Heritage, history and collective memory are key research themes at the Institute of European Studies, including work in the field of Museum Studies, which offers valuable tools for examining the role of museums in society and their impact on shaping both local and European identities. For this reason, the Institute collaborates with a wide range of cultural institutions, among them the Museum of the Biecz Region, a new stakeholder of the Institute. Located within a series of historic townhouses, the Museum presents the history of the town and its surroundings, showcasing, among other things, a historic apothecary, traditional crafts and the everyday life of past communities. It also organises temporary exhibitions and runs a variety of educational initiatives.

The Competition Jury appointed by the Presidium of the Committee on Legal Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences has awarded Dr hab. Przemysław Tacik the First Prize in the 60th Nationwide Państwo i Prawo Competition for the best habilitation and doctoral theses in the field of legal studies. The award recognises his habilitation thesis entitled “Deconstructing Self-Determination in International Law: Sovereignty, Exception, and Biopolitics”.

We are delighted to welcome the Rule of Law Institute Foundation as a new stakeholder of our Institute. The organisation is an independent, non-governmental centre of legal expertise working at the intersection of legal scholarship and practice. Its mission is to strengthen the rule of law, foster a culture of legal awareness and support high‑quality, evidence‑based public debate.

The Institute of European Studies has welcomed a new stakeholder: the Józef Szalay Pieniny Museum in Szczawnica Szlachtowa, a branch of the Nowy Sącz Regional Museum. This collaboration opens new opportunities for educational and research activities, as well as for initiatives that promote knowledge of European cultural heritage, the history of borderland regions, and the protection of cultural heritage from a European perspective.

On 29 January 2026, Professor Kinga Anna Gajda, Director of the Institute of European Studies, together with Svetlana Baranova, who coordinates internships for English‑speaking students assigned to Villa Decius, attended the distinguished “Patron’s Laurel” ceremony at the invitation of the Villa Decius Institute for Culture. The event was also joined by Professor Bożena Gierat‑Bieroń, a member of the Villa Decius Association.