University of Silesia in Katowice

Project title: Islands of Knowledge
Program: Education Programme financed by the EEA Financial Mechanism for 2014-2021 and National Funds
Co-financing amount: 155 956,00 EUR
Co-financing amount for UŚ: 75 016,00 EUR
Agreement no: EOG/21/K4/W/0075
Project implementation period: from 2022-05-01 to 2024-04-30
Project Coordinator: the University of Silesia in Katowice
Project Partners:

• Icelandic Institute of Natural History,
• Foundation for the development of the Silesian Intercollegiate Center of Education and Interdisciplinary Research EDU-RES

The main goal of the project is to develop a quality culture in the education sector by diagnosing, planning, developing and implementing by 30/04/2024 the concept of university education based on universal design, inclusive and personalized education, as well as developing key skills from the point of view of socio-economic needs and the competences necessary for the free adaptation of the University of Silesia in Katowice students and graduates to changing times.

Detailed objectives:

• Development of recommendations for the innovative and responsible development of university education by carrying out multidimensional diagnoses (qualitative and quantitative);
• Improvement of the didactic offer at the university level by developing 8 general university education paths and implementing the pilot programme of at least 2 of them;
• Strengthening the mobility and creativity of the College of Interdisciplinary Individual Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice (CIIS) students and the implementation of foreign educational and research patterns and work standards based on contact with experts (including the development of quality culture in the education sector) via developing a didactic offer for CIIS students, as well as strengthening cooperation with domestic and foreign experts.

The main and specific objectives are consistent with the objectives of the Education Programme and the activity profiles of the institutions participating in the project. The education concept implemented by the University of Silesia in Katowice will directly impact the better alignment of the competencies of students/graduates with the current economic and social needs, strengthening the entrepreneurship and creativity of learners, which also favours the development of intersectoral and international cooperation. The proposed themes of the paths take into account aspects of social inclusion and personalized learning. The target group are students of the University of Silesia in Katowice. The project’s innovation is replacing traditional specialist education at the University with universal, inclusive, personalized education.