As part of their Pedagogy course, Dr. Andrzej Zygadło (Institute of Pedagogy, UZ) conducts interactive workshops with Erasmus+ students. One such workshop took place in January, when students visited the Prison in Krzywaniec. The goal of the visit was to familiarize them with the structure of the penitentiary facility, its operations, and rehabilitation programs. Participants included students from the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences from Spain, Romania, and Turkey as well as dr Andrzej Zygadło and the Erasmus+ coordinator for the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences - dr hab. Sylwia Kondej, prof. UZ.
Upon arrival, the students were welcomed by the prison director, Colonel Daniel Janowski. Captain Piotr Hamera then provided an introduction to the prison’s history and unique characteristics, highlighting that the facility includes closed and semi-open units, as well as a Mother and Child Home.
Following this introduction, the students embarked on a short tour of the facility. Guided by Prison Service officers, they learned about the institution’s regulations and the daily life of inmates. The students had the opportunity to visit living cells, inmate work areas, and educational rooms. They also spoke with a prison psychologist, who discussed the challenges of working with inmates and emphasized the importance of psychological support in the rehabilitation and social reintegration process.
The group also visited the Mother and Child Home, located within the prison. This special unit allows incarcerated mothers to stay with their children until they reach the age of three. The students learned about the conditions in the facility and the support programs designed to help mothers prepare for life outside prison.
The visit to the Prison in Krzywaniec was an insightful experience, giving Erasmus+ students a deeper understanding of the Polish penitentiary system and providing them with valuable knowledge.