On 22 November, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, the Vice-Chancellor for Development and Cooperation with the Economy, Dr Zbigniew Pastuszak, Professor of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, signed the Declaration of Plain Language on behalf of the university. This document is a commitment to creating friendly and simple public communication. The event took place during the 5th Plain Language Forum "Plain and Simple".

In his speech, Prof Zbigniew Pastuszak pointed out: - As the largest university in Lublin, UMCS is also the first in the region to be a signatory to this declaration. [...] Our language is further simplified by our relations with the so-called Gen Z, with male and female students from abroad. We have to, when imparting knowledge from very different disciplines, use a simpler language of communication for the sake of our audience to understand us.

UMCS is an institution that can boast outstanding authorities in the field of linguistics, such as those mentioned during the forum by Professor Jarosław Liberek from Adam Mickiewicz University: Professor Jerzy Bartmiński, or Professor Teresa Skubalanka. According to Jerzy Bartmiński's statement, "Language changes, and our knowledge of language changes" - this time, it's time for simplification.

Signing the declaration signifies the beginning of work on shaping messages and documents, as well as training employees in this area. This year, for the first time, universities such as Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, the University of Warsaw, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, and the University of Szczecin have joined the agreement. Since 2018, a total of 68 public institutions have joined the agreement.

We invite you to watch the broadcast of the V Forum of Plain Language - "Plain and Simple".

The declaration is available to read on the European funds portal.

Text by Anna Komsta (student trainee, Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures)
Photograph by Piotr Żurek – Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy of the Republic of Poland