Organizers

BG Piotr PATALONG

BG Piotr Patalong was born on 24th December 1962 in Katowice. He is a graduate of Land Forces Military Academy in Wroclaw (1985), National Defense Academy in Warsaw (1996) and Royal College of Defense Studies in London (2009). He also completed NATO/Partner Operational Staff Officers Course at The Netherlands Defense College in Rijswijk (1996), Postgraduate Operational – Tactical Studies at National Defense Academy in Warsaw (2005), as well as RANGER, PATHFINDER, JUMPMASTER courses in the USA.

He began his professional military career as a leader of a recce platoon in the 12th Mechanized Division. In the same division he served as a special section leader in the 16th  Recce  Battalion, special platoon leader in the 56th Special Company, Company Commander in the 56th Special Company. After graduating from National Defense Academy in 1996 he was transferred to the 6th Airborne Brigade where he served as a senior staff officer in S2. From 1997 to 2002 he was posted as the Deputy Chief of Training Branch in the 25th Air Cavalry Division, the Chief of Training Branch of the 1st Air  Cavalry Regiment, the Commander of  the 7th Air Cavalry Battalion. In January 2002 he returned to  the 6th Airborne Brigade to take the post of the Commander of the 18th Air Assault Battalion in Bielsko Biała which he held until 2004. In 2005 he became the Commander of  the 1st Special Commando Regiment in Lubliniec. In June 2006 he became a commander of the military unit GROM. In March 2008, for the second time the Minister of National Defense appointed him the Commander of the 18th Air Assault Battalion. From October 2008 he was Chief of Staff in Polish Special Operations Forces Command. Since 15th August 2010 he has been Polish Special Operations Forces Commander.

BG Piotr Patalong has participated in military missions abroad three times: as an operational officer (UNPROFOR), Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of Polish Military Contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR), Special Operations Task Group Commander in Polish Military Contingent in Iraq.

He is a parachute instructor (Master Class).

Prof. dr hab. med. Wojciech NOWAK

Prof. dr hab. med. Wojciech Nowak

Rector

Date and place of birth
21 September 1949, Kraków

Education
1968 - 74 - Faculty of Medicine at the Academy of Medicine in Kraków

Academic Degrees
Professor of Medical Sciences – 2003
Assistant Professor – Jagiellonian University Medical College – 1997
MD – Academy of Medicine in Kraków – 1974
PhD – Academy of Medicine in Kraków –  1982

Specialisations
Second Degree in General Surgery –  Kraków; 1984
First Degree in General Surgery –  Kraków; 1977

Employment and clinical position
Head of the Third Chair and Clinic of General Surgery since 1 January 2009
Professor Ordinary at JU MC since 2009
Professor Extraordinary at the I Chair in General Surgery; 2004-2008
Deputy Ward Head at the Clinical Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery at the University Hospital in Kraków since 2003-2008

Academic position
Vice-Rector of the Jagiellonian University for the Medical College; 2008-2012
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine JU MC; 2005-2008
Head of the Faculty of Anatomy UJ CM; 2004-2008
Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for Clinical Studies JU MC; 1999-2002 and 2002-2005

Institutional appointments
President of the European Society of Surgery (ESS) since 25 November 2010
Member of the Examination Board of the Division of General Surgery (European Board of Surgery - EBS) since 25 November 2010
Treasurer of the Association of UEMS Division of General Surgery &European Board of Surgery since 25 November 2010
Voivodship Consultant on General Surgery since 2008
Member of the State Examination Commission on General Surgery since 2007
Member of the European Union Network of Excellence for Gastric Cancer since 2007
Voivodship Specialist on Clinical Transplantology; 2002-2006

Membership in scientific associations
Association of Polish Surgeons
Polish Anatomical Association
Endocrine Surgery Section of the PTE
Polish Gastroenterological Association
Polish Medical Association
Polish USG Association
European Society of Surgery –  member of the board
International Society of Surgery
European Association of Endoscopic Surgery
European Society of Endocrine Surgery

Academic Interests
Endocrine surgery
Ultrasound in surgery
Surgical treatment of tumours of the digestive tract
Breast cancer
Transplantology

Publications
Author and co-author of 133 publications, 285 conferences, and co-author of 3 monographs.
 

THE POLISH SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES COMMAND

Special Operations Forces obtained the status of a separate Branch of the Polish Armed Forces on May 24th 2007. This decision was a consequence of a long debate and a profound need to consolidate all special operations units scattered over the other, already existing Branches. Immediately, upon its creation Polish Special Operations Forces were given one unified Command (POLSOFCOM), which ensured harmonious and coherent development as well as training, all based on common Special Operations Doctrine. Such approach consecutively guaranteed that all special operations forces would receive the same quality, top notch equipment and weapons.

Contemporary Special Operations Forces are intended to operate within and outside the Polish borders, in peace, crisis and war time. Operations can be conducted alone or in cooperation with conventional forces, and may be of strategic or operational character and importance. The structure of the Polish Special Operations Forces is based on singular, independent units and subunits comprised of specially selected, trained and equipped soldiers prepared to function in high risk environment. Currently, Special Operations Forces structure contains Polish Special Operations Forces Command (POLSOFCOM) (Krakow), Military Unit GROM (Warszawa), Military Unit COMMANDO (Lubliniec), Military Unit FORMOZA (Gdynia), Military Unit AGAT (Gliwice), and

Military Unit NIL (Krakow). POLSOFCOM Commander executes direct authority over the Polish Task Forces stationed in Afghanistan and conducting ISAF missions there. By the end of 2013, a new addition, 7th Special Operations Squadron, will have been formed and fully operational.

Each Special Operations Forces unit is unique and specializes in different types of operations. The philosophy behind this organization is fundamental, and makes the soldier-operant the most important, and valuable element of its structure. The Polish Special Operations Forces, being a part of the Polish Armed Forces participate actively in all operations. The most important, and difficult at the same time, is the preparation process aimed at defending national borders. Both POLSOF presence in Afghanistan, and its engagement in NATO Reaction/Response Forces component,contribute substantially towards international stability. Special Operations Forces are also responsible for maintaining readiness to support the Police in countering domestic terrorism. SOF is also prepared to conduct the whole spectrum of special operations in case any crisis arises.

Special Operations Forces constitute only 3% of the Polish Armed Forces, and the cost of their maintenance is about 2,75% of the annual budget of the Ministry of National Defense. Given the costs, it becomes evident that POLSOF effectiveness is incommensurably high. It is worth highlighting that high effectiveness and overall success of POLSOF soldiers (e.g. ISAF mission) originates in their ability to cooperate with the other Branches of the Military and Intelligence Agencies.

 

THE JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY

The Jagiellonian University: the modern meets the traditional 

Founded in 1364, the Jagiellonian University is one of the oldest universities in Poland and Europe. Over the centuries it has educated the Polish elite. Many of its graduates, including e.g. Nicolaus Copernicus and Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, significantly contributed to the development of the European culture and science.

The Jagiellonian University of today is respectful of its history, yet it combines the values of the past with innovative ideas. As a modern research and teaching centre it provides outstanding conditions for students and researchers to develop their skills and interests. The university offices and administrative units, such as the Careers Service, Centre for Continuing Education and Academic Outreach, or Disability Support Service offer support both to students and the University staff. Furthermore, there are also plenty of student associations and societies, which cover a huge range of activities: from research projects through film screenings and theme evenings to exotic expeditions.

The Jagiellonian University is made of 15 faculties, whose premises are located both in historic edifices in the city centre and in the state-of-the-art buildings and facilities of the Third Campus. The University runs 152 specializations and 73 study programmes in the humanities and sciences. There are over 45 000 students and 3700 academic staff members.

Kraków's Alma Mater occupies a significant position on the academic world map. It is an important partner for over 200 famous international universities and academic research institutions. A wide range of undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and post-diploma study programmes in English and German coupled with scholarship schemes on offer attract more and more international students.

The Jagiellonian University also contributes to Kraków's intellectual and cultural life. It hosts numerous open lectures, concerts, exhibitions, and meetings with such distinguished figures as Nobel Prize winners, renowned philosophers, or acclaimed artists.

FACULTY OF INTERNATIONAL AND POLITICAL STUDIES

The Faculty of International and Political Studies was established by the Jagiellonian University Senate resolution of 19th April 2000. It started to function on the 1st October 2001. After undergoing many changes throughout the years, it now consists of 9 institutes/centers/chairs spanning many different fields of studies that are directly connected with politics, international relations, culture and foreign matters in general.

This young and dynamic Faculty has a wide variety of study programs to offer, which have almost entire world within their scope of interest. The programs include, among others, political studies, international relations, national security, American studies and many more. The Faculty also has several dozen partnership agreements with higher education institutions all over the world, which enable and support staff and student mobility, as well as a general fruitful international cooperation.

The Faculty's units and staff conduct many researches including publications, periodicals, conferences and projects.

INSTITUTE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

After Poland regained independence in 1918, the School was reactivated and in 1922 an agreement was signed between the Rector of Jagiellonian University and the authorities of the School, thanks to which the School became a unit within the Jagiellonian University (Faculty of Law). The School was closed down again, because of the WWII outbreak. It resumed work as an underground unit in 1944, then was officially reopened in 1946 and eventually disbanded in 1949, because of the new authorities' policy.

In 1969 the Institute of Political Science was created, constantly developing throughout the years. In 2001 it became a part of the newly founded Faculty of International and Political Studies. The Institute today is considered the best institute of political science in Poland.