Sociologist and anthropologist; PhD from the Centre for European Studies of the Jagiellonian University, focused on immigration within the EU. He has taken part in a number of research projects focusing on the attitudes of the Poles towards European integration. His current interests include the reconstruction of national identity, citizenship, and the theory of multiculturalism. 1999 – 2000 He was assistant in Joint European Project done with European Commision, Philosophy Faculty on Jagiellonian University, UAM in Poznań, UMCS in Lublin, University of Granada (Spain) and University of Exeter (England). In 2004 he was a Member of University Association for Contemporary European Studies, UK. In 2002 – Mamber – founder of European Forum Association. In 2001 – Member of the Academy of Political Science in New York.
Experts
Marcin Galent
Bożena Gierat-Bieroń
Graduated in Polish studies and history of drama at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków in 1993. 1996-2001 Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for European Studies. 2002 – Ph.D. in humanities. An expert of IDRIE (Institute of Regional and European Community) in Kraków. Worked on the advisory board in the Cultural Department of the Kraków City Council. Main co-ordinator at the Centre for European Training. Lecturer at the postgraduate European studies and the School for Cultural Management. Also worked in an expert group preparing the strategy of regional development for the Małopolska Province. General Assembly of ENCANT (2000). Published in periodicals and daily press.
Danuta Glondys
She holds a PhD degree in the Humanities, MA in English Philology and in Political Studies. In the period 1993–1999, she was director of the Cultural Department of the Municipality of Krakow and following it, the Regional Director of the USAID programme in Poland. She is the European Commission expert in the European Capitals of Culture programme selecting and monitoring all ECOC since 2009. Director of the Villa Decius Association in 2001-2016, she is now the Plenipotentiary of the Board for International Affairs, responsible for its initiating and implementing programmes which advocate international cultural and intellectual cooperation and promotion of intercultural dialogue and human rights.Lecturer at the Jagiellonian University and the Humanistic Studies Department of the University of Technology in Krakow. Her research field covers relations between culture and politics and European integration. Author of numerous articles and publications. An avid traveler.
Mihaly Györ
Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to Poland. Graduated in economics (international economic relations) from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Since 1975 he has worked in the ministries responsible for foreign trade and economic cooperation. From 1988 to 1994 served as a commercial counsellor at the Hungarian Embassy in Warsaw. Between 1994-2000 Head of Departments in the Ministry of Industry and Trade (later Ministry of Economy) responsible for the economic cooperation with Central and East European countries. In 2000-2002 he continued his career performing the same duties as in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was awarded the “Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland” in 1996.
Hilde Elisabeth Haaland
Representative of the Secretariat of the Nordic Council, Department of Documentation. Graduated in History, literature and Latin studies from the University of Oslo. Historian of medieval history from the University of Oslo 1998. Specialist on Icelandic Sagas and Norse religion and culture. Author of several articles on Norwegian and Icelandic medieval history. Radio journalist and theatre and literature critics 1996-2000. Archivist at The National Archives of Norway 1998-2000. Senior archivist and editor at the Nordic Council Secretariat from 2000.
Ivan Horský
Since 2005 Consul General of the Slovak Republic in Krakow. Graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy at the Comenius University in Bratislava. In 1999 worked for the Ministra of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic. In the years 2000-2004 Consul General of the Slovak Republic in Bonn, Germany. In 2004 held the office of the Director of the Press and Communication Department.
Andrzej Kapiszewski
Professor of sociology and political science at the Jagiellonian University, lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy at Warsaw. Former visiting professor at Stanford University and many other foreign universities. Between 1991-1997 in diplomatic service - the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in the Persian Gulf countries. Author of numerous academic books and articles. Expert in ethnic and national issues, especially in East-West relations and Middle East affairs. He died in Krakow in 2007.
Csaba G. Kiss
A cultural and literary historian; an essayist and a researcher on Central European cultures; studied Hungarian and German and comparative literature of Eastern Europe (comparing similarities between Polish and Hungarian literature). Hungarian opposition activist (Hungarian Democratic Forum) in the years 1987-1990. In 1992-1995 Director of the Institute of Central Europe in Budapest. Since 1995 scholar at the ELTE University in Budapest. 1994-2004 Visiting Professor in Zagreb. Author of several books on Central European literary and political matters published in France, Germany, Slovakia, Croatia and Poland. His book Dziennik polski (1980-1982) was translated and published in Poland.
Bedřich Kopecký
Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Poland (2002 - 2008). PhD degree of law at the Charles's Uniwersity in Praha. He works in diplomacy since 1977. 2000 - 2002 Director of the Central Europe Department at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Anna Kowalska
Since 2003 works as project manager at the Villa Decius Association. Manages and develops international projects, among others ten previous editions of the Visegrad Summer School. Graduated from the Krakow University of Economics (Management) and the Academy of Anti-discrimination Training. Educator and consultant specializing in gender and equality issues. From 1997 to 2000 she worked as coordinator for the USAID Local Partnership Program, later until 2003 for the Department of Education and Culture in the Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region.
