Research & Projects

Introduction of Liberal Arts and Science programmes into the Ukrainian HE system drawing upon the best practices and experience of EU partners. The project will establish interdisciplinary LAS programmes at the Bachelor level (EQF 6) in 5 Ukrainian HEIs representing various geographic regions and two categories: 3 public pedagogical/humanities universities and 2 public classical universities with developed natural science faculties. Curricula and course syllabi will be designed, teachers trained, employers and school-leavers engaged, students recruited, programmes launched, duly accredited and popularized. Best practice from partners experienced in LAS implementation will be drawn upon in the design and popularization of interdisciplinary programmes relevant to Ukraine’s regional labour market and post-war reconstruction human capital needs. The “Sustainable growth and jobs” overarching priority will be addressed through a focus on LAS programmes that build foundational skills, ‘soft’ skills (e.g. problem solving, communication), and form the basis for informed further study choices in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM), as well as preparing students for entry into the post-war Ukrainian labour market.

Today’s universities have major concerns about student well-being. Meaningful reading practices help students find meaning and purpose in life, making them more resilient and meeting their emotional, social, and civic needs. REMAP aims to provide educational resources for university and secondary school teachers to engage their students in meaningful reading. This will help make universities more inclusive and caring environments for students, including first-generation and vulnerable students.

REMAP will address students’ needs by planning, developing, testing, and evaluating (translating and publishing) innovative and inclusive resources for meaningful reading practices in higher education. Through these activities, the 4 universities involved, as well as the secondary education school together with 6 associate partners, advocate an awareness of social, civic, and emotional needs of emerging adults, and promote evidence-based meaningful reading practices at the university level.

This project delves into the nature of human beings as creators and interpreters of symbolic structures, building on the concept of man as “animal symbolicum” (E. Cassirer). It explores how humans shape, understand, and transform symbolic forms like science, art, politics, and religion, which in turn shape their perception of reality and influence their decision-making. Grounded in the philosophical traditions of Kant, Herder, Weber, and Foucault, the research focuses on the current crises affecting these symbolic structures. Rather than viewing these crises merely as dysfunctions, the project seeks to uncover how they represent transformative processes that alter human self-conception and open up new possibilities. By examining these crises and their interconnections, the research will provide a deeper understanding of the shifting anthropological framework and contribute original insights to contemporary debates in philosophical anthropology. The project’s interdisciplinary approach ensures it is anchored in both international and domestic scholarly contexts.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

APVV-20-0137 Philosophical Anthropology in the Context of Current Crises of Symbolical Structures

Project Description

BISLA Research team: Dagmar Kusá, PhD. and Lukáš Siegel, PhD.

Publications:

Collective monography The Challenges of Autonomy and Autonomy as a Challenge. Thinking Autonomy in Challenging Times.

In July, BISLA participated in the planning workshop for the AI Aware Universities project, which is part of the Digital Democracy Accelerator funded by the Open Science Framework. Led by the American University in Bulgaria’s Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC), the project aims to foster a student-driven dialogue on the ethical and effective use of AI within academic settings. Partnering with institutions like Bard College in Berlin, Central European University, European Humanities University, and LCC International University, the initiative focuses on developing university policies for AI usage. Through a series of four student workshops, the project will generate ethical guidelines for AI use in classrooms and beyond, while also engaging faculty and staff in this important discussion. Student coordinators will lead the process, ensuring that the recommendations are thoughtfully developed and potentially beneficial to other universities.

The National Fund for the Support of Education provides vital funding for a range of educational initiatives at BISLA, aimed at enhancing both student and faculty engagement. This collaboration supports projects like international conferences, student activities, and the development of educational resources. The funding enables us to organize events such as an international conference on human rights, the rule of law, and democracy, marking the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.

Additionally, the fund backs various student-led activities, including podcasts, workshops, and video tutorials focused on communication skills and social science topics. It also supports the creation of educational materials, such as syllabi, textbooks, and handbooks for both students and teachers, fostering innovative learning methods. This collaboration helps BISLA provide high-quality education and foster intellectual growth within its academic community.

The “Study at Home, Slovakia Will Reward You” project, funded by the EU Recovery Plan, supports top-performing high school graduates who choose to pursue higher education in Slovakia. The program encourages students to remain in the country by offering scholarships and additional resources to universities for enhancing student engagement. Currently, BISLA has several students participating, with more to join next year. The project aims to support academic excellence through initiatives like study exchanges, academic mobility, professional development, and skills training, ensuring a comprehensive educational experience for outstanding students.