June is a month when values related to openness, respect for diversity and care for the well-being of every individual resonate particularly strongly. For this reason, at its close, we are pleased to summarise the activities through which, over the past year, we have supported our university’s staff in the areas of multiculturalism and intercultural communication, conflict resolution, responding to inappropriate behaviours, as well as equality, diversity and inclusion (DEI).
The training was excellent. I am all the more pleased that I will be able to revisit it using the attached materials.
The project “UniLodz – a Discrimination-Free Zone”, coordinated by the Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University of Lodz, was addressed to all employees of the University of Lodz, including academic, research, teaching and administrative staff. It was developed in response to the needs identified in the first edition of the Employee Satisfaction Survey, particularly those relating to interpersonal communication, the prevention of inappropriate behaviour, and the creation of a safe, friendly and inclusive working environment. The project combined educational and awareness-raising activities with individual forms of support.
Knowledge That Helps Build a Culture of Respect
From May 2025 to April 2026, 70 blocks of training sessions and workshops (each lasting 8 hours) devoted to counteracting discrimination and mobbing were delivered. Participants became familiar with the procedures in force at our university, learned how to recognise undesirable behaviours, and developed competences supporting a culture of mutual respect and equal treatment.
The programme covered, among other topics, effective communication within teams, conflict resolution, counteracting undesirable behaviours and cooperation in a multicultural environment. The training sessions were primarily practical in nature – they helped participants develop skills that foster good cooperation, mutual understanding and the creation of a safe working environment. Participants also learned how to respond responsibly to situations requiring intervention and what forms of support are available at the University of Lodz.
Both training sessions were among the most valuable I have participated in so far across various programmes.
The on-site classes were complemented by the e-learning course Counteracting discrimination and mobbing”, which enabled participants to acquire knowledge in a flexible format tailored to the needs of working individuals.
In total, more than 500 people took part in the training sessions, workshops and the e-learning course!
A Campaign That Encouraged Dialogue
An integral part of the project was an information campaign conducted across all faculties of the University of Lodz and on the project website “UniLodz – a Discrimination-Free Zone”. Its aim was to raise awareness of equal treatment, counteracting exclusion and to promote the available forms of support.
The trainers are professionals in their field and wonderful people with kind hearts; this experience was extremely valuable to me, and thanks to these training sessions I was able to introduce many supportive actions and changes in both my professional and personal life.
Posters addressing anti-discrimination topics appeared across the university, at the same time providing contact details for individuals and institutions offering assistance in crisis situations. Thanks to this, employees could easily find information about available psychological and organisational support.
Promotional materials were also created in the form of glasses cleaning cloths bearing the slogan “Wipe out prejudice”. This simple message encouraged reflection on stereotypes and biases, reminding the academic community of the importance of openness, empathy and mutual respect.
UNIFIED means more!
The implementation of the project demonstrated that building a safe, discrimination-free working environment is a process requiring the engagement of the entire community. The combination of educational, preventive and support-oriented measures made it possible to reach a wide group of employees and to raise awareness of the importance of mental health, good communication and equal treatment.
I would very much like – and it truly matters to me – to emphasise how extremely satisfied I am with the way the training sessions were delivered. The only thing I could possibly complain about is that they were far too short!
The project “UniLodz – a Discrimination-Free Zone” was an important step in strengthening the organisational culture of the University of Lodz, based on respect, cooperation and responsibility. High attendance at the training sessions and workshops, as well as the engagement of participants, confirmed that activities supporting employee well-being and counteracting discrimination respond to the real needs of our community.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in the project and shared their opinions and feedback on the activities carried out as part of it. We believe that the acquired knowledge acquired, gained experiences and developed good practices will benefit us all!
Do You Need Help or Support? We Are Here for You!
At the University of Lodz, we create a safe, open and friendly environment for work and study. We care about respect, equal treatment and the well-being of the entire academic community. We support equality. These values are reflected in our everyday choices and our long-term approach – we are implementing GEP 2.0 for 2025–2027 and, together with the Equality Council, we undertake initiatives that help build a culture of kindness and shared responsibility.
Coordination, project summary, source material: Małgorzata Mstowska, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University of Lodz
Edit: Honorata Ogieniewska, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University of Lodz
