The rectors' debate ‘Gdynia! The choice for today. The city for tomorrow’, during which the rectors of Gdynia's universities: Rear Admiral Prof. Tomasz Szubrycht from the Naval Academy (AMW), Prof. Adam Weintrit from the Maritime University (UMG), Prof. Artur Kozłowski from WSB Merito and Dr Tomasz Białas from the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Higher School of Administration and Business (WSAiB), discussed the present and future of Gdynia, its residents and universities.
It was the first such debate in our city. Four Gdynia universities joined forces for the city's centenary, and their rectors met during a debate at the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia – ‘Gdynia! The choice for today. The city for tomorrow’. They unanimously pointed out that a strong academic environment is one of the foundations of a modern city and that it should be supported.
Thursday's (19 February) debate between the rectors of four Gdynia universities is not only the start of a year-long series of lectures. Above all, it is an opportunity to create a space for joint discussion about the present and future of Gdynia.
The discussion at the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia was attended by the rectors of four Gdynia universities: Rear Admiral Prof. Tomasz Szubrycht from the Naval Academy, Prof. Adam Weintrit from the Maritime University, Prof. Artur Kozłowski from WSB Merito and Dr Tomasz Białas from the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Higher School of Administration and Business. The debate was opened by the Mayor of Gdynia, Aleksandra Kosiorek.
The debate between the rectors of our four Gdynia universities is taking place under the slogan ‘Gdynia! The choice for today. The city for tomorrow’. We are debating what science means for the city, but there are also personal stories from our rectors' pasts. It may be interesting to find out what brought them here, what kind of Gdynia they dreamed of, what kind of Gdynia they dream of today, because perhaps over time their expectations of the city have changed, emphasises the Mayor of Gdynia.
What kind of Gdynia is seen through the eyes of the Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at WSB Merito University, Dr Artur Kozłowski?
Gdynia is a city where I feel the comfort of a larger Scandinavian city. It is a very large, modern city where I enjoy spending time. We also like to relax here when we want to impress our guests. There are great restaurants here. As for my favourite places, I'm probably not very original, because I find the sea and the boulevard beautiful. I also love Gdynia's architecture. And cinema, because we have been supporting the Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival for years, says Prof. Artur Kozłowski, Vice-Rector of WSB Merito University.
What role does science play in the development of Gdynia? Can universities contribute even more to shaping the future of the city? The rectors of the first non-public university in Pomerania – the Higher School of Administration and Business, the largest private university – WSB Merito University, and universities with multi-generational traditions, the Naval Academy and the Maritime University – answer in the affirmative.
Gdynia is the first non-voivodeship city and the largest city in Europe to have such a highly developed maritime education system. Together with the Naval Academy, we form a centre where higher education is at such a high level on a European Union scale, says Prof. Adam Weintrit, Dr., Eng., Master Mariner, and emphasises what is important for the university in the current geopolitical situation. There are two words in English: ‘safety and security’. When it comes to ‘security’, we are talking about cyber security, i.e. digital security. Two years ago, we established a new faculty at our university – the Faculty of Computer Science, which will deal with these issues, including autonomous ships, general security and big data. When it comes to the word ‘safety’, we are talking about safety at sea. London is home to the International Maritime Organisation, a UN agency that deals with the creation of global legislation on safety at sea. And we are also involved in creating this legislation, adds the rector of the Gdynia Maritime University.
One of the issues raised during the debate ‘Gdynia! The choice for today. The city for tomorrow’ was the future of graduates from Gdynia’s universities. As Rear Admiral Prof. Tomasz Szubrycht, Rector-Commander of the Naval Academy, emphasises, Gdynia is becoming an increasingly important scientific centre every year.
If we have a Science and Technology Park, where we are located, it would be best if it were powered by graduates of our universities. What is more, if Gdynia's universities have a good reputation, we will be attractive and will draw the most active and innovative young people from all over Poland, rather than the most creative ones leaving for other universities, emphasises the rector.
The debate was not just an academic discussion. It was also a symbolic opening of a year-long series of lectures, which will take place every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the headquarters of Gdynia's universities.
Everyone is welcome. Lectures will be held throughout the year, including during the holidays. The meetings will focus on life in Gdynia, its history, economy, interesting facts and traces of Scandinavia in Gdynia. These are very interesting topics, but they are also treated in a rather informal manner so that a wide audience can come and listen, learn something new and not get bored. The exact dates are listed on our website, where you can also find all the information about the topics of the lectures, explains Dr Tomasz Białas, rector of the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Higher School of Administration and Business in Gdynia.
Throughout 2026, the residents of Gdynia will have the opportunity to participate in open lectures, the schedule of which can be found in the attachment.
Schedule of lecture series:
- 5 March, WSAiB, Dr Maciej Zborowski: Secrets of Scandinavia in Gdynia, or Swedish, Norwegian and Danish traces in our city.
- 12 March, Merito, Dr Anna Mikosik-Roczyńska: How to become a centenarian (not only in Gdynia...), or is it possible to cheat time?
- 19 March, Merito, Prof. Mariusz Lipowski: Sport for health or health for sport? A psychological perspective.
- 26 March, AMW, Prof. Paweł Kępka, Naval Academy, Dr Martyna Bartkowska: Gdynia safe for 100 years: the evolution of civil protection and civil defence in the port city of the future.
- 9 April, UMG, Magdalena Bogalecka, PhD, Prof. UMG: The Baltic Sea – our sea. What really lies beneath the waters at the gates of Gdynia?
- 16 April, WSAiB, Mariusz Zieliński, PhD, Eng.: Gdynia from the sea and dreams: the port, the city and the people, past and present.
- 23 April, AMW / Gdynia City Museum, Dr Iwona Jakimowicz-Pisarska, Professor at AMW, Maria Piradoff: Secrets of Gdynia's museums: from the first initiatives to the legendary ‘Bankowiec’.
- 7 May, WSAiB, Dr Henryk Woźniak, Prof. WSAiB: Public finances of a port city, or where does Gdynia get its money from?
- 14 May, AMW, Dr Alicja Mrozowska: Contemporary challenges for city security in the context of the supply chain operated by Port Gdynia.
- 21 May, UMG, Katarzyna Gaul, MSc: What powers ships? From traditional engines to the green technologies of the future.
- 28 May, AMW, Dr Karolina Szydywar-Grabowska: The Russian cognitive offensive – strategies, tactics and impact on social polarisation.
- 11 June, WSAiB, Dr Tomasz Gutowski: The Gdynia economy in the People's Republic of Poland, or the absurdities and peculiarities of everyday life before 1989.
- 18 June, Merito, Iwona Golec, MA: Gdynia Jubilee Tax Lesson: The tax authorities on the wave – fake tax news flooding social media.
- 25 June, AMW, Dr Edyta Łońska: Chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea – are there any grounds for concern?
- 2 July, UMG, Krzysztof Wróbel, PhD: The global shipping industry and prospects for Gdynia. New trends, old problems and big money.
- 9 July, WSAiB, Dorota Simpson, PhD, Prof. WSAiB: Gdynia – a city and port as a melting pot of cultures.
- 16 July, UMG, Dr Anna Miller: Unmanned ships? Autonomy at sea – still the future or already the present?
- 23 July, UMG, Dariusz Jellonnek, MSc, Master Mariner: Maritime disasters. Can they be avoided?
- 30 July, AMW, Dr Ewa Bartuś: Can these eyes be lying... Psychophysiological research in the service of truth.
- 6 August, AMW/Gdynia City Museum, Dr Patrycja Bałdys, Dr Wojciech Ogrodnik: A fulfilled or unfulfilled city? Gdynia from an everyday perspective.
- 13 August, UMG, Dr Jarosław Cydejko, Master Mariner: Satellites over our sea. Navigation, security, independence.
- 20 August, WSAiB, Dr Wojciech Wosek: Gdynia pitawal, or the juiciest stories from the city's criminal past.
- 27 August, AMW, Jakub Syta, PhD Eng.: Cybersecurity as a pillar of the future economy.
- 3 September, WSAiB, Rafał Szyc, PhD: How much does it really cost to get around Gdynia – what you can and cannot see in urban transport.
- 10 September, UMG, Agnieszka Kerbrat, MSc: From simulation to safe navigation. How does maritime traffic modelling help to evaluate navigation solutions?
- 17 September, AMW, Jerzy Kosiński, PhD, Prof. AMW: Cybercrime and how to combat it.
- 24 September, UMG, Dr Grzegorz Rutkowski, Captain, Prof. UMG; Tymoteusz Tomczuk, MSc: How to read the sea? Maps that guide ships to the Port of Gdynia.
- 8 October, WSAiB, Dr Anna Reiwer-Kaliszewska, Prof. WSAiB: Customs duties and taxes: how do customs and tax laws affect your life?
- 15 October, AMW, Dr Karolina Grenda: Artificial intelligence in security.
- 22 October, Merito, Dr Piotr Kobzdej: Gdynia – a city on the front line.
- 29 October, WSAiB, Dr Ewelina Parysek: The residents of Gdynia targeted by disinformation.
- 5 October, WSAiB, Dr Jarosław Wróblewski: Coastal finances, or how to manage your own portfolio as a resident of Gdynia.
- 12 November, AMW, Dr Andrzej Drzewiecki, Prof. AMW: When independence was born: from idea to Gdynia.
- 19 November, Merito, Dr Małgorzata Kochańska: Safe Gdynia – from a port city to a modern metropolis.
- 26 November, UMG, Mateusz Gil, PhD: Shipping in the digital age. How is technology changing the maritime industry?
- 3 December, WSAiB, Monika Gut-Winiarska, PhD: Tree houses and underwater capsules, or unusual forms of tourism.
Photo: Mirosław Pieślak