At Kozminski University, there is a strong belief that business education should have a real impact on society. More and more students are seeking career paths that go beyond traditional roles in finance, consulting, or management – they aspire to drive social change by engaging in non-profit organizations, founding social enterprises, or implementing projects that create a tangible societal impact.
In response to this growing need, two years ago, under the initiative of Vice-Rector for International Relations and ESR, Prof. Mariola Ciszewska-Mlinarič, the Community Project was established. This unique elective course, designed for students of Bachelor in Management and Management and Artificial Intelligence, bridges academic knowledge with hands-on community engagement.
This year’s edition, led by Prof. Justyna Swiatowiec-Szczepanska, once again provided students with the opportunity to gain experience by working with social organizations. As part of the course, students carried out projects for institutions such as SYNAPSIS Foundation, Warsaw Psycho-Oncology Center, Village of Good – Foundation for Animals, Rotary Club Krakow, Hospice Foundation in Gdansk and Art Station Foundation.
One of the most inspiring projects was the support provided to Village of Good – Foundation for Animals. Students developed a social media communication strategy and designed innovative adoption campaigns to improve pet adoption rates. Notably, their work went beyond content creation—they also developed a comprehensive social media guidebook for shelter employees, which proved so effective that it is now being shared with other organizations. Among the proposed initiatives was "Take a Break", a one-day pet care initiative aimed at creatively promoting adoptions and raising awareness about responsible pet ownership.
The overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and partner organizations confirms that the Community Project is more than just an academic course – It is a space for real social action. Through this program, students demonstrate that business education can be a driving force for positive change.
