Methodology
The report has been prepared based on the 12 principles of the Declaration of University Social Responsibility. Its structure makes it possible to follow the successive areas of the University of Lodz’s responsibility, from academic values and the shaping of social attitudes, through equal treatment, education, wellbeing and research activity, to environmental initiatives, cooperation with external partners, stakeholder dialogue and research ethics.
What Does the Report Include?
Analysis of publications produced by University of Lodz researchers between 2020 and 2025 in relation to three Sustainable Development Goals that are particularly closely linked to university social responsibility: SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities constitutes an important element of the report. The analysis, prepared by the University of Lodz Library, demonstrates which topics were addressed by the University of Lodz researchers and how interest in particular issues evolved between 2020 and 2025.
The 2025 Report also includes:
- activities promoting equal treatment and wellbeing, including the UniLodz – a Discrimination-Free Zone project, the #UniLodzRAZEM campaign, and the #Osiędbamy programme, which encompasses educational activities, workshops, support groups and psychological assistance;
- social responsibility in education, with a list of courses offered in the 2025/2026 academic year related to sustainable development, DEI, ethics, social innovation and corporate social responsibility. These include courses such as Polityki zrównoważonego rozwoju [Sustainable Development Policies], Etyka zrównoważonego rozwoju [Ethics of Sustainable Development], and Edukacja na rzecz zrównoważonego rozwoju [Education for Sustainable Development];
- a developing system of dialogue and shared responsibility. In 2025, among the active bodies were the Equality Council, the Climate and Environmental Policy Council, and the Work-Life Balance Team. These bodies provide space for identifying the needs of the University community, reviewing proposed solutions and developing recommendations;
- projects linking academic knowledge with specific social needs, implemented through initiatives such as Science Hub UniLodz and the Centre of Social Innovations. The report presents examples of cooperation with civil society organisations, public institutions and local residents, including activities addressing violence prevention, safety, climate change, as well as social innovation;
- Activities for a more sustainable campus and city, ranging from the development of photovoltaic installations and biodiversity protection to the Eco Corner of Well-Being and cooperation with the City of Łódź to create a more liveable and resilient urban environment.
The University Social Responsibility Report demonstrates that social responsibility is not a single, separate area of activity at the University of Lodz. It is present across many dimensions of university life, including the way we work and study, conduct research and provide education, create policies and procedures, care for wellbeing and the environment, and cooperate with our external partners.
It is particularly important for us to present these activities in terms of their interconnections. Equality and diversity, accessibility, wellbeing, environmental responsibility, responsible governance and the development of external partnerships are not separate initiatives but elements of a broader approach to the responsible and sustainable development of the university.
The report makes it possible to look at the University of Lodz’s activities from a wider perspective, seeing both the scale and the diversity of the actions being undertaken. It is also an important tool for reflecting on what we have already achieved and identifying the areas in which we wish to continue developing. University social responsibility is not a single project or declaration, but a way in which the University fulfils its mission and influences the community and environment in which it operates
– emphasises Dr Katarzyna Liberska-Kinderman, Head of the Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University at the University of Lodz.
These activities contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. As the latest UN report indicates, fewer than four years remain until 2030, and achieving the Goals will require accelerated action, increased investment, strengthened cooperation and more effective use of technology and data.
The report also documents the development of the University of Lodz’s social responsibility system, including advisory councils and teams, diversity monitoring, the activities of the Ombudsman for Academic Rights, the advancement of research ethics principles and further initiatives concerning equal treatment, and climate and environmental policy.
The University Social Responsibility Report for 2025 is available in the University of Lodz Repository.
More information about the University of Lodz’s social responsibility activities can be found on the University Social Responsibility website.
