On 31st March, in the Golden Hall of the Casimir Palace, a letter of intent regarding cooperation was signed between the University of Warsaw and the 18th Warsaw Territorial Defence Brigade. The agreement sets out the direction for long-term cooperation, combining the university’s academic potential with the experience of the unit responsible for responding to crisis situations.
On 31st March, an agreement was concluded between the University of Warsaw and the 18th Warsaw Territorial Defence Brigade (WOT).
On behalf of the University of Warsaw, the document was signed by Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector. On behalf of the Territorial Defence Brigade, the agreement was signed by Colonel Mirosław Tołodziecki, Commander of the 18th Warsaw Territorial Defence Brigade.
The University was also represented by: Prof. Maciej Raś, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching and Learning; Robert Grey, Chancellor; Prof. Agnieszka Bieńczyk-Missala, Vice-Dean for International Cooperation at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies; Dr Anna Modzelewska, Spokesperson, and Łukasz Prądzyński, Safety Coordinator of the Students’ Council of the UW. Representatives of the WOT at the meeting included: Lt Col Jarosław Ryś, Lt Mateusz Siwakowski, and Staff Sergeant Dariusz Jędrowski.
“The University of Warsaw is consistently developing cooperation with institutional partners who bring a practical dimension to the educational process and respond to current social challenges. Cooperation with the Territorial Defence Brigade is of particular importance in this context – it allows us to combine academic knowledge with experience in the field of security and crisis management, strengthening the university’s role as a place that shapes competencies essential for the security and resilience of the state,” said Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector.
“The University of Warsaw provides education whilst simultaneously building the nation’s defence capabilities. The Territorial Defence Brigade prepare students for crisis management and appropriate behaviour during natural disasters. We see a need to develop cooperation with students so that, alongside their academic training, they acquire skills useful in defence operations. We recognise significant potential for cooperation with the University of Warsaw in this area,” said Colonel Mirosław Tołodziecki, commander of the 18th Warsaw Territorial Defence Brigade.
The signed document sets out the framework for long-term cooperation aimed at combining the university’s academic potential with the expertise of the organisation responsible for security and crisis response. Joint activities will include, amongst other things, the implementation of educational, scientific and social projects, the organisation of training courses, workshops and lectures for students, academic employees and soldiers, as well as participation in events organised by both institutions.
“For our students, this is a real opportunity to acquire skills that go beyond the curriculum – both in the area of crisis response and in teamwork and social responsibility. Cooperation with 18th Warsaw Territorial Defence Brigade will allow them to develop practical skills in an environment that prioritises action and a readiness to provide assistance,” emphasised Prof. Maciej Raś, UW Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching and Learning.
“Our collaboration with the 18th Warsaw Territorial Defence Brigade demonstrates that national security today begins with knowledge. The Territorial Defence Forces are always close to the people and respond to both crisis situations and military threats, whilst the University is a place that builds the skills needed to understand and respond to these challenges. This combination of knowledge and practice is crucial for the nation’s resilience today,” noted Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor.
An important element of the cooperation will also be the dissemination of knowledge about the activities undertaken by the Territorial Defence Forces and the opportunities to develop skills useful in crisis situations. As part of the cooperation, a series of training sessions for academic employees and UW students is planned, to be conducted by the 18th Warsaw Territorial Defence Brigade.
