Ireneusz Białek, MA

Director of the Jagiellonian University Accessibility Centre.

A graduate of the JU Institute of Political Sciences. For more than 20 years now active championing access of persons with disabilities and diverse needs to higher education. He developed his first educational support programmes together with Willy Aastrup, the founder and director of the Support and Counselling Centre at Aarhus University, Denmark
A participant of many study visits, for instance at the University of Cambridge, Bangor University, University of Iceland, University of Turku and Aarhus University
A representative of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education at international conferences devoted to social issues held in Riga, Paris and Vienna; a former member of the Expert Committee on Persons with Disabilities at the Polish Ombudsman.

Since 2016 a member of the Equal Educational Opportunities Committee at the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland.

 

Since 2017 an Ashoka Fellow, a member of an international network of social innovators - distinguished in recognition of his cooperation with international companies aimed at creating accessible jobs and developing a culture of diversity
In 2018–2019, an expert of the National Centre for Research and Development in developing models of accessible universities taking into account the needs of persons with disabilities in the competition ‘The Accessible University’ funded by the European Social Fund. 

Since August 2020, a member of the Jagiellonian University Council in charge of responsible support and sustainable development. 

Since 1 March 2023, Director of the Jagiellonian University Accessibility Centre.

On a number of occasions, a recipient of the JU Rector’s Award for his successful work; the President of the Republic of Poland has awarded Ireneusz Białek with a Golden Cross of Merit for outstanding achievements in his social activity.