Projects financed from EU funds

PROJECT TITLE: „UNIVERSAL GRADUATE”
Completion date: 01/04/2020 – 30/09/2023
Project value: PLN 484,556.25
Project number: POWR.03.05.00-00-PU25 / 19

The project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund, under the Knowledge Education Development Operational Program 2014-2020, Priority Axis III. Higher education for economy and development, Measure 3.5 Comprehensive programs of universities.

The main goal of the project is to increase the competences of graduates of transport, IT and physiotherapy in the field of universal design. The project will include didactic classes in the field of universal design (module I, II, III) for students of transport, IT, physiotherapy and specialist training in universal design for teachers of transport, IT, physiotherapy. Hardware and software necessary for conducting classes will also be purchased.

PROJECT TITLE: “AN EFFICIENT OPERATIONAL MODEL OF WSB UNIVERSITY SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES”
Completion date: 01/11/2019 – 30.11.2023
Value: PLN 4,648,972.75
Project number: POWR.03.05.00-00-AO59 / 19

The project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund, under the Knowledge Education Development Operational Program 2014-2020, Priority Axis III. Higher education for economy and development, Measure 3.5 Comprehensive programs of universities.

The main goal of the project is to develop a model of support for people with disabilities at the MINI level, then MIDI. The project assumes support for six areas important from the point of view of people with disabilities: changes in the structure of the University, strengthening the Office of the Plenipotentiary for people with disabilities, developing a model and procedures to support people with disabilities, adapting University buildings to the needs of disabled people, purchasing hardware and software that will satisfy various needs of people with disabilities, additional services supporting people with disabilities, training for University teaching, management and administrative staff, raising the knowledge and awareness of the people with disabilities.

PROJECT TITLE: „HELPFUL E-LEARNING”
Completion date: 01/10/2019. – 29/12/2022
Value: PLN 792,875.00.
Project number: POWR.03.01.00-W058 / 18

The project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund, under the Knowledge Education Development Operational Program 2014-2020, Priority Axis III. Higher education for economy and development, Measure 3.1 Competences in higher education.

The main goal of the project is to create and implement Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) available to AWSB students and all those interested. Mitigating the mismatch between education and the needs of the labor market and achieving a high level of professional competences by students as a result of launching e-learning courses. The project involves the comprehensive preparation of 5 e-learning courses, including, in the case of two courses in Polish and English, the implementation of two editions of a given course.

PROJECT TITLE: „EDUMARK – VOCATIONAL ORIENTATION AS AN ELEMENT OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS ON THE CROSS-BORDER LABOR MARKET OF THE CIESZYN SILESIA EUROREGION”

Program: Interreg V – A Czech Republic – Poland

Project implementation time: 10.2020 – 10.2021
Project value: EUR 37 192.80
Team: dr hab. Marek Walancik, prof. AWSB, dr hab. Eugenia Rostańska, prof. AWSB, dr hab. Maciej Witkowski, prof. AWSB, Sebastian Kwaśniewski, MA

Partners:

• WSB Academy (Poland)
• Institut EuroSchola,z.ú.

The aim of the project is to prepare teachers of Polish and Czech secondary schools for education in the field of vocational orientation in secondary schools by creating their networks. The activities carried out in the project aim to enable vocational orientation teachers to prepare students for the conscious and independent choice of the next stage of vocational education, a workplace, taking into account the expectations of the labor market, abilities and predispositions of students in the Euroregion Cieszyn Silesia.

PROJECT TITLE: „PRACTICAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPING A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY IN THE BORDERLAND II”

Program: Interreg V – A Czech Republic – Poland

Timeframe for the project: 10.2020 – 10.2023
Project value: EUR 310 724.57
Team: dr hab. Joanna Kurowska-Pysz, prof. AWSB, Dr. Łukasz Wróblewski, Sebastian Kwaśniewski MA, Magdalena Grala MA

Partners:

• WSB Academy (Poland),
• VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic).

The aim of the project is to extend the professional practical training of Polish and Czech students with new issues related to energy-efficient solutions in strategic industries: tourism, construction and automotive. Project participants will use the acquired skills as specialists in the field of energy management and development of a low-emission economy, e.g. in companies producing and assembling energy systems.

PROJECT TITLE:”INTRIDE – SOFT, DIGITAL AND GREEN SKILLS FOR SMART DESIGNERS: DESIGNERS AS INNOVATION TRIGGERS FOR SMES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR”

Program: Erasmus + Knowledge Alliance

Project value: 975 174,00 €
Partners:

• University of Florence – Department of Architecture & Design (Florence, Italy) – Project Leader,
• WSB University (Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland),
• Cieszyn Castle (Cieszyn, Poland),
• Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa – The Biorobotics Institute (Pisa, Italy),
• ELISAVA – private center of higher education affiliated with Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain),
• CENFIM Catalan Furnishings Cluster and Innovation Hub (La Senia, Spain),
• LEITAT Technological Center (Barcelona, Spain),
• The University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (Cluj-Napoca, Romania),
• Cluster Mobiler Transilvan – Transylvanian Furniture Cluster (Cluj-Napoca, Romania),
• DID-Technological Cluster on Interiors & Design (Poggibonsi, Italy)

Head of the research team: dr Joanna Kurowska-Pysz

INTRIDE is an alliance of 10 partners from Italy, Spain, Poland and Romania, aimed at developing a structured framework for cooperation between universities, clusters / business representatives, technology centers and enterprises. Partners from 4 European regions are both higher education institutions / technical experts and clusters / business representatives actively involved in defining Regional Smart Specialization Strategies.

The INTRIDE project aims to develop a joint Master’s program that will provide a competent solution to the challenges that Regional Smart Specializations pose to traditional manufacturing companies.
The project will also create an international networking platform that is a place of activation and monitoring of innovation, technology transfer, research and development processes as part of cooperation between enterprises, universities and technical centers.

PROJECT TITLE:”IN SITU – INTERGENERATIONAL SOCIAL INNOVATION SUPPORT SCHEME”
Program: Interreg Central Europe
Priority 1. Cooperation on innovation to increase the competitiveness of Central Europe
Implementation period: according to the application: 01/04/2019 – 31/03/2022

Substantive units involved on the part of the Office: ESF, WUP and ROPS department.
Project partners include:

• City of Vienna (Vienna Board of Education) – Project leader,
• Vienna University of Economics and Business (Austria),
• Region of Veneto – Department of Labour (Italy),
• ENAIP Veneto Social Enterprise (Italy),
• Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation (Germany),
• Stuttgart Media University (Germany),
• City of Rijeka (Croatia),
• Science and Technology Park of the University of Rijeka Ltd. (Croatia),
• Foundation for Improvement of Employment Possibilities PRIZMA, (Slovenia),
• OZARA d.o.o. Service and Disability Company (Slovenia).

The Voivodship and the University will be responsible for creating and implementing in the Śląskie Voivodship a strategy for the development of social innovations focused on the professional activation of long-term unemployed residents, with particular emphasis on people entering the labor market and citizens aged 50+.

As part of the project, in each of the 6 partner regions (Silesian Voivodeship – Poland, City of Vienna – Austria, Veneto Region – Italy, Stuttgart – Germany, Rijeka – Croatia, Maribor – Slovenia), Regional Social Innovation Hubs will be created, whose goal is multi-faceted support for long-term unemployed residents, with particular emphasis on people entering the labor market and citizens aged 50+. Universities, regions and social entities from Central Europe will develop an international social innovation ecosystem based on the assumptions of social entrepreneurship, training programs and mentoring.
The WSB University is also the leader of the task regarding the dissemination of project results in Central Europe. The university will prepare a communication strategy, Map and Base of Social Innovation in Central Europe, as well as a social media campaign, publications and promotional materials.

PROJECT TITLE „SPECIALIST TRAINING IN PUBLIC SECURITY AND BORDERLINE CRISES”
THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE: 01.12.2017-31.08.2018.

Program: Interreg V-A Poland – Slovakia 2014 – 2020
Euroregion of the Beskids
Action: Development of cross-border education and lifelong learning

Project value: 38 991.00 €
Partners:
1. WSB University – Off-site Faculty in Żywiec (LIDER)
2. Akadémia ozbrojených síl general M. R. Štefánik (Slovakia)

From December 2017 to August 2018 the WSB University together with the Academy of Armed Forces of General Milan Rastislav Štefánik in Liptovský Mikuláš carried out a project concerning cooperation between Polish and Slovak units for joint crisis management and organization of mass events.

The area of the Polish-Slovak border is a place of active integration of the inhabitants of both countries. Every year cultural, recreational and tourist events take place here. Unfortunately, both the recent weather anomalies (including floods, storms, fires), terrorism and the effects of the immigration crisis in Europe pose new threats on the Polish-Slovak border. There is a shortage of specialists with crisis management skills that take these new threats into account. The universities conducted a study of the problem situation in Polish and Slovak local governments on the border (including Lipovski Mikulas, Klin, Cadca, Jeleśnia, Świnna, Żywiec, Czernichów, etc.). Local government employers pointed to the following problems: too few specialists with competence for modern crisis management (taking specific threats on the border into account), lack of preparation of local government employees to ensure public safety during organization – numerous on the border – public cultural-recreational and tourist events, lack of competence to combat acts of robbery and hooliganism during mass events and gatherings. In the light of recent events in Europe, the need to better secure mass events and gatherings in terms of ensuring public security was highlighted, as well as the need to develop qualifications in combating various types of threats related to the area of crisis management. Borderland residents – employees of local government units (abbreviation: JST) i.e. crisis management departments and subordinate institutions, e.g. city guards, municipal cultural centers, municipal sports and recreation centers, etc. do not have modern knowledge, skills and competences that would allow them to effectively fulfil obligations resulting from the threats described above, and thus their value on the labor market is falling. The situation requires immediate training of JST employees in ensuring public safety during mass events and assemblies as well as efficient crisis management.

PROJECT TITLE: „SAFER – SAFE BORDERLAND: CROSS-BORDER EDUCATION IN THE FIELD OF SAFE COOPERATION OF BORDERLAND SCHOOLS”

Program: Interreg V-A Poland – Slovakia 2014 – 2020
Euroregion of the Beskids
Action: Development of cross-border education and lifelong learning
The project implementation deadline: 01.12.2018-30.10.2019.
Project value: 34 330.53 €

Partners: 

1. WSB University (LEADER)
2. University in Žilina (Slovakia)

The purpose of the micro-project is to increase the level and quality of education (specialist and vocational) in the field of safe and tolerant cooperation of schools on the Polish-Slovak border. The goal will be achieved by training at least 60 (including 96 training places) adult residents of the Polish – Slovak border (employees of local government units and their organizational units) in the period from December 1, 2018 to October 31, 2019 The implementation of the project will have a positive impact on expanding the educational offer and increasing the number of people participating in micro-projects for lifelong learning, which will enable them to acquire specialist knowledge and learn the profession. The participants of the micro-project will acquire knowledge in legislation in the field of youth security on both sides of the border, safety in the organization of trips and events on both sides of the border and the safety of disabled children and adults participating in events on the border or as part of school cooperation. It will be theoretical and practical knowledge, which will also be promoted among border residents. Increasing the level of sense of security at the border will contribute to prevention of borderline depopulation, in particular the outflow of young people and people in working age, who are currently considering the possibility of moving due to the low sense of security in the border area. The project will indirectly contribute to the generation of new jobs in the implementation of inter-school border events, the number of which may increase due to the implementation of the project. The resulting training program responds to the real demand of borderline employers (local government units and their organizational units).

Training topics:
a) Safety of disabled children and adults participating in events on the borderline or as part of school cooperation
Topics: organization of events for young people, formal requirements for cooperation between schools, legal aspects of the participation of disabled people in events on the border or as part of school cooperation.
b) Security in the organization of trips and events on both sides of the border
Topics: security training for sports, online security, or how to monitor the internet during cross-border cooperation, to avoid acts of verbal violence.
c) Legislation on youth security on both sides of the border

PROJECT TITLE „PRACTICAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PERSONNEL DEVELOPING LOW-CARBON ECONOMY IN THE BORDERLAND”

Program: Interreg V-A Czech Republic – Poland 2014 – 2020

Priority axis 3: Education and qualifications
Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic, Joint Secretariat based in Olomouc
Financing: European Regional Development Fund
The project implementation deadline: 01/09/2016 – 31/08/2019
Project value: € 237 208.50

Partners:

1. WSB University,
2. TRIANON, z.s. (Czech Republic).
3. Vysoká škola báňská – Technická univerzita Ostrava – LEADER (Czech Republic).

The WSB branch in Cieszyn has been closely cooperating with research units, entrepreneurs, associations and public entities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for years. So far, joint projects have been implemented in the Euroregions: Cieszyn Silesia and the Beskids, as part of the Micro-Project Fund. Excellent knowledge of the labor market problems in the cross-border region has resulted in the preparation of a professional training program for staff developing a low-carbon economy on the border. WSB together with Vysoka Škola Báňska – Technická Univerzita in Ostrava and the NGO TRIANON from Český Těšín obtained funding for the application under the Interreg V-A Program Czech Republic – Republic of Poland 2014-2020. Innovation and high quality of the educational program have been recognized by an international commission, which recognized this project as one of only the two best in this call, which was selected for funding.

The aim of the project is the practical professional preparation of Polish and Czech pupils and students who, after completing their education, will use skills in energy management and the development of low-carbon economy, working for companies and local governments on the border. The project serves to improve energy security, quality of life and the borderland environment through educational activities implemented in cooperation with partners, including with TRITIA, cities: Cieszyn / Czech Cieszyn and energy companies.

PROJECT TITLE „POLISH-CZECH ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CROSS-BORDER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH”
Program: Interreg V-A Czech Republic – Poland 2014-2020
Leader: WSB UNIVERSITY
Duration: April 1, 2018 – February 28, 2019.

Partners:
1. Vysoká škola báňská – Technická univerzita Ostrava (Czech Republic),
2. WSB University.

The aim of this project is to intensify cross-border cooperation in the field of developing joint scientific research, i.e. establishing Polish-Czech research teams and preparation of joint scientific publications, as well as to exchange experience in the field of methodologies and tools used in cross-border research in the social, economic and environmental aspect.

Since April 2018 WSB University together with Vysoka Skola Banska Technical University of Ostrava has been implementing a project that serves to improve the quality of scientific research conducted in Polish-Czech research teams on various aspects of cross-border, including entrepreneurship, education and culture, as well as public management in the Beskidy Euroregion. On the part of the WSB University in the research team are: associate professor dr Zdzisława Dacko-Pikiewicz, associate professor habilitated doctor Katarzyna Szczepańska-Woszczyna, associate professor habilitated doctor Marek Walancik, dr Joanna Kurowska-Pysz, D.E. Łukasz Wróblewski.

Thanks to scientific cooperation and the exchange of Polish and Czech experiences regarding methodologies and tools used for scientific research, the partners are jointly developing an original program of cross-border scientific research, dedicated to supporting decision-making processes necessary for the development of the Beskidy Euroregion. Research on the key development needs of the Beskidy Euroregion are focused primarily on the socio-cultural aspect and the economic and environmental aspect.

Joint research work also fosters the improvement of scientific competences and the extension of Polish-Czech academic cooperation throughout the Beskidy Euroregion.

PROJECT TITLE:”A KNOWLEDGE ALLIANCE BETWEEN HEIS, MAKERS AND MANUFACTURERS TO BOOST OPEN DESIGN & MANUFACTURING IN EUROPE – OD&M”
Program: Erasmus +
Action: KA2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices – Knowledge Alliances
European Comission – Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
The project implementation deadline: 01/01/2017 – 31/12/2019.
Project value: € 984 865.00

Since January 2017, academic staff of the WSB University have participated in the prestigious research project entitled „A Knowledge Alliance between HEIs, Makers and Manufacturers to boost Open Design & Manufacturing in Europe – OD&M”, financed by the European Commission under the Erasmus + Knowledge Alliances program.

The aim of the project is to conduct scientific research and develop methodological assumptions to implement in four European universities an innovative methodology of practical education based on the open design & manufacturing paradigm. Such forms of classes are currently being developed as part of the pilot: WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza, University of Florence, University of the Arts in London and University of Deusto in Bilbao, using good practices from Tongji University in Shanghai.
On the part of the WSB University, the research team consists of: associate professor doctor Zdzisława Dacko-Pikiewicz, associate professor habilitated doctor Katarzyna Szczepańska-Woszczyna, associate professor habilitated doctor Marek Walancik, associate professor habilitated doctor Maciej Witkowski, D.E. Paweł Buchwald, dr Agnieszka Jachowicz, dr Joanna Kurowska-Pysz, D.E. Karolina Lubieniecka-Kocoń, D.E. Paweł Sobczak, dr Michał Szyszka, MA Ewelina Widerska.

PROJECT TITLE: „KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT BARRIERS – INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS FOR ADULTS”
Program: Erasmus +
Action: Strategic partnerships for adult education
Foundation for the Development of the Education System
The project implementation deadline: 01.12.2016-30.11.2018.
Project value: € 77,900.00

Partners:
1. University of Business in Dąbrowa Górnicza (Leader),
2. Polish Cultural and Educational Association (Czech Republic),
3. RODACY (Latvia),
4. SNPL Association of Polish Scientists in Lithuania (Lithuania).

Polish minority organizations abroad are looking for contact with the Polish language, culture and tradition, also through non-formal education. In this way, among others, they develop Intergenerational Regional University (Czech Republic), University of the Third Age (Latvia) as well as Polish diaspora organizations in Lithuania that organize lectures, publications, workshop classes, and study tours. Unfortunately, generations of Poles who were born outside the country often have poor knowledge of Polish or have lost contact with it. Young people have high digital competences. Older people, on the other hand, often have a good command of Polish and have extensive knowledge of Polish language and culture, while they do less well with information and communication technologies. This is a trend occurring in all Polish diaspora abroad. The answer to these needs was the preparation of a project by the WSB University that facilitates learning Polish language through the use of e-learning tools, but also is used to independently create and disseminate courses on other topics, e.g. cultural. The project also includes mechanisms for intergenerational integration, thanks to which young people can acquire knowledge about their home country and learn Polish, and older people are more focused on learning to use information and communication tools. The project therefore fits in with the idea of intercultural and intergenerational education as well as lifelong learning. It also serves to create educational innovations, as the partners jointly develop an innovative methodology for teaching non-formal adults. Thanks to this project, the WSB University, a project leader and at the same time a university with many years of experience in the field of adult education and significant achievements in the field of lifelong learning, is also a precursor to the use of a professional e-learning system in non-formal education.

The project results are made up of 3 international research teams. Each team consists of two representatives of the partner organization (younger and senior) and a researcher – mentor (AWSB representative). These people work together on the platform functionalities and the substantive scope of the courses. It is intergenerational, international and intersectoral cooperation, and the results of the teams’ work are consulted at international meetings forum. During the meetings, project team members pre-test the developed solutions and consult them in an international environment, with the support of mentors.
As part of the project, three e-learning courses have been prepared: Polish language course, entrepreneurship course and new technology course. An e-learning platform and post-publication publications were also created: „E-textbook (e-vademecum) for e-learning course users” and „E-textbook (e-methodology) for e-learning course creators”.

PROJECT TITLE „CULTURAL EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC INITIATIVE TOGETHER FOR THE BORDERLAND”
Program: Operational Program of Cross-border Cooperation Czech Republic – Republic of Poland 2007-2013
Priority axis 3. Supporting cooperation of local communities
Action: 3.3 Microprojects / Microprojects Fund of the Euroregion Cieszyn Silesia – Těšínské Slezsko
Olza Association for Regional Development and Cooperation in Cieszyn

Project deadline: November 2013 – December 2014
Project value: EUR 25 520.60

The aim of the project is to develop and support the development of Polish-Czech cooperation on the border, with a focus on partnership in the field of education, science and culture.
As part of the project, the following activities were carried out:
1. Cross-border conference on management and marketing in cultural institutions (15-16.11.2013, Cieszyn).
2. Educational workshops to improve practical skills and competences
in management at cultural institutions and cultural organizations, intended for local cultural animators from Poland and the Czech Republic.
3. Polish-Czech scientific research on the role of cultural institutions in shaping the image and promotion of a cross-border region and conditions for the creation of a cross-border culture cluster, culminating in a conference presenting the results of the research and issuing a scientific monograph.
4. Conducting 5 sessions of the Intergenerational Regional University classes led by the Czech Partner in cooperation with WSB.

The project partner is the Polish Cultural and Educational Association in the Czech Republic.

PROJECT TITLE:”DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND TEACHING COLLABORATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE BESKIDY EUROREGION”
Operational Program of Cross-border Cooperation Czech Republic – Republic of Poland 2007-2013
Euroregion Beskidy Microprojects Fund
Association „Beskidy Region” in Bielsko-Biała

Project implementation deadline: February 2014 – September 2014
Project value: 16,168.72 euros

The aim of the project is to develop and support the development of Polish-Czech cooperation on the border, with focus on partnership in the field of education, science and culture.
As part of the project, the following activities were carried out:
1. Organization of the „Let’s get to know each other closer” picnic,
2. Preparation of a scientific monograph presenting the results of research carried out by Polish and Czech researchers,
3. Organization of Polish-Czech meetings and thematic lectures.