Centre for International Relations agreement

Prague City University’s Centre for Research and Interdisciplinary Studies (CRIS) is delighted to announce the signing of a five year Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for International Relations (CIR - Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych) in Warsaw, Poland. The agreement paves the way for PCU to collaborate with CIR on international educational projects, research initiatives, and visiting internship opportunities.

Inside the Centre of International Relations in Warsaw

Since 2009, the Centre for International Relations has been recognised as one of the best think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe and were ranked by the University of Pennsylvania as one of the Leading Public Policy Research Organisations In The World. Their activities focus on strategic programmes related to the European Union, World Politics, Hybrid Wars, Migration and Political Innovations. The Centre offers an extremely valuable “space” for discussion and open dialogue for the region and is internationally recognised for its research and educational activities.

Achievements in Cooperation to Date

Over the past year, Prague City University’s Centre for Research and Interdisciplinary Studies (CRIS) has successfully cooperated with the Centre for International Relations and partners from Slovakia and Ukraine in the NGO Community's Building International Bridges programme, supported by the Visegrad Fund. Based on this cooperation, CRIS and the Center for International Relations decided to formalise their successful partnership for the future.

What the Partnership will Bring

“I think it is a great opportunity for both organisations, which share many common goals, to make a greater impact together on multiple fronts in the educational and research domains” said Prof. Stefano Cavagnetto, Director of CRIS and Pro-Rector of Prague City University. “It has been a fantastic experience working with such a dedicated group of professionals and academics over the past year” continued prof Cavagnetto, “and this Memorandum of Understanding is a consolidation that represents a synergy of efforts toward a more open, inclusive, diverse and understanding society which favours European and global integration while respecting different cultural views.”

Dr Małgorzata Bonikowska, President of the Centre for International Relations stresses the importance of cooperation between think tanks and academic institutions.

“As a professor at Warsaw University's Centre for Europe, I understand how crucial it is to bridge experiences and knowledge between the academic world and policymakers. CIR encourages scholars to take over tasks which can be translated into documents relevant for administrators and politicians so our cooperation with Prague University brings us closer to this objective”. Bonikowska continued, “The V4 project, which we are jointly implementing, provides all partners with a valuable opportunity to develop products that are beneficial for both V4 and Ukrainian third sector organisations. This collaboration enables us to pool our resources, expertise, and innovative ideas to create tools and solutions that address the unique challenges faced by non-governmental organisations in these regions.”

Agnieszka Ostrowska, Programme Director at CIR commented that “By working together, we can enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the civil society sector, fostering greater resilience and impact in our communities”. She also emphasised, “Establishing networks during times of crisis is of crucial importance. It entails not only the dissemination of information and expertise but also the creation of connections among individuals striving to manage these challenges and support others within our contemporary context and region.”

For now, Prague City University looks forward to meeting Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, President of the Centre for International Relations, for further discussions during her visit to Prague in late August.