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Awards for Excellent Cooperation
Three projects with the participation of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń have been recognised in the YUFE Outstanding Collaboration Award competition. The results were announced during the YUFE Annual Strategic Forum in Maastricht.
The main aim of the competition was to recognise staff at the YUFE member universities who have jointly undertaken valuable initiatives that transcend national and institutional boundaries. The submitted projects were assessed on the basis of the effectiveness of inter-university cooperation, measurable outcomes and positive impact, as well as originality, significance and potential for continuation.
The main prize in the competition was awarded to the BioYUFE project, for which prof. dr habil. Werner Ulrich and prof. dr habil. Marcin Koprowski from the Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences were responsible on behalf of the Nicolaus Copernicus University. The BioYUFE is a grassroots initiative linking natural sciences programmes at the YUFE partner universities, and its aim is to support practical, research-based teaching. As part of the BioYUFE, a permanent range of optional courses for students has been established, along with a series of webinars on topics such as biodiversity and mental health.
Among the projects recognised were the YUFE Research Relay and BIP English for Entrepreneurship, both co-created by the Nicolaus Copernicus University.
The YUFE Research Relay was joined by, amongst others,dr Karolina Karpus from the Faculty of Law and Administration, prof. dr habil. Dariusz Brzostek from the Faculty of Humanities, prof. dr habil. Maciej Serowaniec (Faculty of Law and Administration), dr habil. Agata Domachowska, NCU Prof. (Faculty of Humanities), dr habil. Anna Brzezińska-Rawa, NCU Prof.(Faculty of Law and Administration), dr wng. Sebastian Meszyński from the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, and dr Magdalena Kalińska from the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management. The project was recognised for its innovative approach to international collaboration through the organisation of training sessions on preparing grant applications for the Horizon Europe Programme for a group of selected researchers, mentoring sessions with specialists, and networking events. On behalf of the Nicolaus Copernicus University, activities under the YUFE Research Relay are coordinated by mgr Karolina Jarzynka, Deputy Head of the Research and Project Support Department.
The award-winning language project 'English for Entrepreneurship', run by the University Centre for Foreign Languages in collaboration with the University of Rijeka, the University of Cyprus, the University of Antwerp and the University of Eastern Finland, was launched in 2023 by a team from the University Centre for Foreign Languages comprising Joanna Ososińska-Ciechomska, Agnieszka Pawlikowska and Kamila Szczepanowska. The next edition took place in 2025 in Nicosia, and the University of Rijeka will be the next coordinator in 2027.
The initiative is aimed at the YUFE students and involves developing a business concept in international teams. The online learning component involves learning concepts related to entrepreneurship, integrated with language learning in both synchronous and asynchronous formats, whilst the on-site component focuses on acquiring practical language skills sufficient to establish business contacts, such as developing a company portfolio, presenting a business proposal, drafting a business contract, etc. The project is implemented as an Erasmus+ blended mobility programme. Students undertake the online part and then the on-site part. Subsequent editions offer the opportunity to visit a new university and experience the culture of different educational contexts.
The jury appreciated the international dimension of the programme, the support provided by business experts, innovative teaching methods, and the benefits of long-term collaboration for both students and the universities.
The winning initiatives serve as examples of particularly effective international cooperation carried out within the YUFE consortium. They are distinguished by their high level of effectiveness, inclusivity and a creative approach to collaboration. At the same time, they are characterised by a positive impact – both in terms of the results achieved and the influence they have had.
