The Director of Educational-Scientific Institute of International Relations, History and Philosophy of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy Professor Natalka Zemziulina took part in the work of the International Scientific Conference “Women in Diplomacy: Challenge or Mission?”, which was held on November 16-17, 2023 in Warsaw and Bydgoszcz.

The event was organized by the Scientific Society of the History of Diplomacy and International Relations in cooperation with the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, the Faculty of History of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, the Museum of Polish Diplomacy and Emigration, the Faculty of Historical Sciences of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, the Platform “Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats”. The conference was held under the honorary patronage of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland, Vasyl Zvarych, the Governor of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship, Mikołaj Bogdanowicz, the Director of the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, Jan Malicki, and the Rector of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Jacek Woźny. The scientific coordinator of the conference was the Chairman of the Board of the Scientific Society of the History of Diplomacy and International Relations, Professor of the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Iryna Matiash.

The first day of the event was held at the Faculty of Neophilology of the University of Warsaw, and the second – at the Library of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz. The participants of the scientific event were scientists, scientific and pedagogical workers of leading universities from Ukraine and Poland, women diplomats from various countries, wives of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, state and public figures, etc. During two days of meaningful and intense work, a whole range of topical issues was discussed, which highlight the place and role of women in the diplomatic service in today’s conditions and in historical retrospect. In particular, it was about the activity of a woman as the head of a diplomatic mission, the role and functions of Ambassadors’ wives, the activity of women in the field of public diplomacy in conditions of war and peace, the figures of famous women in the history of the diplomatic service, etc.

The discussion about whether it is possible to talk about women’s public diplomacy was fruitful. The speeches of all the participants were informative and contributed to solving the scientific tasks and goals of the conference. Science diplomacy was a separate area of ​​work. The Director of Educational-Scientific Institute of International Relations, History and Philosophy spoke about the role of scientists in the development of intellectual and scientific branding of the country. The mission of universities is the internationalization of education, the involvement of leading scientists in solving regional and global problems of our time, the provision of opportunities for interpersonal communication to students, and the creation of joint university scientific platforms.

A pleasant addition to the scientific controversy was the opportunity to listen to a tour of the Museum of Polish Diplomacy and Emigration in Bydgoszcz. The party hosting the conference participants, except for the Rector of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Jacek Woźny, was the Dean of the Faculty of History, Professor Marekа Zeliński, fellow scientists, students. According to the results of the meeting in Bydgoszcz, preliminary agreements were established on cooperation between scientists of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy and colleagues from Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz.

Educational-Scientific Institute of International Relations, History and Philosophy