Stellenbosch University (SU) continued to strengthen its international partnerships in Central Europe through recent visits to two of Poland’s leading institutions the General Tadeusz Kościuszko Military University of Land Forces (AWL) in Wrocław and the Jagiellonian University (JU) in Kraków, 07 – 15 October 2025.

Representing SU International, Mr. Kirwan Adams, from the Unit for Partnerships accompanied the Faculty of Military Science’s (FMS), Mr. Andries Fokkens, Faculty Director, on this strategic visit, aimed at identifying new areas for collaboration in Wrocław and reinforcing existing partnerships in Kraków.

Building Collaboration in Wrocław

The visit to Wrocław formed part of a broader effort to deepen FMS’s relationship with AWL. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation, gaining insight into AWL’s education and training models, and exploring opportunities for student, cadet, and staff exchanges in Military Science and related disciplines.

Meetings with AWL leadership highlighted the university’s unique dual role as both a military and civilian academic institution, offering programmes in fields such as national security, logistics, management, and informatics to a student body of approximately 3,000.

Conversations centred on formalising the relationship through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a significant step toward broadening academic collaboration. The visit concluded with a tour of AWL’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the Command Competence Development Centre, Drone Laboratory, and Battlefield Simulation Systems, all underscoring the institution’s focus on technological innovation in military education.

An Unexpected Connection: Wrocław University of Science and Technology

While in Wrocław, the colleagues were introduced to the Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST), a serendipitous addition to the itinerary that proved highly valuable.

At WUST’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the team explored laboratories conducting advanced research on materials science, projectile durability, and industrial applications of engineering technology. The experience revealed exciting potential for future collaboration with SU’s own engineering and applied science disciplines.

Partnership Renewal in Kraków

The second leg of the visit took Mr. Adams to the beautiful old city of Kraków, where the focus shifted to reaffirming and expanding the longstanding partnership between SU and Jagiellonian University (JU). Meetings with JU’s leadership and international office centred on renewing the existing partnership agreement, highlighting SU’s appreciation for this partnership in Poland and identifying new ways to strengthen academic mobility and collaboration.

Proposed additions include enhanced provisions for student exchange opportunities and joint participation in external funding programmes aimed at deepening research and academic cooperation. 

JU has already announced a call for SU professors to apply for visiting professorships: https://cwm.uj.edu.pl/pl_PL/visiting-professors/call-2025 

Academic Inspiration and Future Opportunities

A highlight of the Kraków visit was Mr Adams’s brief participation in JU’s Academic Career Festival, a dynamic event designed to support early-career researchers. The festival showcased JU’s strong institutional culture of mentorship and academic development: https://en.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/events-calendar/-/journal_content/56_INSTANCE_W9PnfTJce6oq/81541894/159343545 

Further discussions around JU’s and SU’s involvement in Networks, revealed potential for future collaboration and seed funding opportunities for the partnership through multilateral collaboration.

Looking Ahead

The visits to Wrocław and Kraków reaffirmed Stellenbosch University’s commitment to building meaningful, sustainable partnerships that connect institutions across continents. Through these engagements, new pathways for collaboration, exchange, and innovation have been established, further strengthening SU’s position as a globally engaged and forward-looking institution.