"We Unite Generations of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw"

Mateusz Komorowski, President of the WPiA UW Alumni Club – Alumni WPiA UW, is a lawyer, political scientist, and manager, specialising in strategic consultancy, public relations, and cooperation between the public sector, business, and social organisations. He graduated with distinction from master’s studies within the College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in the Humanities at the University of Warsaw, earning Master of Law degrees from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw and Master of Political Science from the then Faculty of Journalism and Political Science at the University of Warsaw. He is also a graduate of MBA studies in national defence and internal security at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw, and the Annual Postgraduate Managerial Studies at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. For many years, he has been involved in civil society development. In 2012, he founded the International Civil Society Institute, which he heads to this day. He is also the owner of a boutique strategic consultancy agency. He has participated in numerous national and international leadership development programmes, including the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

Let's start by going back to your student days. As part of the College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in the Humanities (MISH) at the University of Warsaw, you completed – with honours – law studies at the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw, and political science studies at the then Faculty of Journalism and Political Science, University of Warsaw. How do you recall your time studying at the Faculty of Law and Administration?

Indeed, in addition to law, I also studied political science as part of inter-faculty studies – on the one hand, there was the Faculty of Journalism and Political Science, and on the other, the Faculty of Law and Administration. It was a very good combination because both fields complemented each other perfectly. I remember my student days very fondly, although it was also an incredibly intense and demanding period. Regarding my law studies, what primarily comes to mind is the unique atmosphere, interesting people, and a multitude of engaging events. There were many open lectures, conferences, workshops, and meetings for students. I also recall typical student events, such as half-way-through parties. From an academic perspective, I particularly valued the outstanding lecturers and the demanding method of instruction. Studying law teaches self-discipline, careful reading, precise thinking, and the ability to notice issues that are not immediately apparent. It provides a solid toolkit useful in a wide variety of professions. After all, law graduates do not only pursue classic legal professions. They also work in public administration, business, social organisations, international institutions, academia, diplomacy, and the new technology sector, and many of them establish and develop their own businesses. These are the memories and experiences from my studies that come to mind today.

What prompted you to take up the role of President of the Alumni Club? Was it mainly sentiment for the Faculty, or was there also an idea for the Club itself and its establishment?

Sentiment is certainly present, but the decisive factor was the circumstances surrounding the Club's establishment. The idea matured through discussions held between representatives of students, alumni, and the Faculty authorities. However, a person was needed who would commit to developing a comprehensive concept for the Club, carry out the organisational process, and be ready to take responsibility for its further development. I had the opportunity to participate in this work, and subsequently received an offer from the Dean’s College to assume the position of President. The formal decision of the Dean’s College was crucial. The Club is, in fact, an integral part of the Faculty's structure, not an external association or foundation. After its establishment, we were able to move from conceptual work to building concrete structures and an action plan. The Club was formally established in May 2026, although we had been working on its concept since the previous year. The process took quite a long time, but it was worth it – the most important principles were well developed, discussed, and prepared for implementation. We are only at the beginning of this journey, but we have a defined plan and ideas that we intend to consistently implement.

Before we move on to the planned events, we would like to ask about the objectives of the Alumni Club. Is it simply meant to be a place to gather individuals who wish to maintain ties with the Faculty, or is there a deeper concept behind it?

The fundamental idea of the Club is to build a lasting, intergenerational community centred around the Faculty. We aim to connect alumni, students, and staff of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw (WPiA UW), while also opening up to individuals, organisations, and institutions from the social, economic, and public spheres who resonate with the Faculty's mission. Our activities are based on several key areas. The first is mentoring and intergenerational exchange of experience. The second is supporting the professional development of students and alumni, taking into account very diverse career paths. The third is networking and integration of the alumni community. The fourth is academic and social initiatives implemented for the benefit of students and the Faculty. Partnerships and a benefits programme for members, developed jointly with our partners, will also be important. Therefore, it is not merely about maintaining a sentimental connection with one's alma mater. The Club is intended to be a real platform for cooperation, engaging alumni in the life of the Faculty, supporting students, and strengthening the position of WPiA UW. The potential of the alumni community has not been fully utilised until now, yet WPiA UW is one of the largest and most renowned centres for legal education in Poland. Every year, several hundred graduates leave the Faculty's walls – immense strength lies within this community. The Club is also intended to actively support the Faculty itself: to strengthen its relations with the socio-economic environment, to engage alumni in academic and social initiatives, and to assist in acquiring partners and donors for undertakings important to WPiA UW.

The Club's motto is "Connecting generations of the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw". What does it mean to you?

This motto very accurately reflects the essence of the entire project. We aim to create a space where graduates of different generations meet – individuals who completed their studies at the Faculty many years ago, those who are just starting their professional careers, and current students. Each of these groups has different experiences, perspectives, and needs, but all are united by a common Alma Mater. The Club is intended to facilitate intergenerational exchange of knowledge and experience, relationship building, and mutual support. Alumni can share their professional and life achievements, students can contribute fresh perspectives and energy, and the Faculty can create a space that connects these communities. Therefore, it is not merely about preserving memories of studies, but about building an enduring community that remains active many years after graduation.

How do you perceive your role in all this – the role of the President? Is it to be someone who sets the direction of the Club's activities?

I perceive this role first and foremost as connecting people, initiating undertakings, and ensuring that the adopted vision is consistently translated into concrete actions. The President should not unilaterally impose the direction of the Club's functioning. Their task is rather to create conditions for cooperation, to listen to the needs of alumni, students, and the Faculty, and to unlock the potential of individuals willing to get involved. Of course, it is also a managerial function – requiring planning, coordinating activities, and building relationships with partners. Nevertheless, the Club must remain a community-based endeavour. My role is to give direction to this process, but its true strength should be created by the Club members.

Despite the official establishment of the Club only in May, initial meetings with alumni and students – prospective members of the Club – are already taking place, indicating considerable interest in its activities.

Yes. I believe this is also a result of having worked on the concept much earlier. Consequently, many issues had already been developed, and upon the Club's formal establishment, we were able to commence operations immediately.

Let us return to the planned activities and events. From our conversation, I gather that there are already concrete ideas.

We have planned initial meetings and projects. We intend to dedicate the months following the summer break to both further organisational work and the gradual launch of our programme of events. We plan to hold meetings as part of the Alumni Talks series, an open lecture, and the Club's participation in the Faculty Day. Furthermore, in January, we would like to organise the first major networking event, which will also serve as the ceremonial inauguration of the Club's activities aimed at a broad audience of alumni. I must admit, I cannot wait for this meeting. It is always a pleasure to meet not only individuals from one's own year group, but also alumni whom one briefly encountered in the faculty corridors – both from older and younger generations. This is an incredibly diverse community of people who perform many professions and roles in public, economic, social, and academic life.

You are launching with great fanfare!

Indeed. I have thus far mentioned specific and tangible initiatives – those that have already been undertaken or will soon be implemented. However, we are also working on further projects. One such project is the idea of establishing a working group dedicated to the quality of education and student experience. We would like to gather graduates and students with experience from various universities, including foreign ones, to jointly identify best practices and prepare proposals that could be submitted to the Faculty authorities as the voice of the alumni and student community. Naturally, final decisions regarding study programmes rest with the relevant University bodies. The initiative came from the alumni themselves, who approached me with concrete ideas. We also wish to invite final-year students to participate, especially those with experience of studying at renowned foreign universities. They can contribute knowledge of interesting solutions that are worth analysing for their potential applicability at our Faculty. This grassroots involvement is very encouraging. We have also prepared a concept for cooperation with partners and donors – this is an important element of any well-functioning alumni community. We aim to gradually build a culture of engagement among the Faculty's alumni and friends, where a donation is not merely support for a specific organisational structure, but a contribution to the development of WPiA UW, its students, and the entire academic community. The Club will be one of the tools for organising this cooperation. We are committed to long-term relationships with individuals, law firms, enterprises, foundations, and other institutions that wish to participate in the Faculty's development. We have also developed transparent forms of honouring donors, commensurate with the nature and scale of their involvement. At many foreign universities, supporting one's Alma Mater is a natural element of alumni culture, consistently developed over decades. In Poland, we are only at the beginning of building similar customs.

You often say "we are planning", "we are doing" – which means that not everything rests on your shoulders. What is the Club's structure and who forms its authorities?

The Alumni Club, as I have already mentioned, operates within the Faculty's structure. Its activities are managed by a three-person Management Board, which includes: the president, the vice-president – Dr. hab. Tadeusz Zembrzuski, Prof. UW – and the secretary, Dr. Sandra Hadrowicz. A Programme Council has also been appointed. Its permanent part consists of representatives of the Dean's authorities indicated in the regulations, while the rotating part comprises distinguished alumni and individuals associated with the Faculty. The president of the National Chamber of Legal Advisers, Włodzimierz Chróścik, has already joined the Council. This is just the beginning – we plan to invite more individuals to this body who, with their experience and authority, can support the Club's development. A Donors' Council is also envisaged in the structure – a forum for dialogue with individuals and entities supporting the Faculty's development. Membership in it will be granted in accordance with the regulations and the principles of the donors' programme. An important element is also the Section for Student Relations, bringing together individuals interested in the Club's activities even before graduating. A student can formally join the Club as an associate member. The Section is intended to be a link between the Club and the student community, as many of our initiatives will be directed precisely at students. I cannot imagine the Alumni Club functioning in isolation from this group – students are an integral and extremely important part of the Faculty community. Tens of students have already joined the Section, which is a very good prognosis. Registrations are made via the form available on the Faculty's website. There is a separate "Alumni" tab on the main page. We have also created an alumni group on the LinkedIn platform, and the Club's community is developing particularly dynamically there. Due to the professional nature of this platform, we want to use it as our main social medium and an additional communication tool with alumni.

My next question was to concern who can join the Club – in a way, we have already received an answer to it. Are particular forms of membership, however, associated with specific conditions?

The Club is open, but naturally, particular forms of membership are linked to a specific status. Graduates of the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw, may become full members of the Club; students may become associate members, while individuals and entities not affiliated with the Faculty as graduates or students may obtain the status of a supporting member. We aim for the Club to be as broadly open as possible to all alumni – regardless of the type of studies completed, the year of graduation, the profession practised, or the place of residence. The Club was conceived as a multi-generational undertaking that remains with people for years. One can meet individuals who graduated from the Faculty ten, twenty, or more years ago and establish relationships with alumni of similar or entirely different experiences. It is evident that many people are looking for precisely this. I had the opportunity to speak about this during the Graduation Ceremony for the academic year 2025/2026 at the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw, during which the Alumni Club was already formally present. We then encouraged new graduates to co-create our community. Perhaps immediately after graduation, it is still difficult to feel nostalgia for the time spent at the Faculty, but the need to maintain relationships, exchange experiences, and support each other often emerges very quickly. This is how it happens at the best universities in the world: their alumni communities are well organised, remain closely connected to the university, and support their members both professionally and socially. I hope that we will succeed in creating a similar, close-knit environment around the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw – despite generational differences and the passage of years.

Is there one particular model among the most renowned universities that you aspire to?

When preparing the Club's concept, we conducted an in-depth analysis of how similar structures operate at Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, and other leading academic centres. Naturally, every solution must be adapted to Polish realities, our academic culture, and the specifics of the University of Warsaw. We did not identify one main point of reference. We analysed various models: their structure, offerings, methods of engaging alumni, and the relationships between the university, alumni, and students. Some solutions we adopted, some we modified, and some we consciously rejected. We selected what we believe to be the most interesting and most likely to work well within the conditions of WPiA UW.

Can specific guiding principles stemming from these inspirations be identified?

Certainly, the mentoring programme must be mentioned – it is one of the most crucial elements of any well-functioning alumni club's activities. It involves a direct relationship between an experienced alumnus and a student or an individual beginning their professional career. A mentor can share their experience, assist in decision-making, and demonstrate various possible development paths. A separate, equally important area is networking, i.e., regular meetings during which alumni and students can get to know each other, exchange experiences, ideas, and views, and build lasting professional and social relationships. Career development is understood very broadly. This includes both practical support for students entering the job market and showcasing diverse professional avenues available to law graduates – in law firms, public administration, business, international organisations, new technologies, diplomacy, academia, or the social sector. Workshops on preparing a professional CV or recruitment interviews can be one component of such a programme, but not its essence. We also aim to collect and disseminate job offers, internships, and apprenticeships, and to foster cooperation with entities interested in recruiting students and graduates of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw. Finally, an element particularly prominent in foreign models is the involvement of alumni in financially supporting their Alma Mater. At many renowned universities, this is a natural part of alumni culture, built consistently over decades. The primary aim is to support the Faculty, its students, and initiatives benefiting the entire academic community.

It can therefore be said that, in time, a peculiar generational relay will be initiated: successive alumni, encouraged by the Club's activities, will bring new energy to it.

The Club will develop primarily through the activity of its members. The more valuable initiatives that are successfully implemented, the easier it will be to engage subsequent alumni, students, partners, and benefactors. However, we do not wish to create the programme unilaterally or impose ready-made solutions on the community. We are committed to dialogue, openness, and co-responsibility. We therefore invite all interested parties to submit ideas and actively co-create the Club. Its strength will not depend solely on the Board or the Faculty authorities, but primarily on the energy, experience, and commitment of the entire community. In a few months, we will be able to assess the initial results, but already today we see that interest in this idea is very high.

We shall keep our fingers crossed, then. Thank you for the interview, and we wish you good luck in developing the Club. We look forward to the announced events!