The first signatories of the Agreement, alongside the University of Lodz Foundation and the University of Opole Foundation, include:
- Amicus Universitatis Nicolai Copernici Foundation (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń),
- WUEB Development Foundation (Wroclaw University of economics and Business),
- Foundation of the Medical University in Wrocław.
The agreement is open in nature – on the day of the event, academic foundations from Gdańsk, Kraków, Warsaw and Poznań expressed their willingness to join.
The joint mission and goals of the Agreement
The goal of this cooperation is to build a strong, nationwide network of university foundations, foster the exchange of experiences and work together to promote education, science and social development. The stated goals, among other things, include:
- Developing a network of cooperation between university foundations.
- Exchanging knowledge, experiences and best practices regarding statutory activities.
- Initiating joint educational, scientific, cultural and social projects.
- Representing the common interests of academic foundations towards public, local government and economic institutions.
- Supporting the concept of University Social Responsibility and activities for sustainable development.
The power of a community of values
It was emphasised during the forum that shared values underlie cooperation: openness, trust, transparency and a willingness to work for the common good. These values build lasting foundations for partnerships and enable the creation of an environment in which university foundations can truly influence the quality of academic and social life.
It was unanimously emphasised that cooperation between organisations is not merely an option today, but a necessity. Given the challenges facing higher education – digital transformation, social changes, growing global competitiveness and the need to foster innovation – no single entity can operate effectively alone. Networking and joint initiatives increase the effectiveness of operations and strengthen the voice of academic foundations in dialogue with public institutions and the scientific community.
Joint projects and a common voice in higher education matters
The signatories of the Agreement expressed great hope for the possibility of jointly applying for funding for national and European projects, conducting educational initiatives and preparing joint recommendations for the higher education sector. They emphasised that the united voice of university foundations could become an important element of the public debate on the role of universities, their social responsibility and the needs of students, researchers, and local communities.
The goal: a strong nationwide network
The agreement opens a new chapter in cooperation between academic foundations. Further working meetings and thematic group activities are planned for 2026, and the main goals for the coming months are to develop the network, prepare a joint strategy and establish working groups for topics such as fundraising, business cooperation and scholarship programmes.
Source: The University of Lodz Foundation
