Visegrad Summer School

23 years of the Visegrad Summer School

Since 2002, the Visegrad Summer School has become a unique cultural and educational programme catering for students, graduates, young researchers and professionals from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary as well as other Central and East European countries. Given its international, macro-regional and regional dimension, the initiative proved to be successful at promoting a positive image of the region on an international scale alongside with the promotion of the intellectual and cultural heritage of the Visegrad Group and other European countries.

Every year, 30 students and graduates of various backgrounds, as well as young researchers and professionals meet in Villa Decius to deepen their knowledge, exchange ideas, experiences and opinions on the topics, we feel are of crucial importance in this part of Europe. Classes are facilitated by international experts, including intellectuals, researchers, politicians, people of culture, journalists, artists as well as the representatives of administration, business and non-governmental organisations. The list of distinguished speakers to date, includes i.e.: Csaba G. Kiss, Timothy Garton Ash, Leszek Balcerowicz, Lászlό Rajk, Václav Burian, Martin Ehl, Miroslav Kusy, András Lanczi, Adam Michnik, Milan Nič, Michael Žantovský, Martin Palouš, Magdaléna Vašáryova, Pavel Fischer and many others.

Visegrad Summer School is organised in close collaboration with a longstanding and proven partners, which are Knihovna Václav Havel from Prague, Bratislavský inštitút pre politickú analýzu from Bratislava, People in Focus from Albania, Cracovia Expressz Alapítvány from Budapest, and Асоціація Агенцій Регіонального Розвитку України from Kiev. Continuation and successful implementation of the School for over 20 years, would not be possible without support of numerous institutions: International Visegrad Fund, Embassy of the Slovak Republic, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Embassy of Hungary, Embassy of Ukraine, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Małopolska Region, City of Kraków.

Visegrad Summer School – a genuine educational response

The subjects addressed in the School’s curriculum were changing over time but always concerned an on-going issues and on-to-date challenges of the region, as well as key cultural and social issues facing by the societies of the region and worldwide. With its interdisciplinary formula and attractive range of activities, the School offers an engaging setting for the promotion of dialogue between nations and cultures, discussion about stereotypes and the often complex nature of historical heritage and the mutual planning of future actions. The project performs a fundamental role in aiding one’s understanding of economic, social and political changes taking place in the countries of our region and deals with their sometimes negative consequences on both international and national levels. It also helps prevent the development of undesirable social phenomena and the rise of attitudes that may undermine the idea of cooperation and the benefits of European Union membership. By discussing these most challenging topics with fellow students as well as with ambassadors, ministers, European Union representatives and outstanding intellectuals, the participants have an unrivaled opportunity to develop a broader perspective of the problems discussed and understand partners' points of view and motivations.

Visegrad Summer School in numbers

During the last 21 editions, Visegrad Summer School hosted more than 900 participants of 45 nationalities (Visegrad+ formula), 60 volunteers and almost 400 distinguished experts from various fields. Together with the Visegrad Summer School community, we spent about 4000 hours studying during workshops and lectures, and we traveled about 8500 kilometers around Southern Poland and Slovakia during study visits. About 9000 photos were taken and 16000 coffees were drunk while developing 500 projects and ideas to change the reality around us. All these numbers are just a reflection of the long lasting relationships formed by the participants and the visions they took to their local communities. We are proud to observe their steps in professional life and the real actions they take in their work to build a better reality.

23rd edition of the VSS – Future of Enlargement

With the achievements of the previous twenty editions of the project in mind, we firmly believe that time to face new challenges and topics has come. This year's School is part of a series of editions focusing on forecasting and designing future. The thematic scope of consideration in the 23rd edition will be the future of enlargement. In a rapidly changing global landscape, the question of enlargement — whether in the context of international organizations, economic alliances, or regional partnerships — remains a pivotal issue. The 23rd edition of the Summer School will explore the dynamics of expansion, addressing its political, economic, and societal implications.

Through expert-led discussions, case studies, and interactive workshops, participants will critically assess past and present enlargement processes while envisioning possible future scenarios. We will examine key questions: What drives expansion? What challenges arise from integrating new members into established structures? How can enlargement foster stability, prosperity, and inclusivity rather than division?

Bringing together young leaders, policymakers, and scholars from diverse backgrounds, this edition aims to cultivate innovative perspectives and equip participants with the tools to shape the future of international cooperation. By engaging in cross-disciplinary dialogue, we will not only analyze trends but also propose strategies for sustainable and effective enlargement in an interconnected world.

About the Organizer

Since its establishment in 1996, the Villa Decius Association has implemented many initiatives and activities for the promotion and development of culture, science and art on the local, regional and international forum, cooperating with Polish and foreign scientific, artistic and economic communities. The programs of the Villa Decius Association can be divided into three main areas: developing humanistic thought and civil society, supporting and promoting artistic and literary creativity and exchange, promotion and protection of the cultural heritage and tradition of Villa Decius. Under its auspices the renaissance palace of Decius become a forum for the exchange of ideas of representatives of different cultures, nationalities and areas of interest. Supported by scientists, diplomats, journalists, and non-governmental organizations, for years we have been creating a platform for dialogue in Villa Decius, a place for meetings and discussions on pressing contemporary issues. The international conferences and debates organized by us with the participation of the most eminent representatives of the world of science, culture and politics make Villa Decius, as prof. Jacek Woźniakowski highlighted – “a place of meeting and cooperation, a witness and participant in the radiation of European culture.”

Apply here: https://forms.gle/Wpg3BW5tf9asxDqZA -  for people with a Google account
https://forms.gle/R72xyqR5ReMwbJn58 - for those who prefer to send attachments (CV and/or recommendations) via e-mail to: summerschool@villa.org.pl

Deadline: April 4 2025

More information about the organizer: https://www.villa.org.pl/en
More information about the Visegrad Summer School: https://www.visegradsummerschool.org/