On 8 June 2026, a Youth Think Tank meeting entitled “Bridges, Not Walls – Intercultural Skills in the Labour Market” took place at SpinPlace, the University of Silesia in Katowice. The event was organised as part of the SUCCESS | Socially Innovative Ukrainian Centres in Central Europe: Empowerment and Social Support project.
The event was aimed at people of Ukrainian origin living in Poland who wished to gain a better understanding of Polish cultural specificities and their relevance in a professional context.
As part of the event, the University of Silesia welcomed a delegation of Ukrainian secondary school students accompanied by Oksana Matiienko, Coordinator for the Education of Non-Polish Citizens and Teacher of Ukrainian as a Foreign Language at the XV General Secondary School named after Major Piotr Wysocki in Wrocław.
The highlight of the event was the Youth Think Tank session led by Dr Rafał Cekiera, Professor at the University of Silesia, an expert in the sociology of migration, religion, and culture. During his presentation, he discussed the key similarities and differences between Polish and Ukrainian cultures and explained their practical significance in the labour market. Particular attention was given to issues related to job searching, recruitment interviews, workplace communication, and everyday functioning in a professional environment.
The programme also included a presentation of the University of Silesia, a workshop on the art of negotiation, and a guided tour of the university campus. An especially valuable part of the programme was the contribution of Ukrainian students studying at the University of Silesia, who shared their experiences of studying and student life in Poland. Among them was Diana Zozulia, a student of Journalism and Social Communication.
The meeting concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which participants had the opportunity to discuss their own experiences of living in Poland and receive practical guidance on developing intercultural competences. Active participants were awarded certificates confirming their participation in the event.
fot. Olimpia Orządała
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