On September 17, 2024, at the invitation of the Rector of the University of Rzeszów, Prof. Adam Reich, and the Rector of the Rzeszów University of Technology, Prof. Piotr Koszelnik, a meeting was held between parliamentarians from the Podkarpacie region and the university authorities. The event took place in the Senate Hall of the University of Rzeszów.

The main objective of the meeting was to discuss potential collaboration between the universities and parliamentarians in key scientific and educational initiatives aimed at contributing to the further development of the Podkarpacie region.

Several important topics were raised during the discussion, including:

- Creation of the Higher Education Forum of Podkarpacie – a platform intended to strengthen collaboration between the region’s universities.

- The role of universities in reducing the outflow of young people from Podkarpacie – the need to retain young talent in the region through attractive study programs and initiatives supporting graduates' professional development was emphasized.

- Support programs for fields crucial to the economy – the necessity of aligning educational offerings with the dynamically changing demands of the labour market was discussed.

- Challenges related to the influx of international students – especially in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine.

- Necessary infrastructure investments – including the construction of a University Hospital and the Cybersecurity Centre at the Rzeszów University of Technology.

The meeting took the form of a constructive debate, during which parliamentarians expressed their support for the universities' initiatives.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and legislative representatives, which can contribute to more effective achievement of shared goals and strengthen the academic standing of the Podkarpacie region.