Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1173894
Security studies Science is a tool wich allows us to un- derstandthe world and and the way it changes. It applies also to nationa and in- ternational security. Using tools and me- thods of science it is possible to identify and describe present and future trends wich create chances and threats to na- tions and societies, especially in times of dynamic changes in the global security environment. Those problems are subject of research conducted at many universities, but in particular security research require a multidimensional approach that combines different disciplines. Such an approach is nothing new in the broadly understood social sciences, espe- cially in discipline of international rela- tions, where problems such as conflicts, wars, arms race or terrorist activities are commonly ecountered. One of such institutions conducting in- tensive research on various aspects of international relations and security is the Institute of International Studies at the University of Wrocław. For over twenty years at this institution research and teaching activities in the field of inter- national relations, national and interna- tional security have been conducted. In these areas, particular attention is paid to the security of Poland and its imme- diate international environment, including Eastern Europe, the European Union, but also problems of Africa and the Near and Far East are subject to research. In ad- dition, research encopass issues of soft power, including in particular strategic communication and public diplomacy, as well as economic security issues. The employees of the Institute participate or have participated in dozens of inter- national research programs and projects, including, among others, the 6th and 7th EU Framework Program, EU educational programs (Erasmus-Mundus, Erasmus Plus. By participation in those program- mes ISM cooperates with universities from almost all EU countries). In addition, ISM employees individually implement numerous research projects financed from external funds, in parti- cular from the EU budget. In addition to international activity, a constant element of the scientific work is participation in national programs, notably those finan- ced by grants from the National Science Center and the National Center for Rese- arch and Development. University programs where the clas- ses are conducted in English constitute another important domain of internatio- nal cooperation. This concerns the majors in International Relations - Global Stu- dies, both in case of the BA, as well as in case of the MA programs. The classes conducted in English also remain open for the participants of the Erasmus Plus in- ternational exchange program and similar initiatives. In addition, Master's students in interna- tional relations from 2014 onwards can participate in the unique Double Degree Program, offered jointly with the Human Rights Center of the University of Padova. Participation in this program guarantees the achievement of two MA diplomas: the Italian Laurea Magistrale in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance and Polish in- ternational relations. Over one hundred people are studying English-language co- urses, representing both the countries of the European Union, the United States, Asian countries and others. In case of Polish-language studies in ad- dition to the traditional international rela- tions programme, bachelor programme in the field of national security and master programme in the field of international security are offered. The curricullum in national security pro- gramme has been composed in order to allow graduates to aqiure broad know- ledge and skills regarding contemporary phenomena and threats. Special atten- tion during classes is paid to legal funda- mentals, organization and social aspects of operation of armed forces and law en- forcement services. Graduate of this fa- culty is therefore prepared to undertake military or police service or work in public administration. Every year, this course, both at full-time and part-time studies, is proved very popular among candidates and a significant proportion of graduates later undertake military service or in po- lice formations. Master programme of international se- curity allows the acquisition of expanded and in-depth knowledge of the internatio- nal dimension of security. In addition, the program allows to quickly supplement and organize the basic knowledge in the field of security by graduates of first-degree studies of other programmes. As expe- rience shows, about half of the students who start studying in this field are gra- duates of B.A programmed in fields not related to national security and two-tier system of studies allows to aquire wider and deeper perspective. In each case, curricullums are constantly modified, both in terms of the content of particular courses, as well as the entire programs. For example, with the emer- gence of a new type of threat - „hybrid war", and growing role of special ope- rations, the scope of the courses has been modified to allow students to gain more knowledge about these problems. An important complement to teaching activities is also cooperation with insti- tutions from outside the academic world. Therefore, meetings with representa- tives of military and police units are re- gularly organized, including such units of the Commando Military Unit, 7 Special Operations Squadron or 56 Air Base as well as experts and civilians, including war correspondents. In addition, students, especially those active in students' or- ganizations, participate in field research trips, also visiting military units, such as the 6th Airborne Battalion or the 44th Naval Aviation Base. In addition to above mentioned efforts, scientific conferences are an important part of the Institute's activity. In connec- tion with the 20th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO, a conference entitled „Two decades of the political and military dimension of Poland's membership in the structures of the North Atlantic Alliance" was organized on 24th May 2019. Its aim was to analyze and summarize the effort involved in Poland's integration with the NATO structures, joint allied operations, and outlining the prospects for further role of Poland and its armed forces in contexts of new trends and threats. The conference was attended by scien- tists associated with numerous academic centers, as well as experienced prac- titioners - including officers with long- -standing practice derived from serving at NATO command structures. Invited guests represented, among others, the National University of Kiev, the National University of Tbilisi, the Academy of Land Forces, Universities: Gdańsk, Warsaw and Jagiellonian. Also representatives of the Armed Forces and the Border Guard took part. The exclusive media patron was the Frag Out! Military magazine. The plenary session was opened by the speech of Robert Pszczel, Senior Officer for Russia and the Western Balkans in the Public Diplomacy Division. He presented the current agenda of the Alliance, and to undertake military or police service or work in public administration. Every year, this course, both at full-time and part-time studies, is proved very popu- lar among candidates and a significant proportion of graduates later underta- ke military service or in police forma- tions. Master programme of international se- curity allows the acquisition of expanded and in-depth knowledge of the interna- tional dimension of security. In addition, the program allows to quickly supple- ment and organize the basic knowledge in the field of security by graduates of first-degree studies of other program- mes. As experience shows, about half of the students who start studying in this field are graduates of B.A programmed in fields not related to national security and two-tier system of studies allows to aquire wider and deeper perspective. In each case, curricullums are constan- tly modified, both in terms of the con- tent of particular courses, as well as the entire programs. For example, with the emergence of a new type of threat - „hybrid war", and growing role of spe- cial operations, the scope of the cour- ses has been modified to allow students to gain more knowledge about these problems. An important complement to teaching activities is also cooperation with institutions from outside the aca- demic world. Therefore, meetings with representatives of military and police units are regularly organized, including such units of the Commando Military Unit, 7 Special Operations Squadron or 56 Air Base as well as experts and civilians, including war correspondents. In addition, students, especially those active in students' organizations, par- ticipate in field research trips, also visiting military units, such as the 6th Airborne Battalion or the 44th Naval Aviation Base. In addition to above mentioned efforts, scientific conferences are an impor- tant part of the Institute's activity. In connection with the 20th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO, a con- ference entitled „Two decades of the political and military dimension of Po- land's membership in the structures of the North Atlantic Alliance" was organized on 24th May 2019. Its aim was to analyze and summarize the ef- fort involved in Poland's integration with the NATO structures, joint allied operations, and outlining the prospects for further role of Poland and its armed forces in contexts of new trends and threats. The conference was attended by scien- tists associated with numerous aca- demic centers, as well as experienced practitioners - including officers with long-standing practice derived from serving at NATO command structures. Invited guests represented, among others, the National University of Kiev, the National University of Tbilisi, the Academy of Land Forces, Universities: Gdańsk, Warsaw and Jagiellonian. Also representatives of the Armed Forces and the Border Guard took part. The exclusive media patron was the Frag Out! Military magazine. The plenary session was opened by the speech of Robert Pszczel, Senior Offi- cer for Russia and the Western Balkans in the Public Diplomacy Division. He pre- sented the current agenda of the Allian- ce, and during the discussion, answered a number of questions from conference participants. Also the second part of the plenary session was marked by strategic chal- lenges for the Alliance. The first one to be heard was the Maj. Gen (ret) prof. Bolesław Balcerowicz, analyzing the condition of the alliance and the challenges facing it. Speech by Cmdr (ret) prof Piotr Mickiewicz „Defense self-sufficiency or community of intere- sts as the main determinant of Polish activity in NATO". It was complemen- ted by the speech of the representa- tive of the Institute of International Studies, University of Wrocław. prof. Elżbieta Stadtmüller on the subject of perceiving international security at the turn of the century. The next part of the conference was four panel sessions on issues such as the process of expanding the North Atlantic Alliance, Polish experience in the process of integration and functio- ning in NATO structures, the role of the Alliance in the light of contemporary international problems, and NATO mi- litary activity including the role of the Polish Army in joint operations. Re- presentatives of various environments spoke during panel sessions. They con- cerned legal and strategic issues, pro- blems of contemporary conflicts, inclu- ding the so-called „hybrid war" and the role of naval forces in Alliance opera- tions. Many of these issues concerned NATO's relations with countries in its near and distant neighborhood, such as Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus or the Balkan states. www.fragoutmag.com