On April 17, the first lecture was held as part of the international series “Mentoring in Teacher Professional Development,” which is being implemented in collaboration between Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
The project was conceptualized by the Department of Foreign Literature and Polish Studies, the Faculty of Ukrainian and Foreign Philology at Drohobych University, and by the Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology at Poznań University.
The inaugural lecture was given by renowned Polish scholar Katarzyna Kuczynska-Koszany, a philologist, literary scholar, essayist, and poet who has been actively collaborating with Drohobych University for many years, including participation in the International Bruno Schulz Festival.
The lecture, “Community as the Foundation of Any Human and Institutional Collaboration, Primarily University Collaboration: Concepts, Metaphors, and Foundations,” explored the concept of community as a key element of contemporary academic and social life.
In her presentation, the lecturer offered a profound interdisciplinary analysis of the phenomenon of community, combining philosophical, literary, sociological, and cultural approaches. Particular attention was paid to the idea of universitas as the foundation of the European university tradition, as well as to the contemporary challenges facing academic communities.
A key focus of the lecture was the comparison of various social models, particularly in the context of contemporary geopolitical realities, which allowed for the identification of freedom, responsibility, and solidarity as fundamental values of community.
The lecture was distinguished not only by the depth of its scholarly analysis but also by its broad cultural references—from classical European literature to the Ukrainian national context—which facilitated a lively discussion among the participants.
The event generated significant interest: approximately 250 people registered for the lecture, of which over 120 joined the online meeting. Students, professors, and teachers interested in developing pedagogical mentoring and modern educational practices participated in the event.
The first lecture marked a successful start to the entire series, which aims to create a space for international academic dialogue, exchange of experience, and the development of new approaches to teacher professional development.
