The Academy of Responsible Development was established to actively involve the younger generation in actions related to designing a world based on non-economic values and shaping young leaders of responsible change.
The Academy of Responsible Development was established to actively involve the younger generation in actions related to designing a world based on non-economic values and shaping young leaders of responsible change.
In the face of the climate crisis, there is a need to strengthen education and raise awareness among young people towards making responsible and conscious choices, which will ultimately better prepare young leaders for conscious and active participation in socio-economic life and democratic society.
Practical knowledge and new competencies
Among the competencies increasingly desired and necessary for the future in a dynamic and changing world are social and global awareness, critical thinking, flexibility and willingness to learn, creativity, entrepreneurship, collaboration, time management, and stress management. Within the Academy of Responsible Development, courses are held from October to June 2024 in Poland, Turkey, and Italy, equipping young people with practical knowledge valued by employers, new competencies, allowing them to build networks, but also increasing awareness of the challenges of responsible development.
In October 2023, the first course, “Competencies of the Future,” was launched by the Foundation for Public Administration and Economics.
Applications for participation in the course were open to individuals aged 16 to 30. As part of the project, young people participated in a series of masterclass meetings, panel discussions, or expert lectures. Prof. Maria Urbaniec from the University of Economics in Krakow delivered a lecture on “Competencies for Sustainable Development,” discussing the skills needed by the planet. Another lecture, “Instructions for Spaceship Earth,” was delivered by Prof. Stanisław Mazur, the rector of the University of Economics in Krakow. The lectures also focused on careers. Rafał Sułkowski, the president of the Management Board of the Małopolska Social Economy Fund, talked about “Career and Business Pivots,” while Bartosz Józefowski, the Deputy Director for Industry 4.0 at the Krakow Technology Park, discussed “Impact Start-ups,” entrepreneurship that positively changes the world.
Meetings with the business world
As part of the “Competencies of the Future” course, meetings with businesses were also held. Discussions were held on whether sustainable competencies increase the chances of graduates for market success. Interesting discussions also took place on the topic of “What to do when you don’t know what to do.” Participants included Anna Sacha-Rzeszotarska, a leader in improvements at Shell, Katarzyna Cyran-Solarz, a corporate relations advisor at Shell, Patrycja Oleksik-Śmietana, the director of recruitment at Shell, and Joanna Hładyłowicz, a recruiter at Shell.
Katarzyna Ociepka-Miąsik, a facilitator, Design Thinking moderator, social innovation researcher, and lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, led workshops on “Interactive Case Studies” on how to talk about one’s own competencies and work effects. Participants in the “Competencies of the Future” course also worked in groups on their own projects. At the end of the course, they could present their results.
“I rate the course very well. I believe there is a need for more programs like this. Just the fact that we gathered as a group with different views, which can communicate and discuss with each other with respect – it’s great! The program is interesting and addresses contemporary problems and needs. Additionally, it is evident and palpable that everyone cares deeply about the quality of this program and our meetings, which is fantastic!” – said one of the participants about the “Competencies of the Future” course.
