians

Moderator:

• Prof. UĞUR ÜNAL, Rector of Gazi University

Panelists:

• Prof. HAMDULLAH ÇUVALCI, Rector of Black Sea Technical University
• Prof. ADNAN OZCAN, Rector of Eskisehir Technical University
• Prof RAMAZAN BAYINDIR (Vice Chairman of Turkish Quality Council (YÖKAK)
• Assoc. Prof. ESAT İPEK, Council of Higher Education in Türkiye (YÖK)

18:00 – 18:10 Summary and closing of the Forum

18:10 – 18:30
Time for signing inter-university agreements

18:30 – 22:00
Gala dinner