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Ambassador of Canada visits the Nicolaus Copernicus University
In the first half of November, the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń had the honour of hosting Ms. Catherine Godin, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Poland. The visit combined both diplomatic and academic elements, including discussions on scientific, educational, and technological cooperation, as well as meetings with members of the university community.
The discussions were attended by Vice-Rector for Research, Dr hab. Adam Kola, Prof. NCU, and by representatives of the Faculty of Humanities, Vice-Deans Dr hab. Andrzej Moroz, Prof. NCU, and Dr hab. Piotr Sadkowski, Prof. NCU. Prof. Dr hab. Anna Branach-Kallas, Director of the Doctoral School of Humanities, Theology and Arts, also took part in the meeting.
During the visit, Prof. Adam Kola presented the structure and strategic priorities of the University, highlighting its status as a research university and its dynamic development in key areas of contemporary science, including technological transformations in research and education, quantum technologies, and renewable energy sources—both as a field of study and research at NCU and as a major sector of the Canadian economy. He also emphasised the growing importance of research security, now one of the fundamental challenges facing the global academic community.
Prof. Adam Kola noted:
The Nicolaus Copernicus University is one of Poland's leading centres for Canadian Studies, recognised internationally. Today, we are intensifying this cooperation, expanding it into modern research areas, technological development, and strategic issues related to research security. Canada is a natural partner for us in many of these fields, and the country's clear orientation towards Europe further supports the deepening of our relations.
Ambassador Godin subsequently met with the Toruń team of Canadian Studies scholars: Prof. Dr hab. Anna Branach-Kallas, Dr hab. Piotr Sadkowski, Dr Joanna Antoniak, and Dr Anna Żurawska. The substantive, wide-ranging discussion addressed current research directions in Canadian Studies, as well as prospects for strengthening academic cooperation, joint projects, and scholarly mobility.
After meeting with regional authorities—Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Piotr Całbecki—and with the city's leadership represented by Toruń Mayor Paweł Gulewski, the Ambassador visited the Collegium Humanisticum, where she met students of Romance Philology and Applied Linguistics. She delivered a lecture on political, economic, military, and cultural aspects of Polish-Canadian cooperation, followed by a lively Q&A session. The programme also included a few special surprises for the students.
Ambassador Godin was accompanied by Mr. Przemysław Karbowski, whose organisational support greatly contributed to the success of the visit.
