Fine Arts Education Programme code: W6-S2EP19.2025

Artistic education studies in the field of fine arts guarantee the acquisition of skills and knowledge of a visual artist, capable of independently undertaking original artistic challenges and creatively solving various artistic issues in the field of art, with an awareness of their historical, cultural, civilizational, and social context, as well as conducting independent artistic and research activities in the field of art. Graduates are equipped with pedagogical qualifications in accordance with teacher training standards or competencies enabling them to work as art managers.The graduate is equipped with pedagogical qualifications in accordance with the standards for teacher education or competencies that enable them to work as an art manager. The graduate is prepared to engage in creative professional work as an animator of creative activities in cultural, artistic, and non-school educational institutions, in mass media, as well as in promotional and advertising structures, and depending on the chosen elective path, he/she will understand the role of a teacher or a person associated with business. They are aware of the practical conditions of artistic disciplines and can creatively apply them in educational and art dissemination activities, and are prepared for educational collaboration with both children and adults or for actions at the intersection of art and business.The basis of the education program is the holistic development of the student's skills, knowledge, and competencies in the field of art and related areas, including elements of the humanities and social sciences. The program fits into the concept of universal education, which is not strictly limited to a selected field — thus referencing contemporary concepts of art education from Western countries, as well as the close Polish tradition of the correspondence of the arts — "total art." Part of the program is based on the implementation of individual or collective creative projects. The projects are interdisciplinary and across different areas (within art and its interactions with the environment). Such an educational system allows for the development of attitudes focused on dialogue, friendly recognition of partners, cooperation, and openness to differences in opinions, beliefs, and views. management education.The Faculty of Arts and Education Sciences, under which studies are conducted, covering the entire Cieszyn campus of the University of Silesia, has a very well-prepared educational base with specialized studios, including a developed technical and equipment background, studios for painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, artistic glass, unique and interdisciplinary activities, visual structures, design, workshop graphics, digital graphics, multimedia, and photography, etc., and an experienced and qualified staff of educators with recognized artistic and scientific achievements. The qualifications of graduates align with the needs of the labor market.Thorough artistic-plastic preparation, the ability to creatively transpose various issues into the language of art, a high awareness of artistic and practical matters, a developed need for self-improvement, and good adaptation to the changing needs of both the market and social, cultural, and civilization challenges make the graduate attractive to potential employers or capable of undertaking their own professional and artistic activities.

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.

The program fully aligns with the Mission of the University of Silesia adopted by the UŚ Senate at a meeting on May 20, 1997, and the new Development Strategy of the University of Silesia in Katowice for the years 2020–2025, which is an annex to resolution no. 438 of the UŚ Senate from September 24, 2019. According to the fundamental assumptions of the strategy, the program is closely linked to research — artistic activities conducted at the faculty of art and education sciences. Quoting the UŚ Strategy: "Didactics is at the essence of the university as a place for imparting knowledge, skills, and academic values to subsequent generations of students and doctoral candidates. At a research university, education at the highest level is connected with the research being conducted. This is facilitated, among other things, by engaging students in research team work and individualizing education, especially in the later years of study, including placing students' thesis works in the context of research conducted at the university.In relation to the Sustainable Development Strategy, educational activities can be classified into Priority Research Areas: POB1 Harmonious human development - concern for health protection and quality of life, POB4 Humanities for the Future - interdisciplinary research on culture and civilization. This aligns with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 - tasks 4.7 and 11.4. Thus, the direction fits into priority operational goals particularly 1. (increasing the impact of the university's scientific activities on the development of science, especially in priority research areas (POB) with high development potential) and 3. (improving the quality of education for students and doctoral candidates, especially in fields and disciplines related to POB, among others by involving them in scientific research). Within the strategic area: EDUCATION, the educational offer aims to strengthen its connection with research activities and the actions within Goal 1:1.(Optimization of study directions and programs as well as postgraduate studies considering the directions of development in higher education worldwide and the needs: educational needs of candidates and students, labor market, modern education). 2. (Fundamental differentiation of education in undergraduate and master's studies assuming that the thesis, focused on solving a research problem, is the central module of education in master's studies). 3. (Development of guidelines for teacher education). 4. (Establishment of interdisciplinary study programs and postgraduate studies covering socially important areas). 6. (Increasing the connection of study programs with applied research through cooperation with employers, including enabling internships with those employers). Objective 3, that is, individualization of education and project-problem-based learning.Activities: 1. (Providing individual research care and individual study programs for the most talented students, modeled after the system implemented at the College of Individual Interdisciplinary Studies, in conjunction with goal 1. in the area: education). and 2. (Developing paths for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary education as well as education in collaboration with external entities). It should be noted that additional elective module paths (management path and teaching path) respond to the challenges in the area: COOPERATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT Goal 1 (PDS) Cooperation with the socio-economic environment. A careful analysis of global trends and the demand for new methods of art education, as well as the demand from the socio-economic environment, encourages the development of the field of artistic education in order to create an innovative direction with specializations in Applied Arts and Fine Arts enriched by two paths: management path and teaching path.This is a concept that transforms the previous assumptions of artistic education as a field training art teachers towards holistic education in the field of art, taking into account attractive specializations and unique skills, knowledge, and competencies that can serve as a foundation for an attractive profession for graduates. According to the assumptions of the Strategy, 'study programs are created with the educational needs of students in mind, responding to the labor market needs, while also allowing students to acquire universal knowledge and skills appropriate for university education. (…) Programs are developed considering the research issues of POB, expectations of the socio-economic environment and employers, as well as global challenges.'Artistic education is a modern educational offer that resonates with contemporary concepts of training in the field of art. It transforms the traditional education of art students specialized in specific, narrow disciplines into a holistic project based on creative searching for artistic and practical solutions, as well as educational and managerial strategies. This closely aligns with the postulate formulated in the Mission of the University of Silesia: "curricula serve not only the acquisition of specialist knowledge but primarily aim to shape creative attitudes towards the world." Thus, we perceive students and graduates of ertistic education as creative, aware individuals who strive for continuous improvement and respond well to the changing needs of the market, as well as social, cultural life, and civilizational challenges.And also being aware recipients of art and design who can express reasoned critical opinions and educate others in this area — being qualified teachers or individuals working at the intersection of art and business. Quoting the Mission of the University of Silesia: "The principle shaping the operation of the university is the pursuit of continuously opening new horizons of knowledge." The education program largely based on developing projects that take into account the utilitarian aspect allows for the shaping of student attitudes focused on dialogue, friendly recognition of partners, cooperation, and openness to differences in opinions, beliefs, and views. It allows for identifying oneself in the context of art-creativity and society while maintaining an awareness of the value that differences represent. Educational aspects in art must assume the cultivation of tolerance and a fundamental belief in the role of ethical values. Referring once again to the Mission of the University of Silesia: "(...)"„(…) the condition for good work and positive educational outcomes is the effort put into shaping a creative attitude towards reality. The task of educational activities is to unleash the skill of asking questions and subsequently seeking answers together. The closer the answer is related to the student's independent reflection, the more the mission of the University is fulfilled (…). This is facilitated by the establishment of new, more flexible teaching programs, as well as the opportunity to combine several fields of study. Study programs should encompass the most diverse and varied possibilities for acquiring knowledge, in accordance with the demand in the job market, but they should also cultivate a sense of intellectual and professional flexibility combined with openness to the necessity of continuous education and a readiness for retraining or expanding knowledge depending on life or professional context.”Observation of the educational market suggests that artistic education, along with two specializations: Fine Arts and Applied Arts, as well as independent paths: managerial path and teaching path, will be recognized by candidates and students, which will make the program stand out at the University in the educational market. For graduates, it will provide an opportunity to secure interesting employment. We attribute particular importance to the new managerial and teaching paths, which respond to the strategic assumption that: "The University considers the social needs of its surroundings and region in its research plans." Education in the two specializations and the two independent paths allows students to significantly personalize their educational journey and tailor it to their own academic, artistic preferences, and desired career path, which directly addresses the postulate contained in the UŚ Strategy:Students have the opportunity to freely choose educational modules within the departmental offer and can establish scientific cooperation with mentors. It is worth mentioning that the concept of the program is based on the achievements of the staff of the Faculty of art and Education Sciences and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, who have been conducting classes in sculpture, painting, drawing, graphic design, artistic workshops, graphic design, ceramics, artistic glass, photography, as well as interdisciplinary and unique activities, along with studies in art, pedagogy, psychology, and economics and finance. The creative and practical nature of the program will significantly enhance opportunities for collaboration with external stakeholders wishing to cooperate in the areas of both specializations as well as pathways. The artistic education program significantly enriches the educational offer of the Faculty of Art and Education Sciences — it will integrate the academic community of the entire... The field of artistic education significantly enriches the educational offer of the Faculty of Arts and Education Sciences — it will integrate the academic community of the entire Cieszyn Campus as well as the city and region, which aligns with the assumptions of the UŚ Strategy: "Collaboration with the economic environment is being undertaken. (...) An active transfer of scientific achievements to the economy is taking place. University cities participate in the life of the University and support it in strategic activities. (...) The University collaborates with schools. It plays a cultural role that inspires critical and creative thinking. It organizes educational and cultural events aimed at the local community, which support the comprehensive development of individuals, create social bonds, and emphasize the importance of reflection on individual and collective identity."