On April 11, 2025, the research team from the Democratic Innovations project actively participated in a workshop dedicated to deliberative innovations at the regional level. The event took place at the University of the Commission of National Education (UKEN)
in Kraków under the patronage of the Polish European Studies Association (Section for Participation and Democratic Innovations).
The workshop was held in response to the recently concluded First Citizens’ Forum of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis (GZM) – the first metropolitan citizens’ assembly in Poland, focused on the topic of sustainable public transport. The event aimed to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with organizing such deliberative processes beyond the local level.
Our team not only co-organized the event but also led the main workshop session using the World Café methodology. Each of the four team members – Weronika Kędzia, Magni Szymaniak-Arnesen, Ewa Zielińska, and Marta Hoffmann – served as facilitators of thematic tables, guiding participants through key issues related to:
- designing citizens’ assemblies at the regional level,
- coordinating between different levels of public administration,
- engaging experts and civil society stakeholders,
- integrating citizens’ assemblies into broader participatory systems.
The event brought together scholars, public officials, civil society actors, and practitioners from across Poland. The outcomes of the discussions – including methodological challenges and best practices – will serve as a foundation for further research on regional-level deliberation.
The workshop was not only a space for knowledge exchange but also a strong example of how academic research can support the development and professionalization of deliberative processes in Poland.
