In May 2026, the University of Warsaw successfully hosted the second edition of the Blended Intensive Program (BIP), "Unveiling Modernisms. Tailored for Polish and international Polish Studies students passionate about the literature and culture of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the initiative brought together 44 participants alongside scholars from 4EU+ Alliance.
Organized by the Faculty of Polish Studies at the University of Warsaw, the program created an inspiring space for cross-border academic exchange. It gathered students and faculty from five of 4UE+ Alliance Universities: University of Warsaw, Charles University in Prague, the University of Milan, Heidelberg University, and Sorbonne University.
The program was honored by the presence of key guest academics and mentors who worked closely with the students: Prof. Małgorzata Smorąg-Goldberg (Sorbonne University), Prof. Luca Bernardini (University of Milan), and Dr. Michala Benešová (Charles University).
The program was structured into two dynamic phases:
Online Preparatory Sessions (Early May 2026): Two days of intensive remote classes provided students with an introduction to the era and set the thematic foundation for the project.
On-Site Experience in Warsaw (May 25–29, 2026): Participants gathered in the Polish capital for a week of immersive cultural exploration.
During their stay in Warsaw, students visited key cultural and historical institutions, including the National Museum in Warsaw, the Museum of Warsaw, the Museum of Literature, the Museum of Cooperativism, and the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum. A special highlight of the week was a guided walking tour titled In the Footsteps of Modernist Warsaw — stretching from Lindley’s Water Filters to the Jazdów estate—led by Dr. Piotr Kubkowski from the Institute of Polish Culture (UW).
Beyond lectures and field visits, the core of the program focused on collaborative research. Under the guidance of academic mentors — Prof. Urszula Kowalczuk (UW), Dr. Joanna Zięba (UW), and Dr. Michala Benešová (Charles University) — student teams worked on group projects designed to invite modernist ideas into our contemporary reality. The program culminated in a student conference, where participants presented their final creative and analytical outcomes.
The organizational success of the program was led by mgr Marta Jaworek, Mobility Coordinator at the Faculty of Polish Studies. Academic supervision was provided by Prof. Urszula Kowalczuk and Dr. Łukasz Książyk, Vice-Dean for Student Affairs, whose dedicated support and commitment made this second installment possible following the inaugural edition in Prague in 2025.
Building on the success of the Prague and Warsaw chapters, the organizers hope to continue this international initiative with a third edition in another European city in 2027.