Diverse&Equal - University debates

University debates

As part of the second phase of the ‘Culture of Respect / Culture of Respect’ campaign, entitled ‘Different and Equal’ and dedicated to equality, university debates will also be held, some organised jointly by GUMed and the University of Gdańsk. Four thematic debates are planned, two at each university. The debates will be broadcast live with simultaneous translation into Polish Sign Language (if technically possible), and both Polish and English versions will be available on YouTube channel and/or other media shortly after the date of each debate.

In the table below, we present information on the university thematic debates held so far and planned as part of the campaign.


University thematic debates held and planned within the Diverse & Equal campaign, in chronological order:

No. Date Debate title Participating panelists Link to debate recording
1. March, 6th, 2023 On equality and ability – a debate concerning equality and equal treatment in the context of individual capability level
  • Katarzyna Maciejowska – first-year student at the Interdisciplinary Individual Humanities and Social Sciences Programme, University of Gdańsk,
  • Joanna Matuszewska – medical journalist at Radio Gdańsk, rehabilitation manager and specialist in complex rehabilitation at the Breast Disease Centre of the University Clinical Centre, tutor at the Department of Research on the Quality of Life, Medical University of Gdańsk,
  • Justyna Rogowska – plenipotent of the Rector University of Gdańsk for Persons with Disabilities, key manager of the project Dostępny UG / Accessible UG,
  • Prof. Tomasz Smiatacz – Vice-Rector for Student Affairs Medical University of Gdańsk, plenipotent of the Rector MUG for Persons with Disabilities,
  • Prof. Dominika Szalewska – Head Department of Rehabilitation Medical University of Gdańsk,
  • Daniela Walkowska – first-year student at the Special Pedagogy Program, University of Gdańsk,
  • Daniel Wilczyński – fourth-year student of Pharmacy Programme Medical University of Gdańsk,
  • Dr Jacek Kaczmarek - moderator, representative of the Medical University of Gdańsk for international alumni relations, co-organizer of the “Culture of Respect / Diverse & Equal” campaign
“GUMed – On equality and capability” – link to the English version of the debate will be provided soon
2. June, 6th, 2023 Equality in Diversity – a debate concerning equality and equal treatment in the context of cultural diversity
  • Ms. Princess Anieke – first-year MUG English Division nursing student from Nigeria,
  • Mr. Faisal Al Maghlooth, MD – MUG English Division graduate of 2022 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,
  • Ms. Shraddha Singh – fifth-year MUG English Division medical student from India,
  • Mr. Marlon Ross Souza Luis, MD – MUG English Division graduate of 2021, born in UAE, Indian by ethnicity, Canadian by nationality,
  • Ms. Fanny Sunesson – sixth-year MUG English Division medical student from Landskrona, Sweden,
  • Ms. Alejandra Vivas – third-year MUG English Division medical student, born in Cali, Colombia, grew up in New Jersey, United States,
  • Mr. Andrzej Ziółkowski – a traveler and photographer interested in spiritual photography of the world religions; author of photo albums and picture exhibitions, native Polish,
  • Dr Jacek Kaczmarek - moderator, representative of the Medical University of Gdańsk for international alumni relations, co-organizer of the “Culture of Respect / Diverse & Equal” campaign
  • “GUMed – Equality in Diversity” – link will be provided soon after the debate date


    The panelists’ photos and more detail biographical notes are provided here.

    From the beginning of January 2023, the Medical Univeristy of Gdańsk, in cooperation with the Marshal’s Office of Pomorskie Voivodeship, the City of Gdańsk, the University of Gdańsk and the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk, have been implementing the second stage of the *Culture of Respect campaign dedicated to equality and equal treatment in the broadest sense, and entitled Diverse & Equal.


    debata_Kultura_Szacunku_(1).png

    As part of this campaign, a new debate Equality in Diversity / Równość w Różnorodności is being organised. We will be most pleased and honoured to discuss diversity and equality with representatives of Students and Alumni of the Medical University of Gdańsk, and with our special Guest Mr. Andrzej Ziółkowski, traveller and author of the albums _The Inward Moment – The Human Being and The Sacred” and „Universal Wisdom”.

    The event will take place on 6th of June 2023 at 4 p.m. in Auditorium Primum, Prof. Olgierd Narkiewicz Memorial Hall at Atheneum Gedanense Novum GUMed (al. Zwycięstwa 41/42, Gdańsk) and will be broadcast live on MUG’s YouTube channel. The debate will be held in English. Its original recording will be made available on University’s media channel, and translated Polish version a few days later. If possible, translation to Polish Sign Language will be added at a later date.

    The objectives of the debate are to bring diversity of our academic community to light and focus, inspire and reinforce positive attitude and appreciation of diversity in our academic community, and emphasize the need for equality and discuss our individual and collective actions to make it reality at the University and beyond.

    We also wish to encourage the members of the academic community of the Medical University of Gdańsk to get involved and share their views, opinions, and ideas regarding equality and equal treatment in any context to the email address of the Culture of Respect campaign respect@gumed.edu.pl.


    UNIVERSITY DEBATE – On equality and capability

    From the beginning of January, 2023, the Medical University of Gdańsk, in cooperation with the Marshal’s Office of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, the City Hall of Gdańsk, the University of Gdańsk and the Daniel Fahrenheit Association of Universities in Gdańsk, has been implementing the second phase of the Culture of Respect campaign, dedicated to equality and equal treatment in the broadest sense, and entitled ‘Diverse & Equal’:

    Four thematic debates will be organised as part of this campaign. The first of these, dedicated to the issue of equality and equal treatment in the context of health and disability and entitled On Equality and Capability, took place on March, 6th, 2023 at 16:00 in the Prof. Olgierd Narkiewicz Memorial Auditorium Primum in the Atheneum Gedanense Novum Medical University of Gdańsk (al. Zwycięstwa 41/42, Gdańsk). The debate was broadcast live on the MUG YouTube channel. A recording of the debate in Polish is available on the MUG YouTube channel, and a version with English translation will be made available on the channel a few days later. The statements of the debate participants were translated live by a Polish Sign Language interpreter.

    The subjects of discussion were:

    • Problems faced by people with disabilities in the academic environment – are architectural and technical barriers still the main source of problems? Or is it something else?
    • Stereotypes and prejudices – what problem do able-bodied people have with disability? Do we all too easily generalise, categorise and stigmatise people with disabilities?
    • What do people with disabilities need, especially in an academic environment? How do we provide support and enable self-fulfilment for people with disabilities with dignity and for the benefit of all?
    • Is disability a common source of inequality in academia? If so, why is this the case? What is needed most to make the university a welcoming, safe and comfortable place to work and learn for all, regardless of level of ability?
    • What has already been done and what are the plans in this area at University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk?

    We also encourage members of the academic community of the Medical University of Gdańsk to get involved in the campaign and share their opinions and ideas on equality and equal treatment in any sphere in messages addressed to the Culture of Respect campaign email address: respect@gumed.edu.pl.

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