On 23 April 2026, the III Ełk Forum for the Exchange of Student Thought will take place in a hybrid format — in person at the Branch of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Ełk, and online via the MEET/BBB platform. The event is organised by UWM Ełk and the Faculty of Business and Law of Lutsk National Technical University in Ukraine. For the first time, the forum takes on a truly international dimension, with the IBIES Foundation serving as one of its strategic partners.
Why Is This Forum Unique?
This year’s edition stands out primarily for its interdisciplinary approach to the subject of security. The conference is not confined to a single discipline — it brings together legal studies, security sciences and social sciences, creating a space where administration, psychology, political science and sociology converge. The discussion spans five thematic panels: from hybrid threats and the role of social media, through local government security, to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Sessions will be conducted in Polish, English and Ukrainian — reflecting the genuinely cross-border nature of contemporary challenges.
Students at the Heart of the Event — Not Just as an Audience
What makes this forum particularly valuable is that it treats students as active participants in the debate, not merely spectators. The programme includes didactic and training workshops as well as an expert panel, in which young researchers play a direct role. Registration is open via a dedicated online form on the organiser’s website.
IBIES as a Partner — Where Does the Value Lie?
The IBIES Foundation’s involvement as a patron of this event reflects our consistent strategy of supporting education in the field of security — especially where academic and practical dimensions intersect. Partnering with NATO DEEP eAcademy as the second strategic partner, alongside a Ukrainian university, gives the conference an added layer of significance: it serves as a forum for dialogue between Poland and Ukraine at a time when questions of regional security carry very real, everyday weight.