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Exhibition '50 years of IRO'

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IRO's history

Exhibition '50 years of IRO'

In 2015, the International Relations Office of the Jagiellonian University is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. On this occasion the JU IRO, together with the Jagiellonian Library, has organised an exhibition that shows the history of the IRO and to a considerable extent the history of international relations of the Jagiellonian University since the 1960s.

Opening ceremony

On 7 May 2015, in the conference hall of the Jagiellonian Library there was an opening of the exhibition entitled ‘50 years of the Jagiellonian University International Relations Office.' The gathered guests – over 90 people – were welcomed by the Director of the Jagiellonian Library Prof. Zdzisław Pietrzyk as the co-organiser of the exhibition.

On behalf of the JU Rector Prof. Wojciech Nowak, words of welcome and introduction to the international relations of the Jagiellonian University, stressing the significance of the tasks undertaken by the JU International Relations Office, were given by Prof. Stanisław Kistryn, JU Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds. In turn Prof. Andrzej Mania, JU Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs, shared his experience in international contacts related with the Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship and also mentioned the importance of undergraduate and graduate student mobility within the JU bilateral scholarships.

Mrs Dorota Maciejowska, head of the JU IRO, welcomed the gathered guests and thanked all those who had contributed to the organisation of the exhibition.  

The curator of the exhibition Dr Maria Kantor, IRO, presented the presumptions of the exhibition, emphasising that it was difficult to enclose in one exhibition the 50 year period of the activities of the JU International Relations Office resulting in numerous documents, photographs, prints, invoices, lists, publications, commemorative medals and gadgets received from partner universities and institutions.

The opening ceremony was graced by a short recital ‘Travelling collage' performed by Desisława Christozowa-Gurgul and Małgorzata Drzał along with the artists of St. Norbert's Cellar and the Kraków School of Flamenco ‘Almoraima':  Stefan Błaszczyński (flute), Adam Prucnal (violin), Łukasz Szańca (guitar) and Grzegorz Guzik (flamenco guitar). They performed the following songs: Molly Malone (Irish), Erev shel shoshanim (Hebrew), Kirialesa (Georgian), Zorongo (Spanish), Tudora (Bulgarian) and Ajde, Jano (Serbian). Then the guests were invited to see the exhibition.

The second part of the meeting was opened by a multi-media presentation of the JU International Relations Office by M. Kantor. Then their experiences and recollections of directing the Office were shared by Prof. Krystyna Dyrek, JU Vice-Rector for international relations in 1990-1993, Prof. Marek Szymoński, JU Vice-Rector for international relations in 1993-1999 and Prof. Maria Nowakowska, JU Vice-Rector for research and international relations in 1999-2005, while Prof. Małgorzata Schlegel-Zawadzka, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of health Sciences, described her experiences of co-operation with the University of Jena.

Exhibition

Since its establishment, by the motion of the JU Senate issued on 16 December 1964, the International Relations Office of the Jagiellonian University participates in the realisation of the University's policy concerning international collaboration, fulfilling tasks related to it. The choice of exhibits brings nearer, or reminds visitors, the most important events, people and undertakings marking the turning points of the IRO's history. Hopefully, the exhibition will be a wonderful experience for all those who share the passion of discovering different spheres of the Jagiellonian University in its long history.

The exhibits were divided topically: the establishment in 1964/65, the oldest agreements of scientific co-operation signed by the Jagiellonian University, tables of outgoings and incomings in 1965-2015, selected partner universities, SYLFF, visits of international delegations, meetings, conferences, educational fairs, publications and networks – COIMBRA, UTRECHT, IRUN as well as various gadgets and presents received from partner institutions of higher education from Europe, North and South America and Asia. All the names of the JU partner institutions were placed on posters while the countries of the partner institutions on a world map.

Relacja z otwarcia wystawy „50 lat Działu Współpracy Międzynarodowej UJ"