Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities Programme code: W1-S1SH24.2024

The aim of Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities is to reflect on cultural heritage in an environmental perspective: especially in the cultural-natural, gender-equal and technosocial varieties. Environment is understood here in a broad sense and is not limited to the concept of the natural environment. This field of study has no equivalent outside the University of Silesia, and its distinctive strength is the fusion of three research areas which function separately in traditional disciplinary divisions. The rationale behind the juxtaposition of cultural, technosocial, natural and gender issues in one programme is their interplay in an era of environmental transformation resulting from human activity and transformation at the anthropological level under the influence of digital technologies. Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities are believed to re-evaluate previous disciplinary assumptions within and beyond the humanities; they are open to new classifications, as well as respond to the need for new legitimisation of the humanities. These studies allow for the analysis of diverse texts and images concerning climatic-environmental and socio-cultural transformations, and at the same time assume activist and engaged postulates for the usefulness of science, finally leading to the formation of a social eco-critical self-consciousness. Not limited to linguistic and textual analyses, they are concerned with the study of various cultural, artistic, technosocial phenomena, linking them to economic-political and economic issues. They constitute the humanities studies in a state of negotiation: of the problems that can become the subject of research and the ways of interpreting them. However, such an educational programme does not lose its fundamental objective of mitigating the negative effects of human activity and its impact on the environment. The modules within the Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies of the Humanities have been conceived as target-oriented and thus translatable into social practice. Their basis is the humanities, supported by non-humanities disciplines.

The condition for admission to the diploma examination is to achieve the learning outcomes provided for in the study program, to obtain a certificate of an appropriate level of language proficiency in a foreign language and to obtain positive grades for the diploma dissertation. The condition for graduation is to pass the diploma examination with at least a satisfactory result. A graduate receives a higher education diploma confirming obtaining the qualifications of the appropriate degree. Detailed rules of the diploma process and the requirements for the diploma thesis are set out in the Rules and Regulations of Studies at the University of Silesia and the diploma regulations.

Internships are an integral part of the study program, carried out by students in individual fields, levels, profiles and forms of study. Internships are to help in confronting the knowledge acquired during studies with the requirements of the labour market, acquiring skills useful in the profession, learning about practical issues related to working in positions for which the student is prepared during the course of studies. The internship is to familiarize the student with professional language relevant to a specific industry and work culture. The rules for the organization of internships are set out in the Rector's ordinance. Detailed rules of apprenticeship taking into account the specifics of particular fields of study are set out in the field's of study apprenticeship regulations, in particular: learning outcomes assumed to be achieved by the student during the apprenticeship, framework apprenticeship program including a description of issues, dimension of apprenticeship (number of weeks of practice); form of internship (continuous, mid-year), criteria for choosing the place of internship, obligations of the student staying in the internship, obligations of the academic tutor, conditions for completing the internship by the student and conditions for exemption from the internship obligation in whole or in part. The number of ECTS and the number of hours are specified in the course structure.

The Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities has been prepared in close connection with the strategic goals of the University of Silesia and the key objectives in the area of “Education and students”. This interrelationship is particularly evident in such Priority Research Areas as: POB 1: Harmonious development of the human being: concern for the protection of health and quality of life; POB 3: Environmental and climate changes with the accompanying social challenges; POB 4: Humanities for the future: interdisciplinary studies of culture and civilization. In line with the strategic modelling of the didactic offer (objective 1), the studies are designed as interdisciplinary, with modules in Polish and English, taking into account the research conducted at the Faculty of Humanities. The curriculum uses the most up-to-date and modern forms of academic education, thus following the international models of education. The didactic offer is also closely linked to the needs of the socio-economic environment in Upper Silesia and the Dąbrowa Basin. The processes of energy transition, in particular decarbonisation, supported by energy humanities, post-industrial landscape and socio-economic transformations are taking place particularly intensively in our region. Thus, Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities shall respond to the human resource needs arising from such transformations and to the need for civic engagement in the issues related to the global and local climate crisis; finally, they seek support among activists and specialists who are already active in the region by inviting them to conduct workshops and project activities. The study programme is in line with the vision of Development of the Silesian Voivodeship (Śląskie 2030, Green Silesia, The Just Transition Plan for Silesia, The Territorial Just Transition Plan for Silesia 2030). The studies fulfil the objectives of internationalisation (objective 2): the programme includes exchanges of lecturers between the University of Silesia and foreign universities (within the programme of NAWA Strategic Partnerships) and the introduction of modules in English (development of one joint module with partners), obligatory for the students. In addition, the study programme guarantees a steadily increasing participation of male and female students in ongoing research and scientific projects connected with the main areas of the course, i.e.: gender studies, plant studies, animal studies, studies of inanimate nature and of technology in an environmental perspective (P9). What is also important is the relationship between the study programme and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (in particular, goal 8: “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”; goal 13: “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”; goal 16: “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”). The study programme is also in accordance with the University's policy as expressed in the Gender Equality Plan (Regulation No. 212/2021 of the Rector of the University of Silesia of 7 December 2021). The establishment of Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities constitutes a response mainly to the problems of environmental crisis and energy transition, which are locally addressed in the Territorial Just Transition Plan for Silesia 2030. These studies can be regarded as a proposal from the academic community addressed primarily to those living in the transformation areas and wishing to undertake studies related to this problem, which would help to understand the cultural-social-economic processes taking place in this region and other transformation regions, to design them, to create them and, when necessary, to mitigate them.