From 5 to 9 October 2026, a delegation from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) took part in a study visit to the University of Vigo (Universidade de Vigo) in Spain. The visit was carried out as part of the project “UMCS 4 ATHENA PLUS – Strengthening UMCS International Cooperation within the ATHENA Alliance” (ATHENAWORKS).
The UMCS Delegation and University of Vigo
The delegation of UMCS: prof. Dorota Kołodyńska- Vice-Rector for Students and Quality of Education; prof. Katarzyna Radzik-Maruszak- Director of the Institute of Political Science and Public Administration; Prof. Jolanta Rodzoś- Dean of the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management; Prof. Wojciech Zgłobicki- Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management; Magdalena Dzirba from the International Cooperation Center; and Maria Rymczuk from the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management visited three University of Vigo campuses – in Vigo, Pontevedra and Ourense. The delegation met with representatives of the university authorities, the International Relations Office, faculties, and units responsible for research and educational projects.
The aim of the visit was to develop cooperation between Maria Curie-Skłodowska University and the University of Vigo within the ATHENA Alliance, exchange good practices, and explore new opportunities for joint activities in research, education, academic mobility and the implementation of international projects.
Visits to Faculties and Research Centres
During their stay in Vigo, the participants visited, among other facilities, the CINBIO Centre for Nanomaterials and Research, the Faculty of Chemistry, and the School of Industrial Engineering. In Pontevedra, discussions were held at the Faculty of Leadership and Public Governance, while in Ourense the delegation visited the Faculty of History and the Faculty of Science. The meetings provided an opportunity to learn about the specific activities of the individual units and identify potential areas for research and teaching cooperation.
An important element of the programme was also a series of meetings at the International Project Office of the University of Vigo. Discussions with staff responsible for international research and educational projects enabled an exchange of experience in preparing and implementing international initiatives, as well as identifying opportunities for further cooperation between the research and administrative teams of both universities. The meetings also addressed potential areas of cooperation within the ATHENAWORKS project implemented by UMCS, including opportunities for University of Vigo staff to participate in the Visiting Professors programme and contribute to the organisation of the international conference “Well-being in Academia”, planned for April 2027 in Lublin. Discussions also focused on opportunities to develop bilateral research cooperation and jointly apply for funding to carry out ambitious research projects under Polish and Spanish research funding programmes.
New Opportunities for Polish-Spanish Research
In this context, particular attention was paid to new cooperation opportunities arising from the agreement concluded in early July 2026 between the National Science Centre (NCN) and the Spanish State Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI). Its first tangible outcome is the FLAMENCO call, which enables funding for joint Polish-Spanish research projects, with AEI acting as the lead agency. In addition, researchers from both countries can apply for funding for joint initiatives under the OPUS 32+LAP/Weave call, with NCN acting as the lead agency. These new funding instruments create additional opportunities to establish research partnerships, develop joint research initiatives, and strengthen cooperation between teams from UMCS and the University of Vigo.
The study visit marked another step in developing UMCS cooperation within the European ATHENA Alliance. The experience gained and contacts established may contribute to the development of joint research and educational initiatives, increased mobility of staff and students, and the strengthening of the university’s international dimension.
Project Information
The project “UMCS 4 ATHENA PLUS – Strengthening UMCS’s International Cooperation within the ATHENA Consortium” (ATHENAWORKS) is implemented by Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin under the NAWA “Support for European Universities” programme, pursuant to Agreement No. BPI/WUE/2025/1/00018/U/00001.
Detailed information about the programme is available on the UMCS website.
Photographs taken by the participants.
