Faculty of Organization and Management

During the Silesian Science Festival, projects funded by grants from the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, as part of the "Science of Youth" Grant Program – European City of Science 2024, were summarized. One of the projects involved students from three universities – the University of Economics, the University of Silesia, and the Silesian University of Technology – who created an exhibition based on research findings, presented during the festival.

Students from these universities collaborated under the guidance of Katarzyna Siwczyk, a Ph.D. candidate from the Institute of Journalism and Media Communication at the University of Silesia. The project, titled "Silesian Opinion Leaders: The Unofficial Representation of Silesians", was mentored by Dr. Hab. Patrycja Szostok-Nowacka, Professor at the University of Silesia.

Project Overview:

The project unfolded in several stages:

1. Survey Phase:

   • A survey was conducted among 500 residents of the Silesian Voivodeship in October 2024 using the CAWI method.
   • Participants were asked to identify opinion leaders, defined as individuals who publicly influence others' opinions, provide commentary, and shape public discourse.
   • Respondents provided names of individuals they considered opinion leaders in Silesian affairs and shared insights on the desired characteristics, professions, and areas of interest of such leaders.

2. Key Findings:

   • The research highlighted influential figures who could shape the opinions of Silesian communities.
   • The results identified a mix of living individuals and historical figures.
   • Interestingly, male leaders were overwhelmingly mentioned, while women were less frequently cited.

3. Engagement with Identified Leaders:

   • Based on the findings, an "unofficial representation" of eleven leaders was selected for further collaboration.
   • Students organized meetings with key figures, including writer Marek Szołtysek, leader of the Silesian Autonomy Movement Jerzy Gorzelik, and Member of the European Parliament Łukasz Kohut.

4. Skills Development:

   • During these meetings, students honed their journalistic skills, conducted interviews, and connected with influential figures shaping public discourse in Silesia.
   • Students also gained experience in teamwork, managing unexpected situations, engaging with external stakeholders, archival research, and handling legal aspects such as GDPR compliance and copyright permissions.

5. Exhibition Preparation:

   • The students documented meetings, created social media content, and curated an exhibition based on their research findings and interactions.
   • The exhibition was showcased during the Silesian Science Festival.

Outcomes:

The project provided valuable insights into Silesian opinion leadership and offered practical training for students in journalism and media-related fields. The results of the study will be detailed in a forthcoming academic publication.

Funding:

The project was supported by the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis as part of the "Science of Youth" Grant Program – European City of Science 2024.