OPEN CALL
Transcultural Student Research Group 2021
The Impacts of the BRI on Europe: The Case of Poland and Germany in cooperation with The Boym Institute
Looking for a topic for your Humboldt, Elinor Ostrom, Bachelor or Master Thesis?
Interested in thinking about “The Impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative in Europe”?
Keen on cooperation with international peers?
Motivated to become part of the LEIZ’ project “Transcultural Caravan” and to join an interdisciplinary research group?
Can’t wait to publish your first chapter in a scientific book?
If you answered at least two of these questions with “yes”, we look forward to receiving your application! For further information on the application process, please see the corresponding section in this document.
Transcultural Student Research Group | TSRG 2021
The Impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative on Europe: The Case of Poland and Germany
As an ambitious project, the Belt and Road Initiative creates global value chains in a network that connects Europe, Asia, and Africa and that is characterised by diversity in languages, traditions, values, as well as political, social, and economic systems and settings. As one of the most fascinating and risky developments driving the formation of a global society, this initiative represents a global economic, political, social, and cultural experiment with potentially beneficial but also potentially disruptive consequences for all involved.
Against this background, it is important to contribute to the understanding of what the New Silk Road can mean in economic, political, leadership and cultural terms for the European countries involved. This analysis should reveal the practical consequences of the Belt and Road Initiative for Europe in the case of Poland and Germany, as well as their respective social effects.
The following topics are possible for the sub-research projects:
- Economic impacts: international economy, business, logistic & transportation, innovation & technology, the impacts of COVID-19, international trade and investment, global value chains, value creation networks.
- Socio-cultural impacts: transculturality, gender equality, arts, academia, media & communication, civil society organizations.
- Political impacts: geopolitical impacts, bilateral relations vs. multilateral relations, 17+1, EU policy, para-diplomacy.
- Leadership: relational leadership, transcultural leadership, cross-sectoral leadership, organization and management culture.
Timeframe

Starting in May, all TSRG 2021 participants will conceptually develop specific research questions that correlate both with their disciplinary background and with the TSRG 2021 overall research topic, together with experts at LEIZ and The Michał Boym Institute for Asian and Global Studies, as well as individual supervisors (ZU professors). Subsequently, the students will work on these questions together with students from Poland in an academic co-authoring process.
Accordingly, the group consists of several such pairs, who apply the common questions to their respective case studies and disciplines and exchange on their experiences and findings within the group. The case study research includes interviews and field research realized in the pairs and in cooperation with local universities and cooperation partners.
First results of the studies may be presented during the Transcultural Winter School 2021. After having submitted their individual Humboldt, Elinor Ostrom, Bachelor or Master theses, a joint book from all involved students will be published in the “Transcultural Management Series” at Metropolis Publisher.
Application
Interested Polish students from all study programs are welcome and can apply for the TRSG until April 12,2021. To apply for the TRSG 2021, please send an email with your CV and Cover Letter to the Head of the Michał Boym Institute for Asian and Global Studies Patrycja Pendrakowska (ppendrakowska@instytutboyma.org). Please take into consideration that for working on this research project you should reserve around 10 hours per week and be able to take part in research trips to Germany and Poland. We welcome Bachelor and Master students, as well as PhD Candidates.
Team

Jessica Geraldo Schwengber
Research fellow at “Transcultural Competences“ Research Group, Project Manager of the Transcultural Caravan
Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin | LEIZ
Phone +49 7541 6009 2265
Fax +49 7541 6009 1299
jessica.schwengber@zu.de

Dr Julika Baumann Montecinos
Head of Research Group “Transcultural Competences”, Project Manager of the Transcultural Caravan
Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin | LEIZ
Phone +49 7541 6009 2264
Fax +49 7541 6009 1299
julika.montecinos@zu.de

Prof Dr Josef Wieland, Vice President (Research)
Director Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin | LEIZ
Chair of Institutional Economics, Organisational Governance, Integrity Management and Transcultural Leadership
Phone +49 7541 6009 2261
Fax +49 7541 6009 1299
josef.wieland@zu.de

Katharina Hahn
Project coordinator
k.hahn@zeppelin-university.net

Patrycja Pendrakowska
Head of the Boym Institute
ppendrakowska@instytutboyma.org

Paweł Behrendt
Member of the Board at the Boym Institute
pbehrendt@instytutboyma.org
For further information:
www.zu.de/leiz
www.transcultural-caravan.org
czytaj więcej
Women in Public Debate – A Guide to Organising Inclusive and Meaningful Discussions
On the occasion of International Women's Day, we warmly invite you to read our guide to good practices: "Women in Public Debate – A Guide to Organising Inclusive and Meaningful Discussions."
Ada DyndoInterview with Arthur Tun on Myanmar’s Coup d’État
On the 1st of February 2021, Myanmar’s military forces overthrew the government and arrested the Prime Minister, Aung San Suu Kyi. On the fifth anniversary of these events, the Boym Institute decided to ask what Myanmar looks like after the coup.
Paweł MazurekBook review: “Korean Diaspora in Postwar Japan – Geopolitics, Identity and Nation-Building”
Book review of "Korean Diaspora in Postwar Japan - Geopolitics, Identity and Nation-Building", written by Kim Myung-ja and published by I.B Tauris in 2017.
Nicolas LeviTakaichi’s Historic Election Win: What’s Next for Japan?
In the Japanese snap election on 8th February 2026, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) achieved a landslide victory, securing 316 out of 465 seats in the lower house of parliament. What does this supermajority mean for Takaichi and Japan?
Jakub WitczakPolish-Asian Cooperation in the Field of New Technologies – Report
Polish and Polish-founded companies are already on the largest continent in sectors such as: IT, educational technology, finance, marketing, e-commerce and space. Despite this, the potential lying dormant in the domestic innovation sector seems to be underutilized.
Dr. Nicolas Levi with a lecture in Seoul
On May 24 Dr. Nicolas Levi gave a lecture on Balcerowicz's plan in the context of North Korea. The speech took place as part of the seminar "Analyzing the Possibility of Reform and its Impact on Human Rights in North Korea". The seminar took place on May 24 at the prestigious Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
This is the second part of an inquiry into Ulaanbaatar’s winning 2040 General Development Plan Conception (GDPC). In this part of paper, I look into some of the plans and/or solutions proposed in Ulaanbaatar’s 2040 GDPC.
Paweł SzczapCharitable activities of the Vietnamese in Poland: their scope and sources
The scale of assistance provided to medics by the Vietnamese community during the 2020 pandemic inspires admiration and gratitude. It stems from the sense of belonging to Poland and deeply rooted in the culture order to help those in need and repay the debt incurred at the time when they themselves needed such help.
Ewa GrabowskaInvest and cooperate with Serbia or Poland? A dilemma for South Korean companies
This paper explains why Serbia may replace Poland as a strategic outsourcing centre for South Korean companies in Central and Southern Europe.
Nicolas LeviTranscultural Winter School 2021 (8th of November — 12th of November)
This year’s research project TSRG 2021 as a collaborative initiative between Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin and the Boym Institute continued with a Transcultural Winter School in Zeppelin University, in Friedrichshafen.
Europe and the Consequences of China’s First Step on the Moon
Just a few years ago, it was assumed that the United States would almost automatically reclaim the lead in landing on the Moon. The original timeline envisioned Artemis III for 2024, but successive delays pushed the mission first to 2025–2026 and now to no earlier than mid-2027.
Kamil GolemoVoices from Asia – introduction
We would like to cordially invites all to the new series "Voices from Asia" that is devoted to the Asian perspectives on the conflict in Ukraine. In this series, we publish analysis by experts based in Asia or working on Asian affairs who present their positions on this matter.
On conflict in the Middle East: Malik Dahlan’s Letter to President Isaac Herzog
This letter has been included into our Voices From Asia series, as we consider it a significant addition to the ongoing discussion surrounding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Malik DahlanInterview with Uki Maroshek-Klarman on “Betzavta” method
Interview with Uki Maroshek-Klarman - Academic Director of the Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace in Israel. Founder of "Betzavta" method, which was created with intention of streghtening people's participation in society and making conflicts easier to solve.
Patrycja PendrakowskaWomen’s liberation in China: interview with prof. Wu Lijuan
Interview of Ewelina Horoszkiewicz with prof. Wu Lijuan - Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology at Peking University. Her research concentrates on the gender issues and social changes brought about by globalization. She wrote a book “Job Placements and Job Shifts in China: The Effects of Education, Family Background and Gender”.
Ewelina HoroszkiewiczThe unification of the two Koreas: an ASEAN perspective
The aim of the paper is to discuss the role of the ASEAN as a critical component of the solution to the Korean unification. The Korean Unification refers to the potential reunification of both Koreas into a single sovereign Korean state led by the leadership of the two Koreas.
Nicolas LeviIndian dream – interview with Samir Saran
Krzysztof Zalewski: India is a large country, both in terms of its population and its land area, with a fast-growing economy. It is perceived as a major new player on the global stage. What would the world order look like if co-organized by India? Samir Saran: India’s impact on the world order is already significant, but […]
Krzysztof ZalewskiThe strategic imperatives driving ASEAN-EU free trade talks: colliding values as an obstacle
Recently revived talks aimed at the conclusion of an inter-regional free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) are driven by strategic imperatives of both regions.
Robin RamcharanPatrycja Pendrakowska and Paweł Behrendt on navigating Sino-Polish relations
We are proud to annouce, that Patrycja Pendrakowska and Paweł Behrendt made a contribution to the latest project of the Baltic Security Foundation, The Jamestown Foundation and the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation.
Online Course: “Feminism and Democracy: a Deep Dive”
The course will be taught via interactive workshops, employing the Adam Institute’s signature “Betzavta – the Adam Institute’s Facilitation Method“, taught by its creator, Dr. Uki Maroshek-Klarman. The award-winning “Betzavta” method is rooted in an empirical approach to civic education, interpersonal communication and conflict resolution.
Are Polish Universities Really Victims of a Chinese Influence Campaign?
The Chinese Influence Campaign can allegedly play a dangerous role at certain Central European universities, as stated in the article ‘Countering China’s Influence Campaigns at European Universities’, (...) However, the text does ignore Poland, the country with the largest number of universities and students in the region. And we argue, the situation is much more complex.
Patrycja PendrakowskaBook review: “North Korean Defectors in a New and Competitive Society”
Book review of "North Korean Defectors in a New and Competitive Society", written by Lee Ahlam - assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Resource Development at Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio.
Nicolas LeviLiquidation of the Polish colony in Manchuria (north-eastern China)
Ms. Łucja Drabczak - A Polish woman born in Harbin, she spent her childhood in China. She returned to Poland at the age of 10. She is the author of the book 'China... Memories from my childhood'. She contacted us to convey special family memories related to leaving Manchuria in 1949.
Uzbekistan, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has embarked on a path of reform. Almost daily, the media there report on new initiatives and projects. It is no coincidence that in December 2019 The Economist awarded Uzbekistan the country of the year title.
Magdalena Sobańska-Cwalina