Cultural Diplomacy is the only postgraduate programme in Poland dedicated to cultural diplomacy and delivered in collaboration with leading diplomatic institutions. It is a distinctive educational initiative developed within the Institute of European Studies at the Jagiellonian University. The programme was established on the initiative of Dr hab. Bożena Gierat-Bieroń, Prof. UJ, a member of the Institute’s academic staff, who also serves as the Programme Director. Teaching is delivered by academic staff from the Institute of European Studies alongside external experts and practitioners in diplomacy, culture, management and international cooperation.
About the Programme
The postgraduate programme in Cultural Diplomacy was created in response to the growing demands of the labour market in an era of increasingly intensive international relations and the expanding role of culture in foreign policy. Its aim is to educate specialists in contemporary, multidimensional public and cultural diplomacy, equipped to operate at local, national and international levels, including within EU institutions, international organisations, diplomatic missions, cultural institutes and the non-governmental sector.
Why Cultural Diplomacy?
Today, cultural diplomacy is not merely a complement to traditional diplomacy but an essential instrument in shaping national reputations, building international relationships and understanding global processes.
Graduates develop the skills and expertise required to:
- deliver diplomatic initiatives in the cultural sphere;
- build cultural brands and support international cultural promotion;
- manage cultural projects and cultural institutions;
- foster intercultural dialogue and communicate effectively in international environments;
- address conflicts and conduct negotiations in cultural contexts;
- operate in crisis situations, including the protection of cultural heritage during conflicts;
- understand the role of soft power and cross-border relations in European Union foreign policy.
Teaching and Learning
The programme adopts a practice-oriented and project-based approach. Lectures, workshops and seminars are delivered by both academic staff and distinguished practitioners. The final assessment takes the form of a project developed in collaboration with a selected partner institution.
The programme also includes meetings with diplomats, experts, leaders of cultural institutions and creative professionals, as well as study visits to European institutions in Brussels and key national organisations, including the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
