SGGW at the ELLS 2026 Conference in Montpellier

The ELLS Conference is an annual gathering of a network of European universities specialising in life sciences, agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, food and environmental sciences. It provides a platform for exchanging experience, presenting research achievements and establishing cooperation among member universities.

General Assembly and Forum – Cooperation and Development

The ELLS General Assembly and Forum (GAF) took place on 5-6 November. Participants from SGGW included representatives of the University authorities: professor Michał Zasada, Rector of SGGW; professor Marta Mendel, Vice-Rector for Internationalization; and professor Tomasz Okruszko,Vice-Rector for Science. They were joined by a delegation of more than 20 people, comprising SGGW researchers, administrative staff and students affiliated with ELSA (ELLS Student Association), alongside their counterparts from other universities in the network.

The meeting focused, among other things, on the strategic directions for developing cooperation, sharing experience and promoting joint academic and educational initiatives. The programme included working group meetings, thematic forums and plenary sessions, providing opportunities for discussion and the development of new areas of collaboration.

This is an opportunity to reflect on 25 years of ELLS, but it is much more than an anniversary. It is a celebration of our shared vision, mutual trust and the belief that universities working together can achieve far more than they can individually, said Professor Michał Zasada, Rector of SGGW.

Professor Marta Mendel, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, commented on the ELLS General Assembly and Forum:

After 25 years, ELLS is ready to expand its activities and strengthen cooperation with partners beyond Europe. I am particularly pleased that one of the GAF plenary sessions was devoted to opportunities for cooperation with institutions on the African continent. I hope that an ELLS working group dedicated to developing this initiative will be established in the near future.

Scientific Student Conference – International Exchange of Research Experience

One of the key events on the programme is the Scientific Student Conference (SSC), an international academic conference aimed at students. On Friday, 6 November, the conference opened with introductory sessions and a keynote lecture, followed by oral and poster presentations.

The presentations covered a wide range of topics, including sustainable agriculture, forestry, biology, animal sciences, natural resources, food science, soil and water sciences, as well as landscape architecture. A total of 24 SGGW students and doctoral candidates are presenting their research findings. We wish them every success!

SGGW to Host ELLS 2027

This year’s meeting in Montpellier is particularly significant for SGGW in view of next year’s edition of the event. In September 2027, SGGW will host the ELLS General Assembly and Forum and the Scientific Student Conference.

Representatives of ELLS member universities will travel to Warsaw, including academic staff, administrative personnel, students and doctoral candidates from across Europe and beyond. Hosting the event will provide an opportunity to showcase SGGW’s research, teaching and infrastructure capabilities to the international academic community, as well as to present Warsaw as a city that fosters academic cooperation.

SGGW’s participation in the conference in Montpellier provides an opportunity to actively engage in the international exchange of knowledge and experience. It also marks another important step in preparations for welcoming the ELLS community to Poland in 2027.

We look forward to welcoming you to Warsaw in September 2027!

For further information and the full programme of this year’s conference, please visit: ELLS 2026 – Event Programme