On 6 July, the 24th edition of the Visegrad Summer School was inaugurated at Villa Decius in Kraków. The programme brings together young professionals, researchers and emerging leaders from across Central Europe to explore this year’s theme, Future of Information, focusing on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, cognitive security, disinformation and the future of democratic societies.
The event was officially opened by Henryk Woźniakowski, President of the Villa Decius Association.
The inaugural programme began with the opening lecture, Is There a Future for Information?, delivered by Dominika Kasprowicz, Director of the Villa Decius Association. The lecture introduced the central questions of this year’s edition and set the stage for the V4 Diplomats’ Debate, Information and Innovation in a Changing Society: Visegrad Perspectives, devoted to the impact of the digital revolution and artificial intelligence on diplomacy, the importance of cognitive security, and the role of cross-sector cooperation in strengthening resilience against disinformation.
The discussion featured Márta Ritecz-Sekulic, Consul of Hungary in Poland, Martin Vereš, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Poland, and Konrad Adamowicz, Deputy Director of the Department of Strategic Communication and Countering Foreign Disinformation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. The debate was moderated by Andrzej Brzeziecki.
The opening day concluded with the keynote lecture Future Trajectories of Central European Cooperation and the Myth of Central Europe, delivered by Prof. Michal Vašečka. Drawing on a comparative sociological perspective, the lecture examined the evolving identity of Central Europe, the region’s historical narratives and contemporary perceptions of Visegrad cooperation.
Over the next ten days, participants will take part in lectures, debates and workshops led by distinguished experts, creating a space for dialogue, critical reflection and international cooperation around the key challenges facing Central Europe today.
Organiser: Villa Decius Association
Partners and Sponsors: International Visegrad Fund, Małopolska Region, City of Kraków, Václav Havel Library, Bratislava Policy Institute, ZUE Group, Consulate General of Hungary in Kraków, Hungarian Centre in Kraków, Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Poland, Multicultural Centre in Kraków.
Media Patrons: Polskie Radio dla Zagranicy, Radio Kraków, TVP Info.
