It is an intensive, interdisciplinary educational program for young leaders from Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. The school focuses on analyzing political, social, and cultural challenges in the Central and Eastern European region, with particular emphasis on complex historical issues.
The school is aimed at Poles, Ukrainians and Belarusians living outside Belarus, aged 18–35, including students, doctoral candidates, graduates, young researchers, journalists, activists and people engaged in public life who share a strong interest in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.
Participation in the “Neighbourly Trialogue” autumn school allows you to deepen your knowledge of Central and Eastern Europe through conversation, analysis and encounters with different perspectives. It is a space for taking a closer look at the history, politics and contemporary challenges of the region — without oversimplification and with openness to dialogue.
During the school, you will:
- learn to approach difficult issues from more than one perspective — by analysing how interpretations of history influence relations between nations, conflicts of memory and today’s political choices;
- develop skills useful in your work, research and social engagement — from critical analysis and recognising cognitive biases to debate, argumentation and communication in an international environment;
- meet experts, practitioners and people with hands-on experience in the region — the classes are led by researchers, former diplomats, civil society activists and people who combine academic knowledge with practical experience;
- become part of a network of young female and male leaders from Poland, Ukraine and Belarus — people who, like you, want to better understand the region and have an impact on its future;
- experience dialogue in practice — not as a slogan, but as a meeting with people who have different experiences, different family memories, different sensitivities and similar questions about the future.
This school is for people who want not only to “know more”, but also to better understand where tensions, misunderstandings and divisions come from — and how, despite them, to build relationships based on knowledge, respect and cooperation.
The “Neighbourly Trialogue” programme is an intensive five-day course combining theory and practice. Participants take part in lectures, workshops, simulation games and discussions led by experienced experts from Poland and Eastern Europe. Topics include:
- the analysis of different ways of interpreting history and its impact on contemporary conflicts and collective memory,
- identifying cognitive and linguistic biases in socio-political analyses,
- the influence of language on the perception of reality,
- mechanisms of disinformation, including Russian propaganda efforts,
- meetings and discussions with former diplomats, opposition figures and civil society activists from Eastern Europe,
- the analysis of the experiences of Central and Eastern European countries in the areas of political transformation, civil society and resistance to authoritarianism.
The programme is enriched with evening film screenings, an excursion and a shared bonfire — all in an atmosphere that encourages reflection and international exchange of experiences.
Classes at the “Neighbourly Trialogue” autumn school are led by experienced experts and researchers from various fields, ensuring a high academic standard and an interdisciplinary approach.
Among the lecturers and facilitators of this year’s edition are:
- Dr Łukasz Adamski – historian, analyst, and Director of the Mieroszewski Centre, specialising in the history of Polish-Ukrainian-Russian relations and the politics of Eastern European states
- Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy – journalist, columnist, and founder of Belsat TV, co-creator of numerous initiatives supporting civil society in Eastern Europe
- Dr Magdalena Semczyszyn – historian specialising in interethnic relations, national minorities, and state policies towards minority groups
- Dr Nataliia Starczenko – historian and researcher focusing on the history of the Ukrainian nobility and the social history of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
- Dr Ernest Wyciszkiewicz – political scientist and expert on Eastern Europe, author of analyses on Russian foreign policy, EU–Russia relations, and international security
The school will be held in eastern Poland from 20-25 September 2026.
Participation in the school, accommodation, meals and teaching materials are provided free of charge. In addition, participants’ travel costs are reimbursed up to EUR 300 (second-class tickets only).
The school is conducted in Polish, Ukrainian and Belarusian. Participants must be able to actively communicate in at least one of these languages and understand the other two.
The recruitment process consists of several stages:
- application period: June 2 – June 30, 2026
- application review: July 1 – July 13, 2026
- results announcement: July 14, 2026
Yes. Each participant who actively takes part in the programme will receive a certificate of completion for the ‘Neighbourhood Trialogue’ autumn school.
The application deadline is June 30. The application form is available [here].