T4EU presidency 2023–2024

University of Silesia in Katowice

In 2023-2024, the University of Silesia in Katowice held the presidency of T4EU, as the first in the Transform4Europe alliance.

Main priorities and key topics

  • Legal entity
  • Cooperation with the Mariupol State University
  • European City of Science Katowice 2024

We have taken various measures, encouraging discussion and information exchange so that we can establish together the best legal status for our Alliance as a whole and for each partner separately. To reach our goals, we have managed to organise a productive meeting in Brussels. The working team led by Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski put immense efforts into the comparative analysis of a wide array of solutions to present specific answers to the Alliance’s Executive Board. Establishing the legal status of Transform4Europe is one of the most vital decisions the entire Alliance faces.

Cooperation with the Mariupol State University

Mariupol State University has become an associated partner of the Transform4Europe Alliance. We have been doing our best to strengthen the collaboration with our partner from Ukraine. Thanks to the funding from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, we have been given a chance to support representatives of the academic community of our partner so that they can take part in events organised by Transform4Europe and dedicated training sessions and courses.

European City of Science Katowice 2024

The University of Silesia in Katowice is also a leader of the consortium that managed to secure a respectable title for Katowice: the European City of Science 2024. Thanks to this great opportunity, we are able to share with the Alliance our ways of using education and science to work for our region, Poland and Europe. Inviting partners of our Alliance has been and will remain open. To express our bonds, the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) awards ceremony featured prizes from Transform4Europe.

Overview of the activities and events

Planned activities and events during the presidency of the University of Silesia in Katowice based on the Transform4Europe project

  • May 2024 – First update of the Communication Strategy and Communication Plan
  • May 2024 – admission to the international doctorates within Transform4Europe PhD Tracks at the University of Silesia – 10 pilot projects
  • 21-25 October 2024 – T4EU Week and T4EU Policy Conference and Strategic Assembly. More details on the website
  • 21-24 October 2024 – T4EU Annual Heritage Conference as well as regional workshop “Heritage at work”
  • 22 October 2024 – 1st T4EU Global Partnership Forum

Additional activities and events during the presidency of the University of Silesia in Katowice

The University of Silesia in Katowice, the technical and program leader of the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science formed by seven universities based in Katowice and the City of Katowice, is vested with the European City of Science 2024 title.

The European City of Sciences 2024 programme of activities will be created around 5 programme streams (50 weeks of science for the society, programme of strategic urban, regional and academic events, youth for the city of science programme, teachers for teachers educational programme, special events programme). The invitation to all partners of the Transform4Europe to participate in the European City of Science in Katowice is always open.

Calendar for the European City if Science in Katowice:

  • January–December 2024 – 50 Weeks of Science for the Society – the year-round programme of events and local, regional, nationwide and European initiatives.
  • 12-15 June 2024 – international EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF 2024) conference at the International Congress Centre in Katowice – one of the biggest conferences in Europe.
  • 13 June 2024 – EU Talent Fair – European initiative of job fairs for students, scientists in the early stages of their careers, researchers, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and investors.
  • September 2024 – EU TalentOn – competition organised by the European Commission for young, talented scientists aged 21-35.
  • September 2024 – European EUCYS (European Union Contest for Young Scientists) finals. Competition for young scientists organised by the European Commission.

Communication and Administrative Team

Prof. Ryszard Koziołek

Prof. Ryszard Koziołek

Rector of the University of Silesia, President of the T4EU Presidency

Photo by Agnieszka Szymala

Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski

Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski

Vice-rector for International and Domestic Cooperation at the University of Silesia
Member of the T4EU Steering Committee

Photo by Agnieszka Szymala

Prof. Małgorzata Myśliwiec

Małgorzata Myśliwiec, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.

T4EU Institutional Coordinator

Photo by Małgorzata Dymowska

Emilia Rekosz-Cebula, PhD

Head of International Cooperation Development Office Secretary of the Presidency of the University of Silesia supports the President of the Alliance in the planning activities during the Presidency

Photo by Małgorzata Dymowska

Radosław Aksamit

Radosław Aksamit

Head of Media Communication Centre at the University of Silesia, Executive Director for Production and Communication of the European City of Science Katowice 2024, engaged in the Work Package 9 "Communication, Dissemination and Sustainability"

Photo by Kacper Trzeciak