The international conference entitled "The First Mkwawa International Conference on Development in East Africa: Conditioning, Aspects and Effects" took place in Iringa city in the United Republic of Tanzania on October 2nd-4th, 2017, which was co-organized by the Institute of Political Science of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and the Mkwawa University College of Education.

This conference was attended by two representatives of our university, Full Professor Arkadiusz Żukowski and Associate Professor Degefe Kebede Gemechu. The conference was organized under the cooperation agreement between both universities which was signed this year. The conference brought together around 200 scientists, representatives of various disciplines from 15 countries around the world.

Prof. A. Żukowski delivered a paper entitled “Sub-Saharan African borderlands – regions of cooperation or regions of hostility? Towards new approach to the development of Africa” as well as he conducted a plenary session. Whereas Prof. D. K. Gemechu gave presentation on the subject “The Impact of Intrastate and Interstate Conflicts on the Development of Regional Integration Process: The Case of East African Community (EAC)”.

The presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and other representatives of the Tanzanian Government and the representative of the consulate of Republic of Poland in Tanzania increased the significance of the conference. The papers presented at the conference will be published in three volumes and Professors A. Żukowski and D. K. Gemechu will be co-editors of them.

The coordinators of scientific cooperation Professors A. Żukowski and D. K. Gemechu have conducted important talks with the authorities of the Mkwawa University College of Education. The talks were held between the Rector of this university Professor Bernadeta Killian, then with Dr. Evaristo Halle, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Both sides agreed to continue their close cooperation with the aim of identifying directions for the future, which include among others: in the area of exchange of experience and scientific staff on the basis of existing agreements between their universities, including joint research grants and publications. They also discussed exchanges of students. Also the fruitful talks were conducted by Prof. A. Żukowski with Dr. Augustine P. Mahinga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, on theory and practice of cross-border cooperation.