At SGH Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) there is a strong belief in the value lying in international cooperation, which is why we attach great importance to activities promoting closer international relations, not only between universities, but between countries as well. SGH intensively develops international cooperation on the basis of multilateral agreements and traditional bilateral contacts with foreign universities and educational institutions.
At SGH Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) there is a strong belief in the value lying in international cooperation, which is why we attach great importance to activities promoting closer international relations, not only between universities, but between countries as well. SGH intensively develops international cooperation on the basis of multilateral agreements and traditional bilateral contacts with foreign universities and educational institutions. The main partners of SGH are universities from the European Union countries, USA and Canada. The scope and importance of cooperation with universities in Eastern Europe and in Asia-Pacific countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, Australia and New Zealand is also increasing.
SGH has nearly 300 cooperation agreements with universities and business schools in more than 50 countries around the world. These agreements enable students and staff to gain international experience - educational, scientific, cultural and linguistic - thus enriching the internationalisation process of our University. SGH's international offer also includes courses taught in English at both undergraduate and graduate level.
All these activities are the result of our philosophy that international cooperation between the university and its students is important and brings substantial value. And we recognise that it can also bring tangible benefits on a wider scale, within the framework of international cooperation between countries.
The 3 Seas Initiative is a geopolitical project of 12 Central European countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia. The name is derived from the location of all countries in the vicinity of the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas. The main objective of the initiative is to develop broad cooperation in the field of energy, logistics and transport as well as information technology and telecommunications. The 3 Seas Initiative, fulfilling the supporting role in relation to the actions of the European Union, also promotes projects in the field of science and culture, thus contributing to the regional development of the societies of the member states. The geostrategic nature of the initiative is conducive to further integration and unification of the region.
However, despite growing efforts to strengthen economic relations between the countries of the Three Seas region, the initiative is facing difficulties in mutual acquaintance and understanding. Without such mutual recognition and understanding, the geopolitical project of the Initiative will stand no chance of success. In the entire process, relationships and the building of social and human capital are extremely important. Special emphasis should be put on people knowing and understanding each other. We have to remember that the future of the initiative and its further development will depend on the young generation. And precisely these young people will be responsible for maintaining and nurturing the relationships that have been built. This is where the role of the university, the role of SGH, is seen. In building and supporting the strengthening of such relations allowing for their further growth. To establish these relations SGH uses the position of a leading business university in the region, which it has built over the years. Considering the effectiveness of cooperation in the region, this aspect is essential.
The motto of SGH is “SGH Shapes Leaders ”. Now we are carrying this motto beyond the borders of Poland by supporting international initiatives such as the 3 Seas Initiative, in which Poland is involved. Through our actions we integrate the competences of business, political economy and social activism. We seek the very best and strive to develop their capacities and skills and use their full potential. Relationships built within this framework will bring countries together and build the future of the Three Seas Initiative.
These goals led us to create the Three Seas Leadership School (TSLS) initiative. TSLS is a project addressed to young leaders and professionals from the areas of business, social activity and civic policy from the 12 countries of the Initiative. The summer school will bring together 40 people who, despite their young age, already have considerable experience and achievements in their fields. Participation in the project will facilitate their development by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to be competent, responsible leaders in their communities and organisations. Additionally, the whole initiative will become an excellent platform for establishing relations and exchanging ideas of future leaders of socio-economic life in our part of Europe.
Prior to the beginning of the summer school, participants will attend two remote modules. Their goal is to unify the background knowledge, mainly in the area of the Three Seas Initiative itself and the common history of the countries in the region. This will allow for a better start to the class already in the stationary part.
The first week will consist of workshops and lectures improving leadership competences of the participants. After three days, the participants will spend the following two taking part in area-specific classes on business, social activity and civic policy. Classes will be taught in close cooperation with state institutions, non-governmental organizations and corporations by a selection of top academics and business professionals to ensure the best quality of education.
The second week of the school will be dedicated to work in interdisciplinary teams, which will reflect on current socio-economic problems and challenges of the countries of the Initiative. The solutions they prepare during this time will be presented during the official final gala attended by invited guests - corporate and political decision makers. Solutions collected together will contribute to the publication, which will be issued after the end of the project and distributed among political and social leaders of the region. Between the first and the second week of the summer school, participants will have the opportunity to rest from intense work and study, visiting the greatest Polish tourist attractions and learning about Polish culture.
We firmly believe that the connections established during the Three Seas Leadership School will stay with the participants for a long time and together with the knowledge gained will be the basis for further cooperation between young leaders of the region.
The development of the project would not have been possible without the financial support of more than 100 thousand euro granted by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).
JULIAN SMÓŁKA, a first-year student of the Master’s managerial studies at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, co-author of the Three Seas Leadership School idea. President of the Board of the European Foundation for Enterprise Development.
