The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin concerning the year 2022: the educational offer tailored to needs, research development, technological investments

Pursuing the establishment of a medical faculty, developing scientific research, adapting the educational offer to social needs, but also technological and infrastructural investments, and challenges related to the pandemic are the main issues to be addressed in 2022 - informed the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski.

The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin stressed that in the past year the main challenge for the functioning of the university was the Covid-19 pandemic and the related restrictions, including the need to conduct remote classes. “There were no technical problems, but the absence of students and lecturers within the walls of the university is always a kind of loss for academic life and development. The epidemiologists' forecasts indicate that this will also be a challenge in the new year”, he added.

Rev. Prof. Kalinowski recalled that in 2021, KUL was the initiator of the Areopagus of Universities, a series of debates with the participation of rectors and experts: KUL, UW, UJ, AMU. The inauguration of this event took place in October in Lublin, and the concluding debate will be held on January 10th at the University of Warsaw.

“In the just-ending year, we expanded our cooperation with Polish and foreign universities, as well as scientific and cultural institutions. We have started work on establishing a medical faculty, which will continue, so as to launch these studies in 2023. We have been adapting our offer to the needs of the labour market and the interests of candidates, hence, among others, the launch of a criminology degree course. The Academia for Modern Media and Communications was established. Thanks to the cooperation with the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies in Vienna, our students can do internships there”, said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. Among the important initiatives carried out, he also mentioned the opening of the Erasmus+ Hub Youth Center at KUL.

"In 2022, we will continue work on the establishment of a medical faculty, and in January we plan to submit documentation on this matter to the State Accreditation Committee. Work is also underway for KUL to establish a Research Centre on Poles Saving Jews and Jews Saving Poles, at the beginning of the year. We will continue the process of implementing new technologies, including communication technologies, but also expanding and modernizing the university's infrastructure. We will start recruiting for courses and studies dedicated to the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad. We are planning to organise a congress on the challenges of the Church in Poland. The University will be open to projects and initiatives of academic staff and students; we want to create the best possible conditions for their development" emphasised Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. He added that full-time studies for inmates at the Remand Centre in Lublin will be continued.

“We plan to present schools of Christian spirituality, Catholic communities and movements. There is a growing number of members of the Fraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and people adoring the Blessed Sacrament and participating in all-night adoration on the first Thursdays of the month”, informed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin.