Our students' participation is an excellent publicity for the University, emphasising its significance, said AMU Rector Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska during a press conference summarising EXPO 2025. Nine students from the Japanese Studies programme in Poznań were involved in operating the Polish Pavilion.
The conference was attended by several notable figures, including Jacek Tomczak, the Commissioner General of the Polish Pavilion at Expo 2025; Krzysztof Paszyk, the Minister of Development and Technology; Prof. Michał Wieczorowski, the Chairman of the Board of the Polish Hydrogen Chamber; and representatives from PAIH. The Rector was accompanied by: Vice-Rector for Digitalisation and Business Cooperation, Prof. Michał Banaszak, Dr Yuki Horie from the Department of Japanese Studies, as well as students who participated in EXPO 2025.
"I greatly appreciate the fact that the national EXPO pavilion was prepared in cooperation with universities, which is not so common in our reality. We have just had the Science for Business congress, which also showed that this is an extremely crucial connection,” said Rector Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska, adding: “Unfortunately, in the NAWA competition for university presentations, we were ranked just below the line, which is why AMU did not have its own exhibition, unlike AGH Kraków, for example. It had an even better exhibition because, for months, nine students worked in the EXPO pavilion, welcoming guests, speaking to them in Japanese, and showing them around a pavilion we can truly be proud of."
Therefore, according to the Rector, the students performed excellently in this role, with visitors praising their professionalism, outstanding knowledge of the Japanese language and culture, and their ability to maintain proper conduct. Finally, Prof. Kaniewska emphasised the significance of EXPO for Polish science: "From the point of view of the University and science in Poland in general, it was an excellent and attractive promotion. I wish to add that, apart from the Greater Poland Days at EXPO, Polish Science Days were also organised, attended by a large group of scientists, including Deputy Minister Maria Mrówczyńska and representatives of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).
"The Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, students' participation in Expo 2025 is an example of how higher education can truly impact a country's image abroad," comments Prof. Beata Bochorodycz, who coordinated the student group's work. "Thanks to their linguistic, cultural and interpersonal skills, these young people became ambassadors for Poland, building relationships, explaining contexts and supporting intercultural exchange. Their presence in the Polish Pavilion was not only a prestigious distinction, but also a practical experience that will certainly bear fruit in their future professional careers," added Prof. Bochorodycz.
Source: AMU Press Office and Social Media
photo: Przemysław Stanula
