Piotr Wachowiak, Rector of SGH receives the title of Doctor Honoris Causa awarded by KNEU

Piotr Wachowiak was awarded an honorary doctorate of the Kyiv National Economic University (KNEU) under Protocol No. 6 of the Scientific Council (equivalent to Senate) of this university of 27 February 2025. The document was signed by Dmytro Lukianenko, the Rector and Professor of KNEU and Doctor Oleg Pacenko, the Secretary of the Scientific Council.

“In times of war, universities become not only centres of scientific research and knowledge creation but first of all they determine the moral, spiritual and intellectual system of values for the society, which always develops the steadfastness of the nation. The SGH Warsaw School of Economics, with its Rector Professor Piotr Wachowiak, is a leader not only in providing ongoing assistance to Ukraine but also in shaping the strategy of post-war development and recovery of its economy,” emphasised Rector Dmytro Lukianenko.

“I am extremely grateful and moved to have received this distinction. I accept it with great joy. It reflects the SGH community involvement in helping Ukraine and its citizens. Let me strongly emphasise that I accept this honorary doctorate of the Kyiv National Economic University not only as an expression of appreciation for me but for our entire Alma Mater. I would like to thank the Rector and the Scientific Council of KNEU for this distinction. From now on, I will be a frequent guest here, because I have become a member of the community of this University. I am very proud of this,” said Rector Piotr Wachowiak.

The Rector of SGH was greeted with thunderous applause from the numerous KNEU academic community, including students, lecturers, academic authorities as well as representatives of the state authorities of Ukraine.

The celebration began with a minute of silence for the victims who died recently in Sumy and Kryvyi Rih. Then, the Ukrainian and Polish national anthems were played.

“Today’s celebration is not only a formality but a profound symbol of gratitude, solidarity and academic fraternity. On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, I would like to sincerely thank Professor Piotr Wachowiak, the Rector of the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, for his sincere support for Ukrainian universities, lecturers and students in such a hard time for Ukraine. At the moment, there are three Polish universities which show the greatest initiative in this area. These are: the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, the University of Warsaw and the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. We are extremely grateful. Our friendship is not only at the university and academic level, but also at the level of ministries,” said Mykhailo Vynnytskyi, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, responsible for higher education.

He thanked his Polish counterpart Andrzej Szeptycki for his friendship and support for Ukraine in the field of higher education.

“Today, two anthems symbolically sounded in this auditorium. It is a deep testimony of our friendship and gratitude. Gratitude for the fact that in such a hard time of our history, Poland, our Polish friends give us a helping hand. This is not only help but also an act of professional and human solidarity. It is an example of how universities perform as active participants in the process of building a European society. (…) We are creating a new history, a leadership that does not end with words but manifests itself in concrete actions. And Professor Piotr Wachowiak has become the leader of the European community when it comes to support for Ukraine,” emphasised Deputy Minister Wynnycki.

He noted that thanks to the cooperation of both universities, the ties between our countries are being strengthened. “That is why today’s event is held to pay respect not to only one person. It is to confirm that education, partnership and mutual support are of strategic importance for our common European future. Dear Rector, your presence here in Kyiv is a gesture which has a very deep meaning. This is support not only for our university, but for our entire academic community in Ukraine,” the Deputy Minister emphasised.

The Vice Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and International Relations, Professor Wiktor Chuzhikov, presented the profile and main achievements of Rector Piotr Wachowiak. He emphasised the fact that the Rector and the delegation decided to visit Ukraine in this – as he put it – “difficult and dangerous period of active hostilities on the part of the Russian aggressors”. Vice Rector Chuzhikov also extended thanks and congratulations to Rector’s wife, Katarzyna Wachowiak, a senior lecturer at the SGH Centre for Physical Education and Sport.

During the DHC ceremony, the Rector of the SGH Warsaw School of Economics – the oldest and one of the leading economic universities in Poland – and also the director of the Institute of Management gave a lecture entitled A Leader for Difficult Times.

“Today, a company is operating in the conditions of complexity and uncertainty, which is caused by a turbulent environment in which changes occur very rapidly and are difficult to predict. In order for it to grow and succeed, it must meet these changes, using them as an opportunity rather than a threat. (…) However, these changes must be well considered, otherwise there is a risk of plunging into chaos. A leader must also be able to anticipate them in order to change even faster than the environment, which is not an easy task.

The success of a company depends to a considerable extent on the competence and commitment of its staff, but they are not able to contribute to it by themselves. They need a leader who awakens their passions and inspires them to take the desired action from the point of view of the company. He should be a creator who, with his enthusiasm and willingness to act, will engage his co-workers in the implementation of common goals. Therefore, the leader should influence them in such a way that they gather around him and achieve success together,” emphasised Piotr Wachowiak.

He presented the most important qualities that a leader operating in a turbulent environment should have, and said how to effectively influence co-workers and become successful together with them. These include credibility, high emotional intelligence as well as trust in the relationship between the leader and co-workers.

At the end of the ceremony, the Rector of SGH made a gift to the Rector of KNEU, an art print by Tytus Brzozowski showing the characteristic buildings of Warsaw and Kyiv, which merge into one whole. Kyiv and Warsaw were connected by a bridge. “May the bridges we can see in Brzozowski’s print permanently and forever connect our nations!” – said Rector Wachowiak.

An activity of planting trees in the avenue in front of the main building of the university is an element of the ceremony of awarding DHC by KNEU. The Rector of SGH planted a maple tree – a tree very resistant to temperature changes, withstanding other harsh weather conditions, which refers to the difficult geopolitical conditions in the world. The symbolism is even deeper – the tree was planted during the approaching spring and Easter – the time of renewal.

In 2017, SGH and KNEU signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement on Student Exchange. Since then, academic exchange between universities has been developing intensively. In total, there were 23 participants in the Erasmus+ exchange programmes in 2017-2024. KNEU is a partner in the CIVICA for Ukraine Project. SGH cooperated intensively with KNEU professors in connection with the establishment and operation of the Ukrainian Scientific Diaspora in Poland and research on the situation of scientists in exile. KNEU is the only university of economics where students also learn Polish and there is a department of Polish studies there.

On 8 October 2024, the Rectors of SGH and KNEU signed a Letter of Intent on partnership with regard to the establishment of double degree programmes. The partnership provides for concrete actions to establish double degree programmes with KNEU at bachelor’s and master’s levels. The first steps to this end have already been taken. For SGH, this will be the first double degree programme with a Ukrainian university.

As both Rectors preside over the conferences of rectors of the capital cities of Ukraine and Poland, the cooperation between SGH and KNEU has enormous potential for the development of Polish Ukrainian relations at the level of the Conference of Rectors of Warsaw Universities and the Council of Rectors of Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast Universities. Kyiv-Warsaw – a common cause also for the academy.  

KAROLINA CYGONEK, editor-in-chief of “SGH MAGAZINE”
 

PHOTO: KNEU