Dear Students, dear Colleagues,

As we begin the new academic year 2026/2027, I warmly invite you to read and share, among people studying and working [at the Faculty / unit / Doctoral School], information about equality and anti-discrimination activities carried out at the University of Warsaw.

As the Plenipotentiary for Equality [at the Faculty / unit / Doctoral School], I remain the “first point of contact” when:

  • a student, PhD student or staff member needs support or advice concerning counteracting discrimination, including sexual harassment, mobbing and other undesirable behaviours,
  • a matter requires consultation with the relevant central administration units that can provide further assistance.

I also share information about equality-related activities carried out by the University of Warsaw.

We are all equal 

https://rownowazni.uw.edu.pl/en/

University website dedicated to equality, where you can find:

  • definitions of various forms of discrimination and practical advice for people who have experienced discrimination or witnessed it,
  • informal and formal procedures for reporting undesirable behaviour at UW,
  • a description of and information on how support institutions at the University operate,
  • the Inclusive Gender Equality Plan, which provides the framework for equality activities at the University for the years 2026 – 2030,
  • informations on parenthood, neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ people, along with descriptions of initiatives supporting these communities,
  • practical guides on anti-discrimination activities, transgender people at the University, inclusive language, and counteracting sexual harassment,
  • information on courses, trainings, research, and equality events at UW.

Inclusive Gender Equality Plan

Gender Equality Plan for University of Warsaw was the equality action strategy for the years 2020–2024 (with a transition period in 2025), created on the basis of research into the needs of the University community, expert consultations, and a review of solutions applied at European universities.

On 29 July 2026, the new Inclusive Gender Equality Plan for the University of Warsaw for 2026–2030 was adopted, continuing the University’s equality work. The Plan sets the directions for the coming years, combining gender equality with a broader policy of equal treatment, diversity, accessibility, counteracting discrimination, and building a safe and supportive academic environment.

The new Plan builds on the activities undertaken under the previous Gender Equality Plan while also responding to new challenges and the needs of the academic community. It was prepared on the basis of research and analyses conducted at the University, the evaluation of the previous Plan, the results of the university-wide “Equality at UW” 2024 study, as well as European Commission guidelines.

Preferred names and pronouns

The University of Warsaw community includes people who use a name or pronouns other than those indicated in official documents. Please respect this and address everyone according to their preferences, in line with the basic university principle – everyone should be treated with respect.

We are aware that slips of the tongue may happen – there is nothing wrong with that. If you accidentally use the wrong pronoun, there is no need to explain yourself. If you are unsure how to address a transgender person – just ask.

It is important to avoid deliberate misgendering – intentionally using pronouns consistent with documents but inconsistent with the person’s identity. This is hurtful for transgender people and negatively affects their ability to study or work comfortably at the University.

While speaking about transgender people, remember that there is no such process as “sex change”, but rather its reconciliation or transition. Transition can have social, medical, and legal dimensions, but regardless of these processes, every person has the right to be addressed by their chosen name and pronouns and to be treated with respect.

The University of Warsaw is currently working on systemic solutions to make it easier for transgender people to function at the University. An overlay for the USOS and APD systems has been designed, consulted with the UW Legal Office, student and doctoral self-governments and the Queer UW student society, and is currently being implemented. The only exceptions among the systems forming USOS are those parts that, for formal reasons, must use official personal data, such as the diploma examination record in APD. A formal University team has been appointed to oversee implementation, although completion of the work may still take several months.

Until the changes are implemented, people who wish to use their preferred personal data during classes at UW or create an email alias are asked to complete the dedicated form. Note – please use your university e-mail address.

We also recommend contact with Equality Plenipotentiaries. They can help you inform course instructors about your preferred data to avoid situations where attendance lists based solely on student records are used. The current list of equality plenipotentiaries is available on the equality website: Support institutions at the UW.

Educational activities

The University of Warsaw carries out a range of educational activities. A variety of educational materials and training courses on equality and counteracting discrimination have been developed.

We warmly encourage you to read the guides that form the foundation of knowledge about equality at UW:

The Equality Team organises courses and training on equality and anti-discrimination. Information about current activities is available on the Education and Training page. The main initiatives include:

  • Understanding Equality – an online course devoted to equal treatment and counteracting discrimination, available as an OGUN course for students and as a training course for UW staff, both in Polish and in English,
  • The prevention of sexual harassment at the university – an online course offering theoretical and practical knowledge about sexual harassment and ways to counteract it; available as an OGUN course for students and as a training course for UW staff, both in Polish and in English,
  • Mobbing at workplace – prevention, recognition and responses – an online course introducing the issue of mobbing (workplace bullying) with particular emphasis on this problem in the academic environment and the UW anti-mobbing procedure,
  • Discrimination, conformism and resistance: history and memory of the forced segregation of Polish and Jewish students in the Second Polish Republic – an online course presenting the history of academic exclusions, forms of opposition against discrimination and contemporary ways of commemorating a difficult past, available as an OGUN for students.

Faculties and other UW units also offer interesting classes, courses and OGUNs on equality, diversity and counteracting discrimination. The Equality Team has collected information about English-language classes here: Equality classes at faculties and units (conducted in English). UW is also home to many research centres and student societies working on related topics. The offer is available here: Equality centers and clubs.

Support

In difficult situations, you can count on the support of relevant institutions and contact persons at the University of Warsaw. It is helpful to know who is best suited to assist in a given situation.

As the University of Warsaw is a large and complex institution, it is not always immediately clear whom to approach with a specific matter. With this in mind, the infographic below was created to provide a simple overview of the key institutions and individuals offering support at the University. If you remain unsure where to seek help, you can contact the Equality Plenipotentiary, who will point you in the right direction and advise you on the steps you can take.

A map showing where to seek support, together with contact details for all institutions, is available here: where to seek support.

If the person affected decides to report a matter to one of the UW institutions, there are several possible routes.

In cases of undesirable behaviour such as discrimination, harassment, mobbing or sexual harassment, one of two routes can be chosen: the so-called informal route, which involves support from the Academic Ombuds’s Team or the formal route, which involves submitting an official complaint to the Team of Coordinators. After reviewing the matter, the Coordinators may refer it to the appropriate Commission (for unequal treatment and discrimination or for mobbing and other undesirable behaviours).

Other relevant routes include disciplinary proceedings concerning breaches of duties or dignity at the University, as well as whistleblower reports concerning irregularities at UW as a workplace.

The infographic below explains the key differences between these routes and helps indicate which may be appropriate in a given situation. If you are unsure, you can always contact your Equality Plenipotentiary, who can explain the available options.

I hope that the information contained in this guide will be helpful and will allow all members of the UW community to feel safe and comfortable. I encourage you to use the available support and share it with others – together we create a university that is friendly, open, and full of mutual respect.

Karolina Łudzińska

Equality Plenipotentiary at the Faculty of Management

e-mail: rownosc@wz.uw.edu.pl