Stakeholder Council of the School of Vocational Training: a shared view of the University's future

On 15 May 2025, the Stakeholder Council of the College of Vocational Education will meet. This is an important step in developing cooperation between the university and representatives of the socio-economic environment. The meeting was planned as a space for the exchange of knowledge, opinions and ways forward.

In the event programme:

• will be presented information on current studies;
• representatives of partner institutions receive data relevant to the strategic development of the university;
• participants will be invited to express their own observations and recommendations on opportunities to improve teaching and, in the longer term, research.

The College of Vocational Training has been consistently striving to. education and research activities respond to real market needs. The Stakeholder Council meeting is part of a long-term process of strengthening relationships with partners and to adapt the teaching offer to changing socio-economic challenges.

Silent destruction in the company. Does bullying block innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises?

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the foundation of the Polish economy, having a significant contribution to GDP creation - 28.2% for micro-enterprises and 17.1% for small and medium-sized companies respectively (according to the Polish Entrepreneurship Agency report, 2024). Unfortunately, these values are lower than a year earlier, which experts explain by the effects of the pandemic and dynamic economic and technological changes.

The SME sector, despite its limited resources, plays an important role in the innovation process - as many as one third of companies with 10 to 49 employees and half of medium-sized companies (50-250 employees) are active in innovation. However, success is not determined solely by financial outlay, but also - and perhaps above all - organisational climate and psychological factors: team creativity, level of commitment, work culture and management style.

Why does the working environment matter for innovation?

As the ICAN Institute points out, companies wishing to stay in the market should take special care of three pillars: organisational culture, leadership i employee involvement. It is these elements that create the space for growth and creativity that underpin innovation in SMEs.

The problem remains the phenomenon of the so-called ''green'. quiet quitting, i.e. quiet withdrawal - employees perform only the bare minimum, forgoing commitment and initiative. According to the report State of the Global Workplace As many as 72% of employees in Europe are in the process, and 15% openly manifests a lack of motivation. In extreme cases there is a phenomenon of revenge quitting, i.e. demonstrative departures in response to toxic conditions - often being the effect of mobbing.

Bullying - a threat to stability and the development of innovation

Bullying not only lowers morale and increases staff turnoverbut can completely stifle innovation processes in an organisation. In the SME sector, where every highly qualified employee has a real impact on the development of the company, Creating a working environment based on trust and cooperation is becoming a necessity.

It was these challenges, determinants and consequences that Dr Marika Szymanska, Director of the Institute of Management and Quality Sciences, and Mehmet Omurlu, M.Sc., Programme Director of the Management and Business Psychology course at the College of Vocational Training, discussed at the online conference. "Bullying as a destructive aspect of the working environment". Experts agreed that understanding the impact of workplace atmosphere on innovation is no longer just a question of ethicsbut a real business need for the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.

From the police frontline - behind the scenes of operational work and the fight against pseudo-football crime

Already on 28 May at 19:00 a unique online event will take place in as part of the "Meeting with practitioners" series. The guest speaker will be retired police sub-inspector Krzysztof Hejmowski - former head of the Department for Combating Pseudo Football Crime of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Gdansk.

This is a unique opportunity to learn about the realities of operational work in the police force and get a behind-the-scenes look at activities targeting the criminality of pseudo-fans.

Krzysztof Hejmowski - three decades of service and experience from the front line

Krzysztof Hejmowski served in the police force for more than 30 years (1994-2025). He started as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Department in Gdynia and, in time, took up the position of 1st Deputy District Police Chief in Puck. He specialised in operational activities, prosecution of criminal offenders, combating criminal terrorism and pseudo football crime.

During his career has been involved in a number of high-profile cases, such as:

•  apprehension of the person responsible for digging up human beings remains in the Tri-city;
• breaking up a group of pseudo football fans operating illegal gambling;
• double homicide investigation in Puck County;
• operational measures against so-called "stalls" and brutal hijinks.

When and where?

The event will last one hour and will be held in an online format. To join, simply follow the link: https://meet.google.com/uiy-hnnj-ggv.

Students are cordially invited those interested in security, forensics and uniformed services!

How to be a leader who is not afraid of difficult conversations? Change the team atmosphere with conscious leadership

Already 11 May 2025 at 9:00 welcome to a unique online workshop: "Talking to an employee in a crisis situation - training for Team Leaders".. The meeting will be led by Anna Piguła, MA, an expert in communication and crisis psychology. The workshop will be held on the Google Meet platform and will have an active and mixed character - combining mini-lectures, simulations, brainstorming, case studies and individual work. The number of places is limited to 20 people, and participation requires access to a camera and microphone. Please note that registration for the workshop is on a first-come, first-served basis! The meeting has been scheduled for 2 hours.

Why is it worth it?

Psychological crises in the workplace can occur suddenly and have a major impact on the effectiveness of the team. Leaders who are able to recognise the first signs of difficulty and respond accordingly build an environment based on safety, trust and commitment.

The workshop will not only help to better manage difficult situations in the team, but also to develop leadership competences in the area of emotional intelligence and mental resilience.

Scope of the workshop

During the workshop, participants will learn about the most important areas related to the role of a leader in crisis situations. Topics include both the basics of crisis psychologyas well as specific communication techniques and a reflection on responsibility and the limits of support. The following will also be discussed conversation modelswhich facilitate effective responses to difficult team situations.

Among the topics discussed will be:

• what is a psychological crisis and how it can manifest itself in the workplace;
• what is the role of the leader in a crisis situation - What can and should be avoided;
• how to conduct supportive communication - Active listening, paraphrasing and formulating empathetic messages;
• what a supportive interview model looks like - based, inter alia, on a 4-step intervention scheme;
• where the limits of a leader's responsibility lie and when it is worth reaching out for specialist support;
• how to take care of your own boundaries and not to transfer their own emotions to the team - the role of self-awareness in support work.

Participation in the workshop will enable you to

The training has a practical dimension - focused on real-world skills that you can use in your daily work with your team. By taking part in the workshop gain tools and awareness, which will help you to effectively support employees and respond to difficult situations.

In particular, you will be able to:

• increase confidence when talking to employees experiencing difficulties;
• identify problems more quickly, before they escalate - which will help prevent absenteeism, burnout and resignation;
• hold professional, supportive conversations in crisis situations;
• recognise stress signalsburnout and crisis in team members;
• develop communication skills - from active listening to formulating empathetic messages;
• set healthy boundaries for the leadership role - know when to support and when to refer for specialist help;
• build relationships based on trust and increase the sense of security within the team;
• strengthen your mental resilience and leadership competences in the area of emotional intelligence.

Workshops will not be recorded, which will foster authenticity and the free exchange of experiences. There will also be no dedicated technical support, therefore it is worth checking the equipment before the meeting and access to the Google Meet platform.

Business from a psychologist's perspective - students from the College of Vocational Training took part in a unique workshop

An online workshop was held on 6 May 2025 entitled. "Psychologist in business - what for and for whom?", led by Dr Magdalena Slazyk-Sobol -. expert in the application of psychology in the business environment. The event was organised for Psychology and Business Psychology students as part of a series of practical meetings.

Competencies and career paths of a psychologist in an organisation

The meeting aimed to show the role and function of the psychologist working in the organisational structures of the, taking into account areas of activity, target groups and possible career paths. Workshop participants learned about the practical aspects of a psychologist's work in companies, became familiar with examples of ongoing projects and professional challenges, and discussed key competences necessary in the working environment.

Active student participation and debriefing

The workshop was met with great interest - students actively participated in discussions on the importance of soft skills, team collaboration and the specifics of psychological challenges in business. We would like to congratulate Dr Magdalena Slazyk-Sobol on the professional preparation of the meeting and creating a space for an inspiring, substantive exchange. We would also like to thank all participants for their activity and commitment!

The first research methodology workshop for students of the College of Vocational Training is now behind us!

An online workshop on psychological research methodology was held on 7 May 2025 from 17:00 to 19:30aimed at psychology students at the School of Vocational Training. The meeting was chaired by Dr Artur Ziolkowski, Professor at our University.

During the class, participants had the opportunity to structure and expand their knowledge of concerning the stages of the research process, formulating questions and hypotheses, identifying variables and learning about different research models. The workshop was a practical development of the content discussed during the semester lectures and was a valuable support in preparation for independent research projects. The event was planned in two parts - the next one will take place on 14 May and will deepen the issues discussed earlier.

University of Vocational Training co-organiser of the Lower Silesian Science Festival

We are pleased to announce that the College of Vocational Training has been officially accepted as a co-organiser of the Lower Silesian Science Festival - one of the largest science popularisation events in the region. This is an important step towards promoting knowledge and developing scientific passions among the inhabitants of Wrocław and the surrounding area.

As part of the co-organisation, a series of lectures, workshops and presentations prepared by the University's lecturers. The aim of the activities will be to make knowledge accessible and inspire people to explore the world of science.

What is the Lower Silesian Science Festival?

The Lower Silesian Science Festival is a cyclical educational event, which for 28 years has brought together participants of all ages, offering a rich programme including:

• lectures and popular science presentations;
• workshops, experiments and demonstrations;
• meetings with scientists and experts;
• educational excursions, city games and activities for children.

The event is organised in cooperation with universities, schools, research institutions and community organisations from across the region. All meetings take place free of chargeand the festival encompasses many Lower Silesian cities, including. Wrocław, Legnica, Wałbrzych, Bolesławiec, Lubin, Polkowice, Jelenia Góra, Ząbkowice Śląskie, Strzelin and Zgorzelec..

The mission of the festival is to show that Science is not just laboratories and textbooksbut also discovery, questioning and a fascinating dialogue with the world. The participation of the University of Applied Sciences in the DFN is an opportunity to to reach a wider audience with knowledge and jointly building a space for science enthusiasts of all ages. You are cordially invited!

Your first scientific publication? Gain knowledge with a webinar by Dr. Adam Rzetecki!

How do you successfully get started with academic publishing in the legal field? Already On May 8, 2025 at 5:30 pm, please join us for a unique webinar led by Dr Adam Rzetecki Assistant Professor at the College of Professional Training and author of numerous legal publications. The meeting will be an excellent opportunity to learn the behind-the-scenes of preparing a scientific article, acquiring a body of work and the successful publication process. This event is aimed at students who plan to develop academically in the fields of law, law in business and administration.

What can you expect during the meeting?

During the webinar, Dr Adam Rzetecki Author of more than 20 scientific articles on tax law, associate of the renowned publishing house C.H. Beck (author of two books) - share their knowledge, experience and practical tips for budding authors.

Issues such as:

• Selection of the study area in the perspective of correlation with one's own academic interests and the practice of legal work.
• Planning to build up the scientific outputand the process of establishing one's own position
  in the world of science.
• Ways of finding a prospective research topicand the context for shaping a coherent characterisation of the publications being prepared.
• Importance of ongoing research as a tool supporting the preparation of the dissertation.
• From researcher to experthow to find an issue of relevance to legal transactions
  and start specialising in it.
• Principles for producing professional scientific articlesThe differences between scientific and applied texts.
• Advice on collection and use of materials as an essential tool for scientific work.
• How to make an article valuable, or the principles of preparing, editing and adapting a text to the requirements for scientific publications.
• Effective publishing in the context of difficultiesthat people taking their first steps in the world of science face.

Who is this event for?

The free webinar is particularly recommended for students of Law, Business Law and Administrationwho want to consciously develop their scientific path. Participants will learn about the process of producing a publication - from the idea, to writing, to successfully submitting an article to a scientific journal.

Why is it worth it?

Scientific publications are not only evidence of a commitment to knowledge developmentbut also an important asset when applying for doctoral programmes, scholarship competitions or in future careers. Thanks to the meeting with a practitioner such as Dr Adam Rzetecki, participants gain invaluable knowledge and practical tools facilitating a start in the world of science.

Dr Mariusz Michalski - Assistant Professor at the College of Professional Training on the challenges of modern forensic science

23 April 2025 Dr Mariusz Michalski, Assistant Professor at the University of Vocational Training in Wrocław, took part as a speaker in the Third National Scientific Conference entitled "Forensic science and the changing reality of crime scenes". The event, organised in a remote format by the Academy of Applied Sciences in Radom in cooperation with the Regional Police Headquarters in Radom, brought together a large number of academics, representatives of the uniformed services and crime practitioners.

Speech by Dr Mariusz Michalski - analysis and reflections

In his speech entitled "'Exclusion of criminal liability in the use or application of direct coercive measures by police officers - some reflections', Dr Michalski carried out a thorough analysis of the statutory counter-narratives that exclude the criminal liability of Police, Border Guard and Military Police officers.

A special place in his lecture was given to the changes introduced by the amendment of the law of 24 May 2013 on means of direct coercion and firearms. Dr Michalski discussed the implications of these changes, pointing out potential violations of the rules on the use of coercive measures. His speech received a lot of attention due to the topicality of the issues raised and their relevance to the practice of the uniformed services.

Forensic science and changing realities - the importance of sharing experience

The conference has become an important space for the exchange of experience between theory and practice. Participants emphasised the need to continuously adapt forensic methods to dynamic social, technological and legal changes. Such events strengthen collaboration between academics and practitioners, enabling a more effective response to the challenges of modern crime.

New stage, common goals - Social Sciences Faculty Council meeting inaugurated

A formal meeting of the Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences was held on 28 April 2025, inaugurating a new phase in the unit's operation. The proceedings were chaired by Dr Irena Malinowska - dean of the faculty. The deliberations were not only formal, but were also an important moment for the entire academic community, setting the direction for the Council as a new faculty structure.

Present at the meeting

The Faculty Council meeting was attended by key representatives of university authorities, teams and unitswhich underlined the importance of the meeting and the importance of the topics discussed.

Participants included:

• Dr Justyna Jasińska-Rudzka - Chair of the Education Quality Commission,
• Dr Marek Bodziany - Vice-Dean for Cooperation and Development,
• Dr Aneta Kazanecka - Vice Dean for Student Affairs,
• Dr Bartosz Blaszczak - Managing Director,
• Dr Wojciech Kazanecki - Chairman of the Stakeholder Council,
• Angelika Potracka, MA - Team Coordinator for Science and Parameterisation,
• Magdalena Nogga - Director of the Dean's Office,
• directors of institutes,
• programme directors of faculties,
• scientific discipline coordinators,
• proxies of the rector and dean.

Such a broad representation of the academic community reflected a shared commitment to the development of the faculty and the quality of decision-making.

Key topics and speeches

During the meeting, a number of issues relevant to the functioning of the faculty and the further development of the university were discussed. Below are the most important of these:

• Organisational matters - Dr Bartosz Blaszczak presented current issues concerning the operation of the university and the coordination of key administrative processes.
• Activities of the Education Quality Commission - Dr Justyna Jasińska-Rudzka presented current initiatives, including new procedures for evaluating study programmes and measures to increase student and lecturer involvement. She pointed out the need to cooperate with the socio-economic environment in order to raise didactic standards.
• Faculty development strategy - Marek Bodziany, Ph.D., discussed priority development goals, including activities to support scientific activity, such as the registration of Student Research Notebooks and other initiatives to promote research.
• Internationalisation - Aleksandra Siewert, Pro Vice-Chancellor for International Relations, presented a plan to increase the faculty's international visibility and expand international cooperation.
• Cooperation with the socio-economic environment - Dr Wojciech Kazanecki identified new opportunities for partnerships and their impact on the development of universities and the strengthening of graduates' position in the labour market.
• Student affairs - Dr Aneta Kazanecka, Vice-Dean of Student Affairs, presented the students' voices regarding expectations and needs, which will be taken into account in the Faculty's further activities.
• Work of the Dean's Office - Magdalena Nogga discussed organisational issues, planned events and issues related to delegations and information circulation. The importance of efficient communication in the daily functioning of the unit was emphasised.
• Staff development and scientific affairs - Angelika Potracka, MA, presented the activities of the Science and Parameterisation Team and proposals to strengthen the scientific potential of academic staff.

Commitment, cooperation and common goals

The meeting concluded with an open discussion and a summary of key findings by Dr Irena Malinowska. The dean stressed the importance of all members of the academic community being active and sharing responsibility for the development of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Faculty Council expressed its thanks to all participants for their substantive commitment and invited to cooperate on further initiatives. The topics and decisions taken are the beginning of a common path - towards a stronger, more modern and even more integrated scientific community.