The Kapiszewski Center for Bridging Cultural Boundaries is a non-profit educational entity that works to strengthen cross-cultural scholarly networks and foster cross-cultural understanding through education, learning, and knowledge. The Center’s main goal is to expose scholars in Poland and around the world to the cultures, ideas, and philosophies of the countries of the Middle East & Asia. The Kapiszewksi Center was established in memory of Andrzej Kapiszewski, former Polish Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, noted Professor of Sociology at Jagiellonian University (Krakow, Poland), founder of the Center for Middle East and Far East Studies at Jagiellonian University, and co-founder of the largest private university in Krakow (Krakowska Szkola Wyzsza). The Center’s activities will include:

1. Creating, maintaining, and operating, in Krakow, Poland, a Special Collection of materials (with the initial materials originating from the personal library of Andrzej Kapiszewski) and electronic resources on the Middle East & Asia;
2. Supporting lectures, seminars, conferences, and mini-courses in Krakow, Poland regarding the Middle East & Asia and how to conduct research in those regions.

These activities will allow the Center to expand knowledge of the Middle East & Asia among various university communities in Krakow, Poland. Once we have raised sufficient funds, the Center plans to initiate a grant-making program. A scholarship program will support scholars of the humanities and social sciences around the world who are conducting research on the Middle East and Asia. A small grants program will provide funds to support the efforts of universities around the world to build Special Collections focused on the Middle East & Asia. Through these activities, the Center will work to disseminate information on the Middle East & Asia to scholars in other parts of the world.