Internationalization as a challenge for geographical education in Poland: experience of a new postgraduate study “cultural industries in the development policies of cities and regions”

Abstract

For many years internationalization has not been a strong point of geographical education in post-socialist countries, including Poland. Therefore, all attempts at intensifying it are a real challenge and good practices deserve dissemination. This paper seeks to present the organizational and programme assumptions of a new field of postgraduate study called Cultural industries in the development policies of cities and regions, (Project supported by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Operational Programme in the years 2013–2015 (Priority IV: Tertiary Education and Science, Measure 4.3: Enhancing the didactic potential of universities in areas of key importance for the Europe 2020 Strategy. UDA-POKL.04.03.00–00-152/12–00).) developed by the staff of the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland) as a didactic innovation, based on a modular system of education offering wide internationalization possibilities. The analysis focuses on experiences connected with this process. They include classes prepared in cooperation with visiting professors and practitioners from eight universities and European institutions as well as week-long practical placements in Brussels, arranged thanks to a network of experts and institutions specifically established for this purpose. The results obtained help to formulate conclusions and recommendations for higher schools interested in adopting this kind of good practices connected with the development of geographical education.

Keywords:

• Education
• geography
• didactic innovation
• internationalization
• cultural industries
• Poland

Notes

1. Further information about the ACRE Project and its results is available at www2.fmg.uva.pl/acre (detailed reports) as well as in Musterd and Murie (2010) and Musterd and Kovács (2013) (a synthesis).

2. The ideas and objectives of the Lane Kirkland Scholarships Program are directly derived from the mission of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. The above include, among other things, supporting democratic and free market transformations in other Central and Eastern European countries. The Program is financed from the funds of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and administered by the Education for Democracy Foundation. The Kirkland Program offers two-semester non-degree graduate studies. The scholarship program lasts 9.5 months and starts with the orientation and preparation program. It is aimed at preparing the grantees for their stay in Poland by familiarizing them with the language and introducing them to the Polish realities.

3. The concept of lifelong learning, which is embodied by the students of postgraduate studies, consists in the recognition that we all learn throughout our lives and are never beyond learning (Rogers, 2003, p. 10).

4. Including experts, among others, from: Faculty of Economy and Business, University in Barcelona; Faculty of Geography, Planning and International Studies at Amsterdam University; Institute of Geography of Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Georg Simmel Centre at Humboldt University in Berlin; Leibniz-Institut für Länderkunde; School of Performance and Cultural Industries of University of Leeds; University of Birmingham; University of Warwick and Technical University in Eindhoven.