Dean from the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow visits the Department of Sociology at the Catholic University of Croatia

The University Department of Sociology at the Catholic University of Croatia hosted Rev. Professor Grzegorz Godawa, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, Poland, from September 14 to 17, 2026, as part of an Erasmus+ staff mobility programme.

Professor Godawa’s academic fields are pedagogy and social sciences, with his research focusing on education, interpersonal relationships, and the axiological foundations of education. In recent years, his work has explored closeness as a concept with pedagogical, social, existential, and theological significance. He is particularly interested in what closeness means in the relationship between teachers and students and whether a university can be a place of encounter, dialogue, and trust rather than merely a place where obligations are fulfilled. He has published several papers on the subject.

On Monday, September 14, Professor Godawa was welcomed at the Department of Sociology, where he was introduced to the University and the Department, followed by an informal gathering over coffee. On Tuesday, September 15, he delivered a lecture and workshop for doctoral students in sociology on interpersonal closeness in the academic environment, which was also open to faculty members and students of the Department and members of the Nexus student association. The day concluded with discussions and consultations with doctoral students on their research topics and a meeting with Assistant Professor Miriam Mary Brgles, PhD.

On Wednesday, September 16, Professor Godawa met with Head of the Department of Sociology Associate Professor Ivana Brstilo Lovrić, PhD, and Vice-Rector for International Cooperation Professor Jasna Ćurković Nimac, PhD, to discuss existing and future academic cooperation between the two institutions. The visit concluded on Thursday, September 17, with a meeting with the ECTS Coordinator at the University Department of Sociology, Assistant Professor Damir Mravunac, PhD, and a meeting with Vice-Rector for Quality, Identity and Mission Professor Ante Crnčević, PhD.

The University’s cooperation with Krakow began in 2023 with a joint conference on St. John Paul II’s connections with Croatia, organized on the Polish side by Professor Godawa. This year’s visit marked a continuation of that cooperation, with further joint initiatives between the two universities expected in the future.