Respect, equality and openness at KU
Respect, equality and openness at KU
For KU, the idea of equality, diversity, tolerance and human rights is one of the foundations of values and is included in Kozminski's Decalogue
We are an international university and we are proud that we can connect people with different political views, representatives of different schools, religions, nationalities, and give all these people a platform for a cultural exchange of opinions as part of research projects, lectures and seminars.
We shape the Kozminski University community in the spirit of ethical standards and sustainable development goals. We are guided by concern for physical and mental health, emotional comfort of people, human rights and the preservation of the planet's natural resources.
The university is involved in the fight against discrimination and stands up for the rights of discriminated people.
All suspicions of breaking the law, xenophobia, discrimination, hate speech are treated as a priority and are subject to investigation by disciplinary officers who may apply statutory penalties to such persons.
Anti-discrimination activities at KU
Equality and fairness are at the heart of KU's values. As a university, we have an obligation to set an example in terms of guarantees of equal treatment, equal rights, and opportunities for all members of the community.
At KU, the Anti-Discrimination Expert, Dr. Anna Maria Górska, ensures compliance with the principles of equal treatment.
As part of our activities for the benefit of the community, we have developed a number of solutions to combat discrimination and ensure inclusivity and respect among our community.
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee is the Rector's advisory unit in matters related to ethics, in particular in matters of applying the KU Code of Ethics. In addition, the Ethics Committee considers individual cases.
The Ethics Committee is composed of: 1. prof. KU dr hab. Mariusz Maciejewski - Chairman of the Committee 2. dr Helena Chmielewska-Szlajfer - Vice-President of the Commission 3. Beata Chmura - Secretary of the Committee 4. prof. dr hab. Jolanta Jablońska-Bońca 5. prof. KU dr hab. Paweł Krzyworzeka 6. Katarzyna Kwapińska 7. Kinga Nekanda-Trepka 8. prof. KU dr hab. Tomasz Olejniczak 9. prof. dr hab. Czesław Szmidt
Members of the Kozminski University community comply with applicable ethical standards and principles and care for good relations with each other, relating to each other in a way that builds a positive culture of cooperation. However, even in the best organization, conflicts can arise due to possible violations of applicable rules. Therefore, if you believe that you have encountered behavior that violates applicable standards or ethical principles, you can take the following actions:
Open conversation with the other person
- You can speak openly with the person you believe has acted unethically, using a non-conflictive way of communication. Explain and make sure that you interpreted the whole situation as intended by the other person, and you can also ask why they behaved this way towards you. It may turn out that the case looks different than you received it. Many intepersonal conflicts result from communication misunderstandings and openly raising the matter among the people concerned can solve many problems.
Conversation with the supervisor
If you don't want to or can't talk to the person, you can:
- talk to your supervisor or a person who, in your opinion, behaves unethically,
- talk to people from the higher management level at the University (e.g. in a situation where the problem arose in relations with your superior/supervisor), including the Rector, who also has powers in this area - may e.g. refer the matter to mediation.
Notifying the Disciplinary Officer
If you do not want to take advantage of the above options and you believe someone has committed a disciplinary offence, you can notify:
- in relation to a student - the Disciplinary Ombudsman for Students of KU,
- in relation to an academic teacher - the KU Disciplinary Spokesman,
- in relation to a doctoral student - the Disciplinary Ombudsman for PhD Students of Kozminski University;
A student's disciplinary offense is a violation of the regulations in force at the University and an act that violates the student's dignity. A disciplinary offense of a doctoral student is a violation of the regulations in force at the University and an act that violates the dignity of a doctoral student. A disciplinary offense of an academic teacher is an act that violates the duties of an academic teacher or the dignity of the profession of an academic teacher.
Contact:
- Disciplinary Spokesperson for KU students – dr Szymon Krajnik, krajnik@kozminski.edu.pl
- Disciplinary Spokesperson for KU PhD students - dr Anna Górska amg@kozminski.edu.pl
- Disciplinary Spokesperson for KU Academic Teachers - prof. Wojciech Góralczyk wgoralczyk@kozminski.edu.pl
If you believe someone has breached the ethical rules but this does not qualify as a disciplinary offence, you can refer the matter to the Ethics Committee.
The chairman of the Committee and its members will review the notification and decide whether to initiate the appropriate procedure. If the decision is positive, the Chairman will appoint a team to clarify the matter. The team's actions will depend on the nature of the problem, but the Commission will examine the whole situation in each case, taking different points of view. The committee can then decide whether the conduct violated ethical principles.
The Ethics Committee may also refer the matter to mediation or transfer it to other University bodies, if it deems it appropriate.
Contact: komisjaetyki@kozminski.edu.pl
The project "AVAILABLE - OPEN – CREATIVE"
Kozminski University as a university of equal opportunities”, a project co-financed by the European Union. The main objective of the project is to increase the accessibility and openness of Kozminski University by:
- expanding the scope of activities of the accessibility unit
- improving accessibility and eliminating architectural barriers
- use of assistive technologies
- implementation of updated regulations guaranteeing the elimination of barriers and ensuring accessibility
- implementation of educational support for students
- implementation of trainings raising awareness in the field of disability for the University staff until October 31, 2023
Online course "Equality and Openness"
The online course for openness, accessibility and diversity at KU is addressed to the entire community of the University - both students and staff.
The anti-discrimination course, created together with social partners, is part of a larger project in which we eliminate architectural barriers, teach inclusive language, and talk about diversity - how to support it at universities. By focusing on open education for all and eliminating inequalities, Kozminski University implements a strategy for sustainable development.
In the academic year 2020/2021, as the first university in Poland, we developed and communicated our own Sustainable Development Goals as part of the Sustainable Transformation Strategy to our community and surroundings.
The course is available on itslearning platform after logging in: https://kozminski.itslearning.com/ContentArea/ContentArea.aspx?LocationID=412&LocationType=1
By joining the course, you can move freely through its subject matter and complete individual modules in any order.
Training for KU staff
Kozminski University staff also trains and educates themselves on issues of inclusivity.
As part of the project entitled " ACCESSIBLE - OPEN - CREATIVE. Kozminski University as a university of equal opportunities ” From January 2021 to October 2023, Kozminski University is implementing a number of activities related to increasing the accessibility and openness of Kozminski University. Training and workshops are conducted by external experts.
One of the trainings offered to the staff of the university was the training entitled "Education of students with special needs, including various disabilities", during which participants learned about the perspectives, inclusion and verification of learning outcomes in the case of people with special needs and taking into account students with disabilities. Participants also learned how to create conditions for participation in the education process for people with disabilities, including how to implement adaptations of teaching materials adequate to deficits, so as to maintain the academic standard and enable students with disabilities to acquire knowledge, skills and competences - in accordance with their needs and possibilities. The training content is inscribed in the idea of accessibility related to providing people with special needs with access to all spheres of social life.
Another example of training offered to the staff of Kozminski University is the training "Disability Awareness for Kozminski University employees”. The training was divided into two parts: theoretical and practical. In the theoretical part, topics related to the nomenclature in the context of disability, classification of types and models of disability, principles of educational support for people with disabilities were discussed, and good practices from the academic world were presented.
In addition to the theoretical part, the participants also took part in workshops during which simulations were carried out, exercises aimed at learning how to support people with disabilities, savoir vivre towards people with disabilities. Thanks to the training, a practical catalog of solutions at Kozminski University was developed and a proposal for their adaptation at the university.
The training was offered to every member of the Kozminski University staff, while it was obligatory for the management staff.
ESR online course
In order to bring the KU community closer to the values expressed in the 6 Sustainable Development Goals, the academic staff developed the ESR course. The course consists of 6 modules - corresponding to the Sustainable Development Goals selected by our University.
The course is available on itslearning platform after logging in:
https://kozminski.itslearning.com/ContentArea/ContentArea.aspx?LocationID=337&LocationType=1 By joining the course, you can move freely through its subject matter and complete individual modules in any order.
Immediate support for personal well-being
The community of Kozminski University has the opportunity to take advantage of both free, ad hoc support in the area of personal well-being, as well as psychological and psychiatric help offered by qualified specialists of the MindMed Institute.
- On a daily basis, people who need support can contact the consultants of the Welfare Office:
- Marzena Indra: 600 328 934; marzena.indra@kozminski.edu.pl
- Michał Godlewski: 538 510 074; mgodlewski@kozminski.edu.pl
Inclusive language (feminatives, training)
As part of the "Equality and Openness" course, we have prepared a course on inclusive, respectful and polite communication. An example of activities related to this area are initiatives focused around the plain language standard. We have prepared a series of trainings entitled "In Polish. Just” and a language guide for our staff.
In addition, we try to use inclusive and neutral language in our marketing materials, external and internal documents as well as in everyday communication.
