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Erasmus+ InnHUB Centre at NCU
An Erasmus+ InnHUB Innovation Centre will be established in Toruń, specifically at the Copernican Integration Centre. The Nicolaus Copernicus University has been appointed coordinator of the project for the entire region. The agreement was signed with the Foundation for the Development of the Education System by prof. dr habil. Andrzej Tretyn, NCU Rector.
The idea behind the Erasmus+ InnHUB initiative is to create intersectoral innovation centres integrating the potential of universities, schools, vocational training centres, entrepreneurs, social organisations and regional and local government units for building a modern system of education and developing professional competence. Toruń has just joined the group of centres in which this undertaking is being developed, with the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń as the main coordinator for the entire region. It is at our university, in the Copernican Integration Centre, that an office of the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE), the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps, will be opened in September this year.
The agreement was signed by prof. dr habil. Andrzej Tretyn, NCU Rector and Mirosław Marczewski, FRSE Director General during a media briefing on Monday 9 June.
We have increasingly had the opportunity to meet with the media to announce our successes. Today we are announcing another one - we are signing a two-year agreement with the most important foundation in Poland dealing with academic exchange. We will be the coordinator of this project for the entire region," said prof. Andrzej Tretyn, NCU Rector.
The briefing was attended by the NCU Rectors, representatives of the FRSE, including dr Sławomir Drelich - a member of the Foundation's Board and assistant professor at the NCU Faculty of Political Sciences and Security Studies, the Mayor of Toruń and the Deputy Marshall of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship fot. Andrzej Romański
- I am very pleased that we are expanding our InnHUB network precisely in cooperation with the Nicolaus Copernicus University. This is where the heart of the project will be - although it will be located at one university, we want to cooperate with many different types of entities, including regional universities, schools, youth organisations, and entrepreneurs. It is here, at the NCU, that you will be able to get support to carry out interesting projects in the international arena,' explained Mirosław Marczewski, FRSE Director. - It is important for us to network and build cooperation between different sectors.
- Lack of cooperation is the biggest obstacle to innovation. The agreement signed today gives hope that we will overcome this obstacle. An important thing is happening," added Zbigniew Ostrowski, Deputy Marshall of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship.
The main function of the offices of the Foundation for the Development of the Education System is the promotion of European educational programmes and support in obtaining funding for projects.
Like the other offices of this network, the centre to be opened at the Nicolaus Copernicus University will be available to a wider public - not only students and university staff, but also students, teachers, representatives of local governments, non-governmental organisations, employers and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises. Anyone interested will find support here in taking advantage of the opportunities offered by European educational programmes.
The fact that another network office will be established at the Nicolaus Copernicus University is largely thanks to dr hab. Magdalena Barwiołek, NCU Prof. The Vice-Rector for International Relations did not hide her satisfaction that the many months of talks and arrangements had been finalised with the signing of the agreement.
Prof. Magdalena Barwiołek, Vice-Rector for International Relations, introduced the media to the activities of the Erasmus+ InnHUB Innovation Centre fot. Andrzej Romański
I am very pleased that the InnHUB will be established here. This clearly demonstrates the NCU's leading role in the region. The location where the office will be set up - the Copernican Integration Centre - is also no coincidence. The Copernican Integration Centre has experience in a wide variety of activities in the international field. 'In internationalisation and diversity lies the great strength of the NCU,' said Prof. Magdalena Barwiołek. - In addition, the NCU and FRSE have many threads in common: we conduct educational activities on many levels, we also have a strong impact on the local community and we cooperate fruitfully with the local government.
Paweł Gulewski, Mayor of Toruń, confirmed this.
- We are already natural partners with the Nicolaus Copernicus University. We run many joint projects,' said Paweł Gulewski. - I am glad that this type of institution is being established in Toruń, the academic city of Nicolaus Copernicus, and will resonate with the entire city.
