On 13 April 2026, an expert conference entitled ‘Between Solidarity and the National Interest: Poland’s Approach to Ukraine’ was held at the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, organised in collaboration with the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Institute of Political and Security Studies at the University of Rzeszów.

The event exemplifies the university’s active engagement in social and economic development through knowledge transfer, cooperation with public institutions, and the building of an expert base for the state.

It brought together representatives of parliament, public administration, the academic world, expert circles, and institutions dealing with security and international politics. The conference provided a forum for in-depth debate on the challenges arising from the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, with particular emphasis on the political, social and economic consequences, as well as the implications for the security of Poland and the countries of the region.

Among the speakers and panel moderators were staff members of the Institute of Political and Security Studies: Prof. Grzegorz Bonusiak, Prof. Maciej Milczanowski, Prof. Anna Siewierska and Prof. Krzysztof Żarna. The event was also attended by His Magnificence the Rector of the University of Rzeszów, Prof. Adam Reich.

The University of Rzeszów was also represented by students of political science and international relations, for whom attending the conference provided a valuable academic and practical experience.

The conference programme comprised three expert panels:

• Losses incurred by third countries – the economic and systemic consequences of the war for countries in the region
• The reconstruction of Ukraine – the role of Poland and international partners in the process of rebuilding the Ukrainian state
• Cognitive warfare – information, cyber and psychological threats, and the resilience of institutions and society

The most significant outcome of the conference was the establishment of a working group tasked with preparing the first report on the losses suffered by Poland as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The group comprises:

• Prof. Paweł Kowal (Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee),
• Prof. Jolanta Itrich-Drabarek (Vice-President of the Łukasiewicz Research Network),
• Prof. Adam Reich (Rector of the University of Rzeszów),
• Prof. Marek Cierpiał-Wolan (President of the Central Statistical Office).

The event was an important example of the effective combination of the university’s academic potential with the practice of public life, confirming the active role of the University of Rzeszów in the debate on the key challenges of the modern world.

The conference was organised as part of the project “Migrants from Ukraine in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Economic and social implications”, funded by the Minister of Science under the “Regional Excellence Initiative” programme for the years 2024–2027.

Co-financed by the Minister of Science under the “Regional Initiative of Excellence” programme for the years 2024–2027, project no. RID/SP/0011/2024/1, funding amount PLN 17,172,501.00.