ÐÔÊӽ紫ý hosts AGH University of Krakow to strengthen academic and research partnerships

The University of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Islands (ÐÔÊӽ紫ý) recently welcomed a delegation from AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, as part of a collaboration to advance international research, innovation and student education.

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Left to right: Prof Keith Smyth, Dean of Learning, Teaching and Students, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Prof Brian Williams, Deputy Principal Academic and Research, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Prof Janusz Szpytko, Director of the UNESCO AGH Chair, AGH University; Prof David Worthington, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Business and Education, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Dr Su Bryan, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Health and the Environment, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Prof Jerzy Lis, Rector, AGH University; and Prof RafaÅ‚ WiÅ›niowsk, Vice-Rector for Cooperation, AGH.

During the visit, senior academic leaders from both institutions explored new opportunities for joint working aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Discussions focused on key areas including environmental protection, quality of life, and innovative responses to global challenges.

The AGH University delegation included Professor Jerzy Lis (Rector), Professor Rafał Wiśniowski (Vice-Rector for Cooperation), and Professor Janusz Szpytko (Director of the UNESCO AGH Chair).

While in Inverness, the delegation met with senior academic leaders at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý House and toured several of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s cutting-edge research facilities. These included the Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Inverness, the genetics and immunology labs at An Lòchran, and the Life Sciences Innovation Centre (LSIC). Discussions explored opportunities for joint projects in areas such as medical nanotechnology, mass spectrometry, and biomedical sciences.

A highlight of the visit was a meeting with Pawel de Sternberg Stojalowski, an AGH University alumnus and former student of one of the visiting professors. Pawel is the founder of Aseptium, a company based on the Inverness Campus, which has strong collaborative links with LSIC and ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s biomedical research teams.

ÐÔÊӽ紫ý hosts AGH University of Kraków

Left to right: Professor RafaÅ‚ WiÅ›niowski, Vice-Rector for Cooperation, AGH University; Dr Ellen Packham, Commercial Partnerships Manager, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Professor Jerzy Lis, Rector, AGH University; Professor Janusz Szpytko, Director of the UNESCO AGH Chair, AGH University; Dr Su Bryan, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Health and the Environment, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; and Pawel de Sternberg Stojalowski, Founder of Aseptium.

Following their time in Inverness, the group travelled north to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Shetland where they had a tour of the Scalloway Campus and got to see the  innovative Cube learning space. The Cube is an immersive space which allows 360â�° videos and presentations to be projected across all four walls simultaneously. This enables teaching staff to recreate realistic scenarios for training and education, particularly in locations students would not normally be able to go to.

The delegation also experienced the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Shetland Bridge Maritime Simulator, developed in line with fishing industry and aquaculture requirements to provide new training opportunities in the Isles and beyond, in these key commercial sectors.