Meeting of Forthem partners in Romania

Representatives of all partner universities of the Forthem Alliance met at the “Lucian Blaga” University in Sibiu, Romania. The meeting lasted from 23 to 25 September 2024 and was an excellent opportunity not only to develop joint strategies for action, but also to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Alliance.

The meeting brought together delegations headed by the rectors and vice-rectors of the universities belonging to Forthem. The UO was represented by the Rector of the University of Opole, Prof. Jacek Lipok, the Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Daniel Pietrek, and the Vice-Rector for Education, Prof. Anna Weissbrot-Koziarska.

Other members of the delegation included Prof. Katarzyna Molek-Kozakowska, Prof. Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak, Dr Barbara Curyło, Sylwia Frach, Patrycja Bochenek, Agnieszka Kalemba, Aleksandra Krems, Jarosław Kubiak, Karolina Młotek and Robert Radziej.

The event was opened with addresses by the rectors of partner universities:

• Prof. Sorin Radu – Rector of the University of Sibiu – the university hosting the event,
• Prof. Maria Vicente Mestre Escrivá – Rector of the University of Valencia – the university holding the Presidency of the Forthem Alliance,
• Prof. Vincent Thomas – Rector of the University of Burgundy in Dijon – the coordinating university of the FORTHEM Alliance,
• Prof. Jacek Lipok – Rector of the University of Opole – the university taking over the chairmanship of the FORTHEM Alliance Steering Committee in 2025.

The speeches emphasised the importance of the alliance for the partner universities and outlined the horizon for further deepening of cooperation. To the applause of the assembled audience, the Rector of the UO, Prof. Jacek Lipok, conlcluded that the partners “have Forthem in their minds and in their hearts”.