A report on the social responsibility of the university has been produced at the University of Warsaw. It is the first strategic document of this kind at the UW to provide information on the University’s activities and achievements in terms of its responsibility towards members of the UW community, the social and natural environments.

“The University’s mission – anchored in the values of social responsibility – is increasingly becoming a real determinant of how we shape the way we operate, conduct research and teach, and thus interact with our surroundings,”

Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw.

 

“We want issues related to the social responsibility of the university to become an integral part of our research and education, and everyday activities and procedures to better contribute to equipping future generations of students, doctoral candidates, and our graduates, with the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions and, consequently, to build a just, modern society,”

Prof. Ewa Krogulec, the UW Vice-Rector for Development

The Social Responsibility of the University (SRU) is implemented in such areas as science, education, employee affairs, the natural environment, values and relations with other entities, including companies, social organisations or local government.

 

The report “The University of Warsaw – Social Responsibility of the University” describes the academic activities in the indicated scope over the last four years.

 

The document, prepared by the University of Warsaw employees, refers to the University’s existing regulations and procedures, as well as its good practices. It also presents selected quantitative indicators.

 

The examples of good practice described in the report are activities carried out by the UW’s faculties, organisational units and general administration. The document is important in the process of monitoring achievements of the University of Warsaw, their social impact and, subsequently, communicating them. It also allows to identify areas for improvement.

 

The University of Warsaw’s social report was created in dialogue with internal and external stakeholders. As a result of workshop meetings and expert consultations, twelve areas of the SRU that are relevant for reporting were identified.

 

The document is the first report of its kind in the history of the UW. It serves as an implementation of the commitments arising from the signing of the “The Declaration of Social Responsibility of Universities” in 2019. The declaration was developed for the academic community in Poland and signed by more than 160 universities so far.

Selected UW achievements in the area of social responsibility

Mobility:

  • around 8,000 students, doctoral candidates and employees going abroad under the Erasmus+ programme between 2014 and 2020, and almost 5,500 participants coming from abroad;
  • nearly seventy projects worth almost €55 million on mobility, educational methods and content, as well as University management;
  • 123rd place in the World’s Most International Universities 2021 ranking, published by Times Higher Education. The UW was one of the two universities from Central Europe in this ranking.

 

Environment and sustainability:

  • the University of Warsaw was ranked first among Polish universities in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024;
  • the University of Warsaw became a finalist in the International Green Gown Awards 2023 for its Green Thinking Matter Now! The initiative is led by the Platform for Green Dialogue and brings together academic employees, students and representatives of business and NGOs around the topics of climate change and sustainability. In the 2023 edition, the UW was awarded the title of Highly commended in the Creating Impact category;
  • in 2022, the University of Warsaw – together with the University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology, and Lodz University of Technology – was ranked highest among sixteen universities from Poland in THE Impact Rankings, prepared by the Times Higher Education. Thus, the rankings’ authors analyse universities’ contribution to sustainable development. The assessment criteria take into account the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN);
  • in 2021, the UW was the first university in Poland to join the global initiative “Race to Zero”, which is supported by the UN. As part of the campaign, businesses, cities, regions and educational institutions pledge to halve their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030;
  • the University has adopted the Climate and Sustainability Agenda and is pursuing its goals, including pro-climate infrastructure.

 

Society:

  • a project by students of the UW Faculty of Management entitled “Dziadkowie biznesu”, which promotes entrepreneurship among older people, was awarded in the “Zwolnieni z teorii” programme in the social advertising category;
  • the Summer School of Physics, co-organised by the UW Faculty of Physics, won the first prize in the S3KTOR21 competition for the best non-governmental initiative in 2021. The initiative is aimed at students interested in natural sciences, especially physics and astronomy, and has been running since 2008.

 

Architecture and city space:

  • the building of the UW Faculties of Modern Languages, and Applied Linguistics at Dobra 55 received the Mayor of Warsaw Architecture Award in 2021. The building was recognised for its modern design, accessibility for people with disabilities and harmonious integration into the space of Warsaw’s Powiśle district;
  • the UW Faculty of Biology was a winner in the Real Estate Impactor 2023 competition for the Masurian Center for Biodiversity and Nature Education in Urwitałt in the “impressive design” category. The investment was also distinguished in the PLGBC Green Building Awards 2023 in the category of best green public sector building;
  • the “Intelligent Green University” programme has been established at the University to nurture and promote green solutions in UW’s infrastructure projects and spaces.

 

Workplace:

  • On 22nd November 2022, the University of Warsaw retained the right to use the distinction “HR Excellence in Research”, awarded on 4th July 2016.