Wirth Institute Director Joseph F. Patrouch met with University of Wrocław Vice Rector (Research and International) Professor Adam Jezierski and the Director of the university's International Office Urszula Broda on June 20 in Wrocław to finalize discussions leading to the formal approval of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Alberta and the Polish institution later that month. The MoU establishes the framework for future cooperation between the two universities in the areas of common research projects, faculty and student exchange, and other fields. Director Patrouch also met with university representatives from a variety of institutes including Sociology, International Studies, Logic and Methodology of Sciences, Political Science, Art History, and German Philology. These new ties will serve to deepen the already-established Polish language and cultures program at UAlberta, with its existing links to the University of Silesia and the Catholic University of Lublin.
This fall, a Polish researcher will join the doctoral researchers in residence at the Wirth Institute for the 2012-2013 academic years. Cooperative plans are already being made with the International Cultural Centre in Kraków, as the Wirth Institute's connection to Poland continues to strengthen.