University of Silesia in Katowice

“jUŚt Transition – Potential of the University of Silesia as a Basis for Just Transition of the Region” is a project implemented within the European Funds for Silesia 2021-2027 Programme funded by the European Funds for Transformation. The project is to strengthen the potential of the University of Silesia in Katowice for effective support in terms of just transition and future staff of the region; this may be achieved by implementing actions affecting the institutional development of the university and providing individual support to those who constitute the academic community. The institutional development concerns strengthening the infrastructural and staff potential of the Career Office, USil doctoral schools, and USil faculties connected to the transformation process in terms of the green and digital economy. Individual support is provided to students, doctoral students, academic teachers, and representatives of the socio-economic environment.

„Supporting Higher Education Institutions in reducing early student dropout using data from the ELA system.” The aim of the project is to support Polish universities in taking actions to prevent students from prematurely leaving their studies (reducing student dropout rates) using data from the Economic Tracking of Graduates system, called „ELA”. The project’s target groups include universities, academic staff and students.
The expected outcomes of the project include: the acquisition of competencies or qualifications by participants in higher education programmes; the enhancement of academic staff members’ skills in delivering classes focused on educational pathway planning and dropout prevention, using workshop scenarios developed within the ELA module; the improvement of skills related to using the analytical tools offered by the ELA system, which help identify the economic situation of graduates and students and the development of a tool supporting student decision-making in three areas: whether to continue or discontinue their studies, whether to undertake employment during their studies or to make further educational choices.

“B-KINETIC. Bridge Knowledge to Innovation: Entrepreneurial Training into HEI Communities”. The project aims to integrate entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives across different higher education institutions and will have a significant impact on students and academic and administrative staff. The project will strengthen cooperation through joint events and targeted training sessions. Its comprehensive strategy focuses on integration, structured learning and the active participation of different higher education institutions. By supporting inter-institutional events, gender-focused initiatives and targeted training programmes, the project will significantly enhance the entrepreneurial and innovation potential of higher education institutions and ensure that this impact is sustainable and long-lasting, extending beyond the project’s duration.

Career Development Academy

The Academy is a series of summer training courses to provide the University of Silesia students and graduates a space to train and develop competencies most desired by employers, such as communication skills, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit. The Academy takes place every year from June to September.

Volunteering at Victim Help Points

The Volunteering is carried out in cooperation with the Voivodeship Police Headquarters; its goal is to allow students and graduates in Law, Psychology, Pedagogy, Social Work, Sociology, Philosophical Counselling and Coaching, and Family Studies to acquire professional experience. The recruitment takes place every year in December/January.

Mobile Career Fairs

The Fairs aim at giving students and graduates space to meet with representatives of leading employers in the Silesian Voivodeship. The events have been organised at individual faculties of the University of Silesia since 2018.

RESTLESS (EmpoweRing univErsity Students Through heaLth EntrepreneurShip TrainingS)

The project aimed to inspire, train and strengthen students’ position in the labour market by developing and enhancing their entrepreneurial, digital and green (environmental) skills and knowledge. As part of the RESTLESS project, higher education institutions and SMEs from Poland, Germany, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus developed a training programme designed to develop skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship, digital technologies and environmental sustainability, while also raising participants’ awareness of key health-related issues. University students and graduates specialising in medicine, natural sciences, business, engineering and ICT had the opportunity to participate in the Health Entrepreneurship Bootcamps and present their ideas during the final conference. Project coordinator: Poland – University of Silesia in Katowice. Project partners: Cyprus: GrantXpert Consulting; Greece: JOIST Innovation Park; Germany: Institute for Biomedical Informatics; Portugal: University of Beira Interior. The project lasted until February 2026.

“Entrepreneur – Entrepreneurial Preparation for Notable and Engaging Universities”

The project was implemented under the “HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education” programme, funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The project aimed to develop a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation within the university through activities addressed to the academic community – including students, academic staff and administrative staff. These activities included training sessions, mentoring, startup competitions, an assessment of the partners’ entrepreneurship education activities and resources, as well as an analysis of technology transfer offices aimed at strengthening and internationalising their activities. The Career Office was responsible for organising and delivering workshops for students on modern entrepreneurship and its psychological aspects, increasing participants’ knowledge of the characteristics and competencies of an entrepreneurial person. The project ended on 30 June 2024.

Internship module within the project ‘One University – Many Opportunities. Integrated Programme.’

The internship module was to carry out paid internships matching one’s degree programme, providing 120 or 360 hours of internship tasks (assuming a minimum of 20 hours per week). The module covered all students in all degree programmes offered at the University of Silesia; thus, it closed the gap in access to practical forms of teaching between degree programmes in exact and natural sciences and degree programmes in humanities, social sciences, and the arts. The project was completed in December 2023; it was financed by the European Union within the Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development.

‘Studies and What Next? – Increasing the Competitiveness of University of Silesia Students in the Labour Market’

The project was to develop and increase the quality of services provided by the Career Office by supporting students in starting their professional activity in the labour market during the project’s implementation. It was completed in 2021, financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund.

‘Time for an Internship – Grants for Social Innovators Offering New Solutions in Practical Vocational Training in the Transition from Education to Work’

The project was to support the transition from the educational system to professional activity by disseminating solutions developed by vocational school students, university students, artisans and companies. It was carried out from July 2016 to September 2019, financed within the Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development.

‘TEchnologies for young ENtrepreneurs’ (TEEN)

The project was to determine how to disseminate entrepreneurial culture and IT tools that support entrepreneurship among young people. It was carried out from August 2013 to July 2015, financed by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme..

‘Career Programming – Support for Young People in the Labour Market’

The project was to professionally activate and increase the employability of 60 project participants who remained unemployed by equipping them with qualifications and skills corresponding to the diagnosed needs of employers. It was carried out from February 2014 to April 2015, financed from the Human Capital Operational Programme.

‘Development of Career Guidance Aimed at Improving Higher Education in Serbia’

The project was to create the National Programme and Career Guidance Methodology, as well as a career planning guide for students and academic employees entitled Careers Kit. It was carried out from 2011 to 2014, financed by the Tempus Programme.

‘Go to Work. Polish Young Professionals in the European Labour Market’

The project was to strengthen the professional potential of graduates of exact sciences and to enable them to gain professional experience abroad, improve their intercultural and language competencies, and introduce them to the working conditions in an international environment. It was carried out from 2011 to 2013, financed by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

‘Academic Entrepreneurship for START’

The project was to increase the level of creativity and support the transfer of knowledge and entrepreneurial attitudes among university students of the Silesian Voivodeship. It was carried out from 2011 to 2013, financed by the Human Capital Operational Programme.

‘Innovation Creator – Support for Innovative Academic Entrepreneurship’

The project was to promote the idea of entrepreneurship in the academic environment and to support its participants in setting up and running their own businesses. It was carried out from 2011 to 2013, financed by the National Centre for Research and Development.

‘Entrepreneurship Promotion Programme at Universities in the Silesian Voivodeship’

The project was, among others, to promote creativity and entrepreneurship among students and academic staff of universities in the Silesian Voivodeship. It was carried out from 2009 to 2011, financed by the Human Capital Operational Programme.

‘Internship Provider of the Year in the Silesian Voivodeship’

The Competition was to promote the idea of organising valuable apprenticeships and internships, e.g. by selecting the best internship providers in the region and informing students about them. It was carried out from 2014 and 2016.

Competition for the best marketing strategy of the Career Office ‘Build a strategy and grab your studies’

The Competition was to create the best marketing strategy for the USil Career Office. It was held in 2013, financed by the University of Silesia.

‘Competition for the best diploma thesis seeking innovative solutions’

The Competition was to select the best diploma thesis that proposes innovative solutions in one of the indicated thematic areas. It was held in 2012 and 2013, co-financed by the National Centre for Research and Development

Career Fairs and Jobs Spot

The events were to give University of Silesia students and graduates a space to meet with representatives of leading employers in the Silesian Voivodeship. The events were carried out in 2013 – 2015, with the ‘Career Fair’ taking place in March and ‘Jobs Spot’ in October.

Bachelor’s Degree and What Next?’ Meetings

The Meetings were dedicated to 1st cycle studies graduates to answer all their questions related to the possibilities of making a career. They were held in 2013.

‘Which way to work?’ Meetings

The Meetings were to create a platform for information exchange between specialists in specific fields and students considering pursuing a chosen profession in the future. They were held from 2010 to 2012.