Longstanding collaborations, including faculty exchanges and study-abroad opportunities, between the University of Delaware and the University of Warsaw are expected to expand as the result of a relationship-building visit by UD faculty and administrators to Poland earlier this semester.
The connection between Delaware and Warsaw, which has centered on the universities psychology departments, was formalized in 2006 with the signing of an official partnership agreement. Each department includes social psychologists who share some research interests, including specialties in the study of prejudice and discrimination.
In addition, Warsaw has an English-language psychology program, at which several UD faculty members have taught or lectured.
Now, after this falls visit, the programs involving the two psychology departments are expected to expand, while other fields of study may implement their own exchanges and collaborative projects. Possible areas for partnerships include sociology, history, Jewish studies, philosophy and business management, said George Watson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and part of the delegation that traveled to Poland.
Theres a new Center for Research on Prejudice at the University of Warsaw, which seems like a good fit for our Center for the Study of Diversity, Watson said. And the city has a new museum of Jewish history. Weve been looking at ways to strengthen Jewish studies here, and that could be a great opportunity for our students.
In fact, Watson said, Warsaw offers many prospects for study abroad and other international programs for students. Like other nations freed from domination when the Soviet Union dissolved, Poland has now experienced a quarter-century of dramatic change.
Theyre celebrating 25 years of democracy since the country was opened up, and that makes it a very interesting place, Watson said. I think Warsaw is a good city for our students to experience and a good place for them to study and work.