Uniwersytet Rozwoju Obszarów Wiejskich UROW

Over one hundred participants came from twelve European Countries and Reunion Island (located in Indian Ocean) to take part in a jubilee session of APURE. It was the first such a prestige event on international scale in Sucha Beskidzka. The College of Tourism and Ecology (WSTE) - a representative of APURE in Poland - was an organizer of this session. The conference took place under the honourable patronage of Marek Sawicki Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Well known in EU APURE - Association for the European Rural Universities associates fifthteen European countries and Canada. It propagates sustainable development of rural areas in Europe for 20 years. It is a modern international non-governmental organization which, practices knowledge and experience sharing; cares about cultural diversity of our continent, improvement of an access to employment; supports professional activity country sides residents, institutions and organizations working for professional activation and integration in rural areas.

APURE also cooperates with European Commission in giving opinions and recommending activities undertaking in European rural areas. As an international association it prides of many achievements, for example: organizes sessions of European University in membership countries, supports international actions and building of institutions networks working for rural development; popularizes significant ideas outside Europe. APURE also participates in important EU seminars and programmes, for example: SOCRATES, LEONARDO, LEADER, INTERREG, LIVE.

A subject of this session of APURE was: "Rural development in Europe. Education, culture and tradition as a source of innovation and modernity". A three day debates took place at WSTE in Suski Castle. During conferences there were many interesting lectures, presentations and discussions with famous politicians and government representatives: Władysław Piskorz from European Commission, Renata Zielińska from Ministry of Agriculture, Andrzej Hałasiewicz from Foundation of Programmes of Help for Agriculture, Andrzej Masny from Marshal's Office in Malopolskie Voivodship. Afternoon sessions in terrain were an opportunity of showing quests an area of Podbabiorgórze from a natural, touristic and cultural side and as a place where tradition is deep entrenched and where small and medium enterprise develops freely. Participants could see that presented craft workshops and techniques of work are a big chance for rural areas in a neighbourhood. These activities enable to keep local traditions and customs as important elements of agrotouristic offers, in which tourists can know a folklore of this micro region. Polish countryside brings a huge wealth to the European Union, for example: beautiful agricultural views, traditional methods of ground cultivation, but examples of small enterprises based on old local traditions as well.

A session of APURE allowed participants to share knowledge and experience and contributed to shaping models of social working and problem solving in a local as well as regional scale.
Since many years Europe experiences problems with migrations from rural areas to big agglomerations and there are very important initiatives that stop concerning phenomenon of depopulations of countrysides and whole regions.

A result of difficult situation on a local job market and a lack of effective tools and methods of working that can improve it is looking for employment far away from a place of residence.
This problem also concerns countries outside EU and it is significant to create (by APURE members) a common project of actions with universal features that works over political and cultural borders.

Our cooperation aiming to transfer successful initiatives to other membership countries of EU will be extremely important - said during a session István Bali - Head of APURE Central-Eastern European Rural Development Centre. The University 'fights' for equal rights of Europeans to better life conditions and activates European institutions to work for improvement in EU rural development politics.
The 20th anniversary of existing of European Rural University celebrated in South Poland in a small town - Sucha Beskidzka was an ideal opportunity to popularize ideas and important role of rural development for the future of whole Europe.
We hope that a net of institutions working within a framework of the Association will cover a whole Europe. We believe in APURE's mission as a mentor of European net of general education addressed to development leaders and influencing on global and integrated rural development. Sessions of APURE that we participate are a source of new ideas which we support and try to realize - said Władysław Piskorz, Head of Territorial Coherence and Urban Development Department in General Board of European Regional Politics. Attractiveness of rural areas is a significant element that used in an appropriate way, supports their development.
Rural areas in Malopolska characterise a large demographic potential with a culture of work, a high identity of local communities, an increasing level of education and life aspirations of its residents as well as unique historical objectives connected with national history and culture.
To use all possibilities of this region it is important to prioritise youth education as well as constant adult education - especially professional education.
We express a deep conviction that cooperation with APURE will help to shape politics of European Union relating to rural and small towns development in united Europe - said Gerard Peltre, Chairman of MER and Vice chairman of Committee of Rural Development in European Commission.
Residents of small towns have more difficult conditions for professional development. This situation particularly concerns young people from countrysides and small towns. It is much hard to fulfil their live aspirations than their peers from big cities. It is not easy to invent and realize projects that allow to fulfil the aim. We undertook this challenge in Sucha Beskidzka with a success - said Maria Grzechynka chancellor of WSTE. We not only provide an attractive educational offer, we try to encourage young people to participation in local society development and resignation from financial migration - said Chancellor to conference participants.

An originator of these brave ideas was Foundation A Cooperative Found of Rural Education 17 years ago. It propagated education in small towns and countrysides experiencing unemployment difficulties in a time of government transformation. Our first experience created an idea to establish a college that can prepare well educated and qualified experts for this area. This region did not have basis of industrial or agricultural development. However thanks to unique natural and cultural resources there was a possibility to tourism and agro tourism development.

Nowadays WSTE teaches many courses: Tourism and Recreation - in specialisations: Hotel Industry and Gastronomy, Management in Tourism, International Tourism; Political Science - Department of Social Education - in specialisations: Public Relations, Manager of European Projects, European Diplomacy, Regional Politics; Computer Science - in specialisations: Data Base Systems, Software Engineering, Computer Graphics and Multimedia. These courses are in first four places on a list of far reaching subjects in the world. There is a visibly impact of WSTE on a development of the town and region. The College realized important - for natural environment - projects with European funds, such as: ,,Innovative touristic firms in Malopolskie Voivodship", ,,A development of personnel in tourism in South - Eastern Poland", ,, Use of Public Relations tools in improvement of competitiveness of small and medium companies", ,,The Centre of innovation and informative society development WSTE for an innovative economy". The College actives local society and encourage to participation in various projects local institutions responsible for supporting local enterprise. WSTE also mediates in establishing contacts with European countries, promotes Polish education, culture and enterprises. The College works on an international arena and initiates various prestige undertakings.
WSTE cooperates with the European Rural University since 2006. It is the only representative of this organization in Poland and because of this reason there was an anniversary session of APURE. The College was the main organizer of this international meeting. A letter with greetings to conference participants addressed professor Danuta Hübner, Commissar of EU Regional Politics, and Władysław Piskorz spoke on her behalf. Journalists of local and regional press followed debates of APURE, and Polish Television INFO held a patronage on this event.

Participants from Poland and foreign countries evaluated organization of this conference very high, and Camilo Mortagua - Head of the APURE's Board of Administration qualified it as the most successful in twenty years history of APURE. This success is a result of cooperation between WSTE and government of the County of Sucha, students' commitment and many other organisations and firms from Podbabiogórze area. Maria Grzechynka - Chancellor of WSTE and Vice chairman of APURE thanked to all of these people.
European rural areas must face many challenges. An individual and unique character of country communities disappears because of high level of competitiveness in agricultural sector. The natural beauty of agricultural areas is threatened. There should be promoted agricultural economy in these areas to create new places of employment, which improve a quality of life on countrysides and in small towns. Rural development politics will be successful when countryside's residents: know their rights and possibilities; decide to cooperate and take an active part in changing their natural environment in a way that keeps its unique character. The session of APURE was a beginning of a new stage for Podbabiogórze, however how the region use this opportunity we will find out next years.

We have the pleasure to inform you that we are beginning to accept registrations for the jubilee session of the Rural Areas Development University , which will take place in Poland, in Sucha Beskidzka from 11 to 15 June 2008. This session will be of a ceremonial character because during this session we will be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of APPURE's existence.

We would like to encourage you to familiarize yourselves with the programme of the University. It is available on our website in three languages in the bookmark: "Rural Areas Development University Programme".

In order to meet your needs we have prepared three price versions in which only accommodation standards are different. Please check our offers below and decide for the best option for yourself. We also recommend the possibility of enjoying our additional tourist programme which will be offered after the University session is completed, from 15 till 18 June.

The price of the additional tourist programme is 60 euro for each day (it includes additional night in the previously chosen room, full board and trips).

If you make a reservation and full payment before 31 December 2008 - you get 15% discount If you make a reservation and full payment before 29 February 2008 - you get 10% discount If you make a reservation and full payment before 31 March 2008 - you get 5% discount

*Guests who are not members of Appure pay additional registration fee of 25 euro

You will find here a registration form. After completion please send it by email to the following address: info@urow.pl

The University office phone numbers in Poland : 0048 33 874 54 26, 0048 33 874 54 25 (preferred language of communication: English)