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On June 26-27, 2025, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz participated in the 3rd IGCOORD Conference "Intergovernmental Coordination in Polycrisis Times: Legal, Political, and Financial Dimensions," an international scientific conference at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, where she presented a paper entitled "The Impact of the Pandemic and Geopolitical Crisis on Lithuanian-Polish Cross-Border Cooperation in the Tourism Sector." This presentation highlighted the impact of crises on cross-border heritage and its exploitation in tourism sector. In this context, she presented ongoing research outcomes of the project obtained within WP 5 (Border landscapes as heritage).
On June 19, 2025, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz and Piotr Kurowski, participated in a cross-border conference at Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine, held as part of the project "CBC in Ukraine and V4: In the search for examples of best practice," financed by the International Visegrad Fund. She presented the cooperation between the WSB University and partner universities within the TEIN network and she also referred to the geopolitical crises on the structures of cross-border cooperation in various areas, including euroscepticism. During this presentation, she also mentioned ongoing research outcomes of the project obtained within WP 4 (Euroscepticism in border regions).
On May 12-14, 2025, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz participated in the International Scientific Conference at the University of Public Services in Budapest entitled: "What future for the concept of Borderless Europe?" during which she delivered a paper entitled "The EGTC Polish-Lithuanian cross-border functional area as a driver of cross-border relations in the shadow of military tensions surrounding the Suwalki Gap." This presentation included recalling the impact of geopolitical crises on the structures of cross-border cooperation in various areas, including euroscepticism. During this presentation, she also mentioned ongoing research outcomes of the project obtained within WP 4 (Euroscepticism in border regions).
On May, 5, 2025 Joanna Kurowska-Pysz moderated cross-border meeting in the Lithuanian Polish borderland (Puńsk, Poland) in terms of the programme Resilient Borders, under the project “CLLD-oriented facilitation of cross-border planning across the Polish-Lithuanian Functional Area” on the request of EGTC Polish-Lithuanian Cross-Border Functional Area and during this meeting shepresented ongoing research outcomes of the project obtained within WP 4 (Euroscepticism in border regions).
On December 3-4, 2024, a joint meeting of the Program Councils of the Polish-Czech and Czech-Polish Intergovernmental Forums took place in Warsaw, attended by Joanna Kurowska-Pysz. During the meeting, she presented valuable cross-border initiatives promoting distinguishing borderland heritage and minorities, of which the B-Shape project is one.
In period 28-29 October 2024, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz participated in the International Conference: The future of cross-border cooperation and mobility: horizontal integration and beyond conducted at the Maastricht University where she participated in the plenary session Resilient Cross-border Cooperation in times of Crisis and presented the topic: Managing cross-border projects towards more resilient cooperation in borderlands. The post-pandemic perspective. During this presentation, she also mentioned ongoing research outcomes of the project obtained within WP 4 (Euroscepticism in border regions).
On October 26, 2024, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz participated in the general Assembly of the TEIN - Transfrontier Euro-Institut Network in Maastricht, and she presented the project B-Shapes as an example of an efficient research programme on emerging topics in cross-border cooperation.
From October 14 to 18, 2024, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz visited the Technical University of Liberec as part of the Short Term Scientific Mission – COST IGCOORD Action, where she met with academics, students, and representatives of the Euroregion Neisse and the municipalities of Mnisek and Chrastava. Her research focused on geopolitical crises in border regions, triggered by, among other things, debordering tendencies and Euroscepticism. During this trip, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz presented the current results of the B-Shape project (WP 4, Euroscepticism in border regions) to research participants..
In August 2024, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz and Piotr Kurowski supervised cross-border workshops in the Lithuanian Polish borderland in terms of study: “Directions and prospects of the tourism sector development in Lithuanian-Polish borderland”, conducted on the request of EC, DG REGIO (Alytus, Lithuania – 23.08.2024; Białystok, Poland – 21.08.2024) and during this workshops they presented ongoing research outcomes of the project obtained within WP 5 (Border landscapes as heritage).
On the 24th of June, 2024, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz moderated the workshop: "Building Relationships Toward Sustainable Project Management" at the International Summer Scientific School at WSB University in Dąbrowa Dąbrowa Górnicza, within the project “Fostering Sustainable Business Practites: Empowering University Students for SDG – Aligned Impact”, financially supported by Erasmus programme; workshop: "Building Relationships Toward Sustainable Project Management". This workshop aimed to present students with SDG 17 - GOAL 17: Partnerships, e.g. the global partnership for sustainable development. She illustrated the B-Shapes project's impact on European border societies, particularly with the connection with WP6.
On the 17th of June, 2024, at the international conference for doctoral students at WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza Joanna Kurowska-Pysz moderated a discussion panel: Challenges in the doctoral investigation. During the presentation, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz presented the B Shapes project as successful international research funded by Horizon Europe and providing inter-disciplinary collaboration among scholars (professors, doctoral students and students) and practitioners as well as experts supporting the research's high-quality results.
https://wsb.edu.pl/uczelnia/aktualnosci/xi-miedzynarodowa-konferencja-naukowa-doktorantow.html
On the 14th of June, 2024, during the international conference: 2nd IGCOORD Conference Vertical and Horizontal Coordination: Tools, Mechanisms and Barriers to Solving Complex Policy Issues, at TU Darmstadt, Institute of Political Science – Joanna Kurowska-Pysz participated in the session: Governance Coordination in Cross-Border Cooperation – Organization and Challenges. She delivered a speech: “Cross-border project management towards more resilient cooperation in the European borderlands” where she presented the B-Shapes project as a study exploring different obstacles in cross-border cooperation and integration that are being investigated within WP 3, WP 4 and WP6.
On the 24th of May, 2024, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz organised and supervised an international hybrid workshop on a cross-border participatory approach in the Cieszyn Branch of WSB University. This event gathered about 40 participants from Poland, Czechia, Lithuania, Croatia, Italy and Germany (scholars and students). It was organised within the project: “HEISCITI - HEIS as innovative triggers of sustainable development in European cities in post COVID-19 era” financially supported by Erasmus programme. The session title: Participatory approach in communication and project management in the border area Cieszyn-Czech Cieszyn. During this workshop, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz presented the B-Shapes project as an undertaking providing efficient cross-border communication among stakeholders (workshops organised within WP5 and WP6).
On the 14th of May, 2024, during the project kick-off meeting: “Study on directions and prospects of the tourism sector development in LT-PL borderland” Joanna Kurowska-Pysz presented the key elements of study workflow. The presentation was organised at the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior in Vilnius. The representatives of the European Commission, the Polish Ministry of Funds and Regional Development, the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior, and the representatives of the Join Technical Secretary of the INTERREG Programme Lithuania-Poland. The project is commissioned to KREATUS Ltd. During this meeting, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz, the project supervisor, presented, among other things, information about the B-Shapes project as a supportive source of information about cultural and historical heritage exploitation as part of tourism-driven cross-border undertakings and initiatives.
On the 30th of April, 2024, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz visited Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius, Lithuania. She presented her research portfolio to Lithuanian scholars and doctoral students (professors from the Department of Management and doctoral students). She presented the B-Shapes project as an example of complex international qualitative research. She also presented as an example – B Shapes project methodology and ongoing research results conducted within WP 6, particularly issues related to long-term planning of cultural and cross-border historical heritage exploitation by local and regional governments.
On the 15th of March, 2024, during the cyclic meeting of the entrepreneurs
associated with the Cieszyn Silesia Club, and members of the Council of Experts of the WSB University in Cieszyn, discussed issues concerned cross-border cooperation in terms of business, including creative industries, cultural and tourist activities and cross-border labour market. During the event, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz, who acts as a chairwoman of the Council of Experts of the Cieszyn Branch of the WSB University, presented the B-Shapes project as an example of international activities related to border issues and cultural heritage, which can be a booster to develop cross-border cooperation of Polish and Czech local actors.
On the 1st of March, 2024, the official opening of the Regional Observatory of Innovation focused on design and cultural heritage was introduced in Cieszyn. The observatory is a part of the Network of Regional Specialized Observatories of the Silesian Voivodeship. Considering the border location of the Observatory in Cieszyn and the participation of many local stakeholders representing the Polish and the Czech side of the borderland, cooperating within Euroregion Cieszyn Silesia. During the event, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz, who acts as a chairwoman of the Council of Experts of the Cieszyn Branch of the WSB University, presented the B-Shape project and its activities related to the border issues and cultural heritage of the borderland, which can be a booster to develop cross-border cooperation of Polish and Czech local actors in terms of creative industries and cultural heritage protection.
On the 2nd of December 2023, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz delivered a keynote speech at the Federal Union of European Nationalities annual assembly: FUEN in Opole and Katowice. She presented the issue titled: ” The Ukrainian war refugees on the Polish labour market. Key findings from research of 2022-2023.
Good practices from other Polish borderlands”. She included in the presentation the information about the project B-Shapes, particularly the ongoing outputs of the scientific activities within the WP 2 “Conceptual framework: Borders and heritage as factors shaping perceptions of European societies and politics in the 21st century” in the context of the notion of borders as factors shaping the societal perception of Europe and how this is reflected in issues related to Euroscepticism and minorities (refugees).
On the 10th of November 2023, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz and Hynek Bohm participated in the international conference titled: ”Ukraine on the road of EU integration. What lessons to learn for Ukraine from the V4 countries’ experiences on the field of cross-border cooperation?” in Hotel Yasmin, Košice. This conference was a part of the project: ”EU integration of Ukraine across borders - with the help of the V4. International conference” (22320310), co-financed by the Visegrad Fund. They contributed to the round-table debate ” Cross-border cooperation in the V4 countries – lessons and future perspectives”. They included in the presentations the information about the project B-Shapes, particularly ongoing outputs of the scientific activities within the WP 2 “Conceptual framework: Borders and heritage as factors shaping perceptions of European societies and politics in the 21st century” in the context of the necessity of creating a more inclusive European society to include borderlands into public debate and draw critical attention to how narratives of Europe, including dominant European meta-narratives unfold in these places. They discussed the idea of ‘living labs of European integration’ (European Commission, 2021)
On the 9th of November 2023, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz and Hynek Bohm participated in the meeting in Kosice on preparing an international project titled: ”CBC in Ukraine and V4: in the search for examples of best practice” (22410100), partnership: State University "Uzhhorod National University", Ukraine; University of Presov, Slovakia; WSB University in Dabrowa Górnicza, Poland; Technical University of Liberec, Czechia and Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives, Hungary. This meeting and further communication among partners concerned the development of the application form, which was submitted to the Visegrad Fund. They reflected some ongoing results of B-Shapes project, particularly ongoing outputs of the scientific activities within the WP 2 “Conceptual framework: Borders and heritage as factors shaping perceptions of European societies and politics in the 21st century” in the context of the necessity of creating a more inclusive European society to include borderlands into public debate on integration with Ukraine. The project was submitted to the Visegrad Fund in January 2024
On the 8th of November 2023, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz delivered a speech on the VII EABR Cross Border School Faculty of Law, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, titled: The Ukrainian war refugees on the Polish labour market
Key findings from research of 2022-2023. She included in the presentation the information about the project B-Shapes, particularly the ongoing outputs of the scientific activities within the WP 2 “Conceptual framework: Borders and heritage as factors shaping perceptions of European societies and politics in the 21st century” in the context of the notion of borders as factors shaping the societal perception of Europe and how this is reflected in issues related to Euroscepticism and minorities (refugees) and the importance of the environmental heritage in borderlands
B-SHAPES
Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies (B-SHAPES) is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action, in which KREATUS Ltd is one of the partners.
The project analyses and assesses how borders are still a key factor in understanding societies. Eight European universities, one research institute, a national museum, a foundation, a political association, a consultancy, and an art collective have come together for three years. In cooperation with Europeans living in border regions, we will examine the role of borders under three lenses:
Euroscepticism in border regions,
minorities in border regions, and
border landscapes as heritage.
B-SHAPES is a part of the European Union’s research program Horizon Europe and is coordinated by the Centre of Border Region Studies at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
B-SHAPES
Grant agreement ID: 101095186
Start date
1 April 2023
End date
31 March 2026
Funded under
Culture, creativity and inclusive society
Total cost
€ 2 645 732,50
Coordinated by
SYDDANSK UNIVERSITET
Denmark
How geographical borders shape European perception
The 2020 pandemic resulted in border closures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This border measure clouded the inclusive European perceptions of heritage and culture. Therefore, it is important to refocus on the central role of borders in the European integration project and their influence on people’s perceptions of Europe’s historical and cultural past, heritage and identity. The EU-funded B-SHAPES project reviews the role of borders in shaping perceptions of European societies in the 21st century, confronted with the challenge of re-bordering in Europe. The project applies several participatory and ethnographic citizen science methods, focusing on youth and minorities and on developing strategies to foster shared European heritage.
Objective
The purpose of B-SHAPES is to refocus on the role of borders in shaping perceptions of European societies in the 21st century, confronted with the challenge of re-borderings in Europe. Borders are key in shaping our perceptions of societies, culture, heritage and sense of belonging. B-SHAPES results will open for reconfiguring heritage policies, replacing national approaches with cross-border, European approaches to heritage, and empowering citizens and economic sectors to contribute to creating a more inclusive vision of cultures and values.
Scrutinising the idea of a socially and culturally coherent Europe addressed in the call B-SHAPES uses a people’s perspective to focus on re-bordering as a European crisis with a negative impact on the quality of life in border regions. Border regions are living labs of European integration. The border closures of March 2020, induced by the pandemic, have severely disrupted previous attempts to develop more cross-border, inclusive European perceptions of heritage and culture. Borders have continued to be a decisive factor in shaping perceptions of ‘us’ and ‘them’, of culture, identity and belonging. Therefore, it is necessary to refocus on the central role of borders in the European integration project to influence people’s perceptions of Europe’s historical and cultural past, heritage, culture, identity and belonging. B-SHAPES applies different participatory and ethnographic methods of Citizen Science, focusing especially on youth and minorities, to collect data in different European border regions to scrutinise this challenge to develop strategies and innovative policies using more inclusive approaches to cultivate joint natural, cultural, and historic heritage.
Partners:
B-SHAPES’ academic consortium is multi- and interdisciplinary with a joint focus on border studies. One of its strengths lies in its embeddedness in borderland communities, including dense networks with policymakers and civil society organizations.
For more information about KREATUS participation in B-SHAPES project, contact:
Dorota Wróbel, doradca2@kreatus.eu
For more information about B-SHAPES, contact the coordinator:
Associate Professor Martin Klatt, mk@sam.sdu.dk
University of Southern Denmark, Department for Political Science, Centre for Border Region Studies
https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/persons/mk
If you’d like to read more about B-SHAPES, visit https://www.sdu.dk/en/b-shapes .
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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