University of Luzon and Polish University Forge New Academic Partnership

The University of Luzon hosted a significant two-day event on March 17 and 18, 2025, marking a pivotal step in its ongoing commitment to global academic exchange and internationalization. During this period, the University of Luzon formally welcomed a distinguished delegation from Józef Goluchowski University of Applied Sciences, Poland, led by their esteemed Rector/President, Dr. Pawel Gotowiecki. The visit culminated in the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an agreement designed to establish a comprehensive framework for transnational academic collaboration that is now set to enrich the educational landscape for all faculty and Luzonians.

The bilateral partnership, formalized through the MOU, established a strategic framework aimed at fostering several key areas of cooperation. These included the commitment to initiating joint research projects and producing collaborative university publications, which are expected to enhance the global visibility and impact of both institutions’ scholarly output. Critically, the agreement laid the groundwork for robust mobility programs, including student internships in Poland—a valuable opportunity that will grant Luzonians practical international experience—and faculty and academic exchange programs, allowing educators to share best practices, curricula, and perspectives on teaching methodologies across different continents. These initiatives underscore the University of Luzon’s dedication to equipping its community with a truly globalized skill set, preparing them for leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.

A central element of the delegation’s visit was a Special Lecture Series, which was open to the entire university community and featured international experts from the Polish institution. Dr. Przemyslaw Furgacz, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Technical Sciences, presented a timely lecture titled, “The Accelerating Process of Dedollarisation in the Global Economy – Causes, Course, and Ramifications.” This session, which took place from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM, provided Luzonians with cutting-edge insights into macroeconomic trends shaping future financial stability. Following this, Dr. Monika Borek, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, offered a specialized perspective in her address, “How Do We Educate Nurses in Poland?”, which ran from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This lecture proved particularly relevant for students and faculty in the health sciences, offering comparative views on pedagogical approaches in a vital global profession. The lectures served as an immediate and tangible benefit of the partnership, successfully exposing attendees to specialized global knowledge and enhancing cross-cultural competencies. Luzonians attended in large numbers, seizing the chance to engage directly with global experts, discover potential research avenues, and witness the University of Luzon’s journey toward international preeminence.

This institutional collaboration between the University of Luzon and Józef Goluchowski University of Applied Sciences represented a decisive move towards aligning local academic efforts with universal development imperatives. The formalization of this partnership through the MOU directly addressed Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening international cooperation and mobilizing knowledge, expertise, and resources across geographic boundaries. Furthermore, the commitment to enhancing curriculum quality, supporting faculty exchange, and providing equal access to international tertiary education opportunities, such as internships in Poland, is a substantive action supporting Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education (specifically Target 4.3 on equal access to quality higher education and Target 4.4 on increasing relevant skills for employment). By featuring specialized lectures on global economic trends and international nursing education, the event simultaneously contributed to the broader goals of promoting global citizenship education (SDG 4, Target 4.7) and strengthening the capacity of the health workforce (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being).