Zapraszamy na wykład otwarty prof. Robina Goodwina: “Psychologia katastrof”

We are pleased to announce that on 6 July 2025 (Sunday) at 11.30am there will be an open lecture entitled 'The importance of the European Union. "The psychology of disasters".who will deliver Prof. Robin Goodwin - an eminent specialist in the psychology of individual and societal reactions to traumatic events.

📍 Lecture venue: University of Wrocław, Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics, Aula 1D.

Professor Robin Goodwin has conducted interdisciplinary research on the effects of earthquakes, floods, terrorist attacks and pandemics for many years. He has worked as an advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organisation on the psychological consequences of nuclear accidents. He currently heads an international research consortium CONTAIN (Contact Tracing, Infection and Transmission: an interdisciplinary approach), which examines patterns of human contact in the context of the spread of new infectious diseases.

The lecture is aimed at students, academic staff and anyone interested in the topics of crisis psychology and emergency management.

You are cordially invited!

Strategic International Agreement between the Vocational Training College and the University of Prešov - Together for the Development of Science, Education and Academic Partnerships

On 2 July 2025, the College of Vocational Training, represented by the Dr Irena MalinowskaProf. WSKZ - Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Prof. Dariusz Brakoniecki with the Centre for International Cooperation, concluded a bilateral agreement on scientific and didactic cooperation with the University of Prešov in Prešov (Slov. Prešovská univerzita v Prešove), a public academic university based in eastern Slovakia, represented by the Rector, Prof. Peter Kónya and Prof. Kamila Kardis.

Objectives and Results of the Arrangement

The agreement provides for the implementation of joint scientific projects, exchanges of academic staff and students, the organisation of international conferences and the implementation of innovative forms of education in line with European standards. Visiting professors, the participation of representatives of both institutions in the scientific committees of conferences and the scientific councils of academic journals are important elements of cooperation.

The agreement is an expression of the two universities' desire to deepen academic relations, support interdisciplinary research, publish the results of scientific work and jointly apply for scientific development funds under international funding programmes.

The role of the Centre for International Cooperation

The agreement is the result of the intensive and professional work of the team at the Centre for International Cooperation at the Vocational Training College, which actively creates and coordinates activities for the internationalisation of the university.

Benefits for the Academic Community

For academic staff and students, it opens up new spaces for scientific collaboration, exchange of experiences and strengthening scientific output in international initiatives. Students gain access to a broader dimension of education, development of professional competences and participation in projects of global significance.

Dr Tomasz Witkowski in the media - recent appearances

Dr Tomasz Witkowski is a recognised expert in social psychology, emotion, motivation and scientific methodology. He has more than 30 years of teaching and training experience, has conducted research in Germany and collaborated with the University of Malta. He is the author of 16 books, including four published in the USA, as well as dozens of scientific articles that have appeared in prestigious journals such as British Journal of Social Psychology i Skeptical Inquirer. Below are Dr Witkowski's most recent media appearances.

• 9 January 2025 - Dr Tomasz Witkowski guested on the podcast CHARISMATIC, where he spoke to David Straszak about the mental health crisis. The topics of the talk were based on his latest book 'Puncture the gurus who advise on how to live and other essays'. Dr Witkowski also touched on the overabundance of psychologists and challenges in the context of mental health. Link to podcast
• 15 January 2025 - An audio version of Dr Witkowski's book 'Forbidden Psychology, Volume I. Between science and charlatanry'.
• 7 February 2025 - Another appearance was a podcast conversation WORDS, in which Dr Witkowski discussed the manipulations presented in the book 'Psychomanipulations. How to recognise and deal with them'. He discussed the mechanisms that keep people in sects and toxic relationships. Link to podcast
• 14 February 2025 - Dr Witkowski appeared in Focus.co.uk on health, where, in a conversation with Beata Igielska, he discussed Robert Sternberg and Karin Weiss's book The New Psychology of Love, of which he was the scientific editor. The topic was romantic love, its role and its impact on contemporary society. Link to article
• 15 February 2025 - Dr Witkowski's lecture entitled. "The evolution of morality" was delivered as part of the "10th Wrocław Darwin Days", organised by the Institute of Biology of the University of Wrocław and the Polish Association of Rationalists. Link to lecture
• 19 March 2025 - Dr Witkowski appeared in Radio Wnetwhere he touched on the Polish mental health treatment system. In an interview with editor Jasmina Nowak, he shared his comments on the crisis of the system and the mistakes that need to be corrected. Link to broadcast
• 3 April 2025 - Dr Witkowski was a guest on the podcast Chronicles of a departure from reasonwhere, together with Dr Katarzyna Szumlewicz and editor Boyan Stanislavski, they discussed ignorance being considered a virtue and its impact on human attitudes. Link to podcast
• 5 April 2025 - Dr Witkowski's lecture entitled. "Psychology without simplification. You won't learn this on the internet" was held as part of the conference Holistic Talk in Bielsko-Biała, where issues were raised about the work of psychologists and which professionals are worth listening to. Link to the event
• 5 June 2025 - Dr Witkowski led a lecture and workshop entitled. "If not therapy, then what?" on self-help for mental health problems and disorders, organised by the Rhea Foundation in Częstochowa. Link to the event
• June 2025 - Dr Tomasz Witkowski was interviewed in the June issue of Cogito, where he discussed science, pseudoscience and critical thinking in the context of the development of scientific disciplines.
• 12 June 2025 - Dr Witkowski guested on the podcast Chronicles of a departure from reason, where he addressed the topic of exaggeration in psychology and the harm of simplifications that can result from a misunderstanding of the field. Link to podcast

With his knowledge, experience and passion for psychology, Dr Tomasz Witkowski regularly shares his thoughts and analyses with a wide audience. His activity in the media is an important contribution to the popularisation of sound psychology and critical thinking. We encourage you to follow his presentations and explore the topics he addresses.

Seminarium “W stronę niezależnego życia i deinstytucjonalizacji – mieszkalnictwo wspomagane z usługami wspierającymi dla osób z niepełnosprawnościami”

On 26 June 2025, at the initiative of the Department of Sociological Analysis of Public Policies of the Institute of Applied Social Sciences of the University of Warsaw, a remote seminar 'Towards independent living and deinstitutionalisation - assisted housing with support services for people with disabilities' was held.

This event is another scientific meeting in the series 'Public Policies in a Sociological Perspective' conducted continuously since 2016. The seminars are of great interest to scholars and practitioners, focusing on the analysis of current social policy directions and solving specific social problems directly affecting the social order. The event was attended by Dr Damian Wąsik - Plenipotentiary of the Rector of the College of Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities.

Report on the 7th Scientific Conference attended by our lecturer Jan Znajdek

On 5-6 June 2025, our lecturer, Jan Znajdek - Doctor of Laws, graduate of the University of Lodz, who teaches interdisciplinary courses in intellectual property protection and personal data protection - participated in the 7th Scientific Conference on "Competences, tasks and capacities of governmental and self-governmental bodies in the field of civil defence and counter-hybrid and anti-cognitive actions used by Russia on a large scale in Ukraine, as well as against the countries of Central and Eastern Europe", organised by the Prof. Edward F. Szczepanik State Vocational College in Suwałki. Szczepanik in Suwałki. The Higher Vocational College in Wrocław was a co-organiser of the event, and the Managing Director of WSKZ Wrocław, Dr Bartosz Błaszczak, took the conference under his honorary patronage.

As a representative of the co-organiser, speaking at the opening of the conference, Jan Znajdek noted that the co-organisation of the event and the active participation of WSKZ representatives would contribute to the scientific development of both universities. During the plenary session, he delivered a paper on: "Local government administration, a key link in the organisation of the Civil Defence system". His presentation attracted the interest of the participants, and the paper will be included in the publication of post-conference materials (scoring publication - 100 points). In summing up the proceedings, the representative of the main organiser, Andrzej Sęk, Ph.D., expressed his thanks to our university and his hope for the continuation of further cooperation.

Online workshop: Norm and disorders in children and adolescents - in a psychoanalytic perspective

Would you like to better understand what disorders in children and adolescents are, how to diagnose these conditions and how to approach normality in the context of their development? You are invited to a unique online workshop led by expert Dorota Modrzynska to learn key tools in working with young patients. The workshop will run on 30 June 2025 and aims to equip participants with knowledge about normality and disorders from a psychoanalytic perspective.

Workshop aimed at psychology students

The workshop has been designed with psychology students in mind, but will also be of value to those who work with children and young people. By discussing issues in psychoanalysis, you will learn about a variety of approaches to diagnosis and support that you can use in your future work.

Understanding psychosexual development in children and adolescents

In this workshop, Dorota Modrzynska will discuss the key phases of psychosexual development, including the developmental tasks that are essential in determining healthy developmental patterns. Understanding these processes will give you a better understanding of how to recognise disorders and how to support a young person's development.

Diagnosis of disordered conditions in children and adolescents

During the workshop, Dorota Modrzynska will present specific tools for diagnosing conditions in children and adolescents. Typical areas of trauma that can disrupt the natural development process will also be discussed. The knowledge you will gain will help you to better understand and support young people during difficult moments in their lives.

Date and time of workshop:

• Deadline: 30 June 2025.
• Time: 17:00 - 19:00
• Format: Online workshop

This is an excellent opportunity to deepen your knowledge of psychoanalysis and diagnosis of disorders in the context of child and adolescent development. If you are a psychology student or interested in the topic of development and disorders in young people, this workshop is for you! Register now to develop your skills and knowledge in this important field.

The scientific conference "Domestic Violence in Poland. Between theory and practice" - interdisciplinary debate with important recommendations

On 13 June 2025, the Institute of Internal Security and Criminology of the College of Vocational Training in Wrocław organised an interdisciplinary scientific conference entitled 'The importance of internal security and criminology'. "Domestic Violence in Poland. Between theory and practice".. The event was held in an online format, which allowed wide and comfortable access for participants from different parts of Poland - both from academia and social practice institutions.

The conference was attended by a total of more than 550 participantsincluding representatives of the uniformed services, the judiciary, social workers, psychologists, educators, representatives of public administration, NGOs and academia. The event consisted of three parallel thematic panels:

• Law and practice (Moderator: Dr Janusz Bryk);
• A legal and empirical approach (Moderator: Dr Milena Zajkowska);
• Interinstitutional cooperation - practice (Moderator: Tomasz Czaja, MA).

The conference was opened by Dr Irena Malinowska, Prof. WSKZ - Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Dr Janusz Bryk - Director of the Institute of Internal Security and Criminology. The opening lecture was given by Dr Magdalena El Ghamari, focusing on violence, radicalisation and the situation of minors in refugee camps.

Main scientific conclusions and recommendations from the conference

The conference culminated in concrete, clearly outlined conclusions and demands - both scientific and practical. They indicated inter alia. for need:

1. Adoption of a comprehensive law on missing persons - The current state of the law is mainly based on executive acts (e.g. Police orders), which results in inconsistent procedures and limited effectiveness of institutions' actions. The proposed law should unambiguously regulate the duties of services and the rights of persons reporting a missing person.
2. Better coordination of inter-institutional cooperation - Effective protection of people experiencing domestic violence requires a synergy of action between the police, prosecutors' offices, courts, social welfare centres, NGOs and local institutions.
3. Recognition of the link between domestic violence and disappearances - in many cases, disappearances are the result of psychological and physical violence. It was advocated that specific response pathways should be developed in cases where the disappearance may be the result of an escape from or escalation of violence.
4. Systemic support for families of missing persons - solutions are needed to ensure that families have access to information about the progress of their case, as well as psychological and organisational support.
5. Increasing the availability of training and interdisciplinary education - The conference showed a real educational gap regarding the issue of violence. Participants recommended organising training and workshops combining different professional perspectives.
6. The cyclical nature of the event - There were numerous voices pointing to the need to continue the initiative in future years, which could create a space for the systematic exchange of knowledge and good practice.

Positive reception and wide access to materials

Participants rated the event very highly - both in terms of the level of content, the selection of speakers and the technical organisation. The conference was prepared with great care - from communicating with participants, to maintaining the website, to distributing certificates and materials. The use of the MS Teams platform, as well as a back-up option in Google Meet, allowed for a smooth transmission and interaction with participants.

As announced, presentations from selected lectures have been published on the official conference websitewhich can be downloaded or viewed online. This is an excellent opportunity for people who were unable to attend the event or who want to return to particular topics to familiarise themselves with the content.

📎 Access to presentations: https://konferencjawroclaw.pl/elementor-1213/

Thank you for your collective reflection and commitment

The organisers would like to thank all speakers and participants for their active participation and openness to dialogue. The conference "Domestic Violence in Poland. Between theory and practice" was not only an academic event, but also a space for real exchange of experience, knowledge and recommendations, which we hope will be used in institutional and legislative practice.

Participation of WSKZ representatives in the 11th Wrocław Women's Forum

The Centennial Hall Congress Centre in Wrocław hosted the eleventh edition of the Wrocław Women's Forum - a nationwide event aimed at supporting women's activism, promoting the idea of gender equality and strengthening leadership competences. We are proud to announce that this year's Forum was attended by Vice-Dean for Student Affairs of the College of Vocational Training - Dr Aneta Kazanecka and students of our University.

Organised by the Western Chamber of Commerce - Employers and Entrepreneurs, the Forum brought together several hundred participants from across the region. The event's programme included panel discussions with representatives from the world of business and science, expert talks on topics including leadership, finance, cognitive errors, the role of new technologies and mental toughness, as well as mindfulness sessions and motivational speeches.

The theme of this year's meeting was: "Woman leader aware of change". Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of empathy, authenticity and self-awareness in the context of contemporary social and professional challenges. The participation of WSKZ representatives in the Women's Forum is an important element in the implementation of our University's mission to support the personal and professional development of students, promote civic attitudes and active participation in public life.

Online workshop: Applying psychological tests in practice - calculating results, norms and interpretation

Join us for an online workshop led by Dr Pavel Larionov, which will help you develop practical skills in the use of psychological tests. The workshop will focus on self-report questionnaires on emotion regulation and other emotion-related psychological constructs. You will learn how to correctly calculate scores, apply norms and interpret the data obtained.

Workshop dates:

• 27 June 2025.
• 14 July 2025.
• Time: 19:00-20:30
• Form: online

Workshop programme:

• Learning how to calculate psychological test results.
• Application of standards in practice.
• Interpretation of the results of self-report questionnaires, especially those on emotion regulation.

Target group:
The workshop is aimed at first-, second- and third-semester psychology students who want to deepen their knowledge of psychological testing and its application in practice.

Seat limit:

• 100 people for each workshop (registration required).

Sign up for a workshop and develop your skills in the area of psychological testing and interpretation of results!

Online workshop: Diagnosing addiction - how to talk, recognise and respond

Join us for a unique online workshop to help you explore the practical aspects of addiction diagnosis. The workshop will be led by Dr Agata Niezabitowska - psychologist, addiction psychotherapist and doctor of social sciences in psychology. We will deal with both addictions to psychoactive substances and problematic behaviour such as gambling or addiction to internet use.

Workshop date:

• 9.07.2025 i 10.07.2025
• Time: 18:00-20:00

In the workshop programme:

• Dispelling the myths about addiction - understanding the most common misconceptions about addiction.
• Diagnostic criteria - how to correctly identify addiction, both physical and behavioural.
• Case study - case study in the context of diagnosis and treatment of addiction.
• Safe talk - how to have a conversation with someone you suspect of having an addiction, and how to responsibly indicate where they can get help.

The workshop is aimed at those working or planning to work with young people and adults, particularly in the context of mental health, educational and diagnostic support. It is an excellent opportunity to enrich your knowledge and skills in the area of working with people with addiction problems.

Places are limited - a maximum of 40 participants. Participation is determined on a first-come, first-served basis.

Don't miss out on this opportunity - sign up now to gain practical skills in the area of addiction diagnosis and effective response to addiction problems.