The official opening of VISION – The European Center for Multilingualism in Teacher Education took place on March 18 at the VIZJA University campus. Established as a specialized unit within the School of Humanities and Fine Arts, VISION was co-founded by Dr. Katarzyna Cybulska-Gómez de Celis and Dean Dr. Adam Świątek, and it is directed by a distinguished scholar and a leading authority in the field of multilingualism, Professor Larissa Aronin. The mission of VISION is to foster collaboration with preeminent international scholars and practitioners specializing in multilingualism, multilingual didactics, and contemporary paradigms of teacher education. This mission is operationalized through a rigorous synthesis of scientific inquiry and pedagogical innovation — specifically, by spearheading advanced empirical research and organizing specialized lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. By synthesizing these diverse activities, VISION effectively bridges the gap between academic theory and the practical complexities of today’s educational environments.
Professor Gessica De Angelis Delivers Plenary Lecture at VIZJA University
The VISION Center was honored to welcome Professor Gessica De Angelis as its inaugural guest expert. She delivered a distinguished plenary lecture at VIZJA University entitled ‘Multilingual Testing and Assessment: Promoting Equity and Accessibility in Education’. Professor De Angelis showed a potential avenue for addressing the limitations of monolingual assessment practices and advancing the development of multilingual testing approaches. The lecture was followed by a vibrant discussion involving university faculty, teaching staff, and high school students. This successful event was organized with the support of the Didactic Excellence Office.
Research on Multilingualism by Professor De Angelis and International Cooperation with VIZJA University
Gessica De Angelis is a distinguished Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. Her scholarly work is primarily centered on multilingual education, the acquisition of third or subsequent languages, and the complexities of multilingual testing and assessment. During her stay in Poland, Professor De Angelis conducted specialized classes for students at VIZJA University, alongside international workshops, guest lectures, and collaborative research projects. As part of this initiative, she visited the John Paul II High School in Nadarzyn, an institution that maintains a formal partnership with the university. This collaboration allowed students to attend a high-level academic lecture and participate directly in cutting-edge scientific research conducted by Professor De Angelis. Such international partnerships facilitate a vital exchange of expertise between academic researchers and educational practitioners.
