Dr. Wojciech Wodo, Danuta Bugajna, Dr. Katarzyna Jach, University Professor, and Łukasz Ptaszek are this year's winners of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology's Lion award. 

Since 2011, current and former rectors of Wrocław University of Science and Technology have been awarding the WUST Lion (Lew PWr.) prize. It is a special distinction for employees, regardless of their positions, who use their work, commitment and ideas to make the University famous and increase its prestige in the academic environment. 

The statuette bears resemblance to the symbol of the now Ukrainian city of Lviv (the “lion”) which was within the pre-WW2 borders of Poland and where many of the first professors of our today's University originally came from after the resettlements in 1945. The prize thus emphasizes the intellectual roots of Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. So far, the award has been given to 39 people. 

This year the statuette went to: : 

Dr. Wojciech Wodo (Faculty of Information and Communication Technology) 

He is the supervisor of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology Film Discussion Club zand was awarded for his involvement in works at the University, and in particular in the development of film culture at WUST. He organized, among others: special film screenings, night movie marathons, outdoor cinema screenings, film music concerts, as well as shows combining film screenings with live music and scenography. He authored the application in the Polytechnica Nova competition for restoring the historic room 329 in building A-1. This is where the Discussion Club is located.

He is employed at the Department of Fundamentals of Computer Science at our Faculty. In the years 2011-2017, he was a board member of the MANUS Foundation where, as the director of the entrepreneurship incubator, he was responsible for the development of academic entrepreneurship.

Danuta Bugajna (Teaching Department) 

For over 20 years, she has been managing the secretary's office of the University's doctoral school, where she provides services to doctoral students with great commitment, often also outside working hours.  

It's greatly owing to her contribution that Wrocław University of Science and Technology has received several awards for the most post-doctoral university in the country.  She also has an important role in training and supporting assistants to directors of doctoral studies at all WUST faculties.  

Her energetic efforts helped the University regain funds intended to co-finance quality activities for doctoral students in 2023.

Dr. Katarzyna Jach, University Professor (Faculty of Management, Department of Accessibility and Support for People with Disabilities) 

Rector's Representative for People with Disabilities, who received the „Lion of the University of Technology" for her work on behalf of people with disabilities. She is in the chair of the Accessibility Leaders Team, whose task is to support people with special needs, promote the idea of accessibility and take actions to increase the accessibility of universities. 

She is also member of the Procedures Team in the „University of New Opportunities" project, which has updated and extended, among others, key procedures regarding accessibility for people with special needs, and which has developed architectural and urban, digital, communication and information accessibility standards at WUST.

Łukasz Ptaszek (Student Canteens Department) 

Coordinator of the Juwenalia #WrocławRazem, who needed just three months to organize, in cooperation with the Student Department and WUST Student Government, a two-day event for thousands of students from five Wrocław universities. It was the first such large student event after the end of the coronavirus pandemic.

– He has the ability to gather students around a common goal, as well as the kindness and understanding that are crucial to reconcile the expectations of all parties in such a huge undertaking – says the submitted application. He also has all the competences necessary to ensure that student events are safe and professional.

Already during his studies, he was involved in organizing student life. While studying at the former Faculty of Electronics, he joined the WUST Student Government, where he was responsible for organizing various cultural and entertainment events, including youth festivals.