TELSP 2021 projects

The main component of the summer program is an active participation in the selected research project offered by the staff members of the Nicolaus Copernicus University, please see the topics and their descriptions below. Interested students are welcome to contact possible advisors for more details concerning the foreseen projects and discuss the dates that the project could be undertaken.

Strategies for digital transformation of controlling processes

We are currently consuming the effects of the previous industrial revolution. Companies combine and integrate processes and devices in an advanced way, using cloud computing, 3D printing, Internet of Things (IoT). Research indicates, that digital transformation is advancing in both vertical and horizontal value chains. At the same time, high potential is indicated in back-office processes, in particular planning processes, business analytics and other areas of controlling.
The aim of the project is to identify the level and scope of digitization of controlling processes in organizations operating in a selected country (against the background of international experience) and to determine the conditions and directions of its development.

1. General review of publications in the field of research on the digitization of controlling processes (countries, research institutions, source titles, authors and core references, leading topics and thematic areas)
2. Conceptualization of the scope and form of case studies and selection of respondents for the study
3. Analysis of collected data, processing of results
4. Interpretation of results including international experience (PWC report)

Supervisors:	dr hab. Marlena Ciechan-Kujawa, NCU Prof. (marlenac[at]econ.umk.pl)
Supervisors:	dr Piotr Kozak (piotr.kozak[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Management Accounting, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	management accounting (controlling)

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The role of self-government in socio-economic development (current tendencies and standards)

Local and regional authorities play an important role in the development of democratic and decentralized society. For the formation of effective self-government it can be useful to analyse not only the historical preconditions of its formation and organization in a given country but to conduct the analysis of foreign experiences and standards used worldwide. But it must be noted that in the developed democracies, territorial self-government has contributed substantially not only to the emergence of a civil society but to social and economic development of territorial units (communes, municipalities, regions etc.) as well.
The aim of the project is to learn the standards of territorial self-government in force in the EU countries, mainly in Poland, in particular in the field of ensuring socio-economic development at the local or /and regional level.
Research goals include:

• learning the standards of local government in force in the EU countries and the foundations of the local and regional government system in Poland;
• learning the tasks of local and regional authorities in ensuring social and economic development in Poland and how to implement them;
• comparison of the role of local government in socio-economic development in Poland and the Intern's country of origin.

Research tasks will include:

• literature studies and analysis of legal provisions and strategic documents in the field of local government tasks in Poland and the Intern's country of origin;
• case studies on the implementation of tasks of local and regional authorities for socio-economic development in Poland;
• comparative analysis of the local government system and its role in socio-economic development in Poland and the Intern's country of origin;
• formulation of conclusions and recommendations.

The project is about socio-economic development and will therefore be implemented in the field of economics. However, it should contain elements of law (concerning the system of local self-government) and public management.

Supervisor:	Aranka Ignasiak-Szulc, PhD (aranka[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Economic Policy and Regional Studies, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	economics (local and regional development, public administration and self-government, decentralization, good governance and public management)

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Implementation of the idea of inclusive development in selected countries and regions

The growing dynamics of income inequality and the growing developmental differences of various countries and regions of the world requires counteracting these unfavorable tendencies, which more and more often - both in theory and in practice (the UN and the EU goals) find expression in the use of inclusive development tools at the level of international organizations, states and regions. The aim of the project is to find out the state of implementation of the concept of inclusive development in the EU countries (mainly Poland) and the Intern's country of origin (if outside of the EU).
Research goals include:

• learning the basics of the concept of inclusive development;
• defining the tasks of the entities in the scope of ensuring inclusive development and methods of their implementation (instruments);
• comparison of the implementation status of the concept of inclusive development in Poland and the Intern's country of origin and their regions.

Research tasks will include:

• literature studies and analysis of strategic documents in the field of economic and social inclusion in the EU and the Intern's country of origin (if outside of the EU);
• case studies on the implementation of tasks of entities responsible for socio-economic inclusion in Poland and the Intern's country of origin;
• comparative analysis of the state of implementation of the idea of inclusive development in Poland and the Intern's country of origin and their regions;
• formulation of conclusions and recommendations.

The project is about socio-economic development and will therefore be implemented in the field of economics. However, it should contain elements of law, sociology, etc.

Supervisor:	Aranka Ignasiak-Szulc, PhD (aranka[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Economic Policy and Regional Studies, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	economics (local and regional development, social inclusion)

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Responsible tourism

Tourism is considered one of the engines of economic development and a factor of competitiveness in many countries and regions. It should be noted, however, that the influx of tourists, especially mass tourism, can also result in a number of negative effects (e.g. overtourism), and even conflict with the concept of sustainable development. Therefore, an important role for entities responsible for the development of tourism should be the idea of responsibility, which today is referred to the concept of the so-called responsible tourism.
Research goals include:

• learning the basics of responsible tourism;
• definition of the tasks of the entities in the field of ensuring the development of responsible tourism and ways of its implementation (instruments);
• comparison of the state of implementation of the concept of responsible tourism in Poland and the Intern's country of origin and their regions.

Research tasks will include:

• literature studies and analysis of strategic documents in the field of ensuring conditions for the implementation of the idea of responsible tourism in the EU and the Intern's country of origin (if outside of the EU);
• case studies on the implementation of tasks of entities responsible for implementing the idea of responsible tourism in Poland and the Intern's country of origin;
• comparative analysis of the state of implementation of the idea of responsible tourism in Poland and the Intern's country of origin and their regions;
• formulation of conclusions and recommendations.

The project is about socio-economic development and will therefore be implemented in the field of economics. However, it should contain elements of law, geography, etc.

Supervisor:	Aranka Ignasiak-Szulc, PhD (aranka[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Economic Policy and Regional Studies, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	economics (tourism and hospitality studies, tourism policy, responsible development)

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Community-led local development– past, present and future

In the EU regional and especially local development policy has put a lot of emphasis on enabling and empowering people to take greater control over their own lives through ‘bottom-up’ development approach that involves local people in their planning. For this purpose, the instrument named Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) is used, the essence of which is functioning of Local Action Groups (LAGs). LAGs are area-based partnerships which include representatives of public, private, voluntary and community sectors who are assumed to realize concrete objectives of local development policy. LAGs are perceived to be optimally situated to identify the best solutions to local problems, to mobilize and integrate local potential in the most effective way and be more able to act responsively than other institutions in socio-economic local environment.
The student will be involved in ongoing research on CLLD in Poland which is a relatively new instrument for use at sub-regional level, complementary to other development support available in a region. She or he will learn about the essence of area-based partnerships and their role in local governance system in the past, now and in the future. She or he will have opportunity to take part in carrying out research on cooperation between stakeholders of selected partnership in Poland and on their experiences in implementing the CLLD instrument.

The objectives of the project are:

• to learn the specifics and principles of implementing the CLLD instrument in Poland,
• to analyze the experiences of stakeholders of the selected LAG in the field of cooperation between them and achieving the objectives of local development policy.

Research tasks include:

• conducting desk research/online query on the functioning of territorial partnerships and the CLLD instrument in the EU and in the home country of the student,
• developing a proposal for an in-depth interview questionnaire for surveying the stakeholders of the selected LAG,
• participation in conducting a stakeholder survey of a selected LAG,
• preparation of a short research report.

Supervisor:	Maria Kola-Bezka, PhD (mkola[at]econ.umk.pl)
	Department of Economic Policy and Regional Studies, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	economics (local and regional development)

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Different dimensions of well-being – comparative analysis

Well-being analysis is attractive and innovative concept especially from the perspective of sustainable development, including social inclusion. Report of Stiglitz, Sen and Fitousi (2010) pointed out that if well-being is assessed than its eight dimensions have to be taken simultaneously into account. These are not only material living standards (GDP per capita, median equivalised disposable household income, housing conditions and income inequalities and poverty) but also immaterial quality of life (health, education, personal activities including work, political voice and government, social relationships, environmental conditions, economic and physical insecurity). As part of the main research objective, it is planned to assess the well-being (in terms of: health, education, environmental conditions, political conditions, economic and mental security and happiness) by building a synthetic measure. It is therefore planned to carry out a multidimensional comparative analysis of the effects of well-being from an economic (material standard of living) as well as a social perspective (universal access to health services) in the selected country/ countries to the situation in the European Union/OECD countries/world.

1. To define well-being. To study literature in the field of assessing the well-being in the framework of sustainable development.
2. To distinguish different dimensions of well-being
3. To collect statistical data
4. To build a synthetic measures of well- being in different dimensions and synthetic measure of general well-being
5. To compare the well-being across different countries

Supervisor:	Małgorzata Szczepaniak, PhD (m.szczepaniak[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Economics, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	economics (well-being, sustainable development, social inclusion)

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Event management – satisfaction factors

In connection with cooperation with the National University of Economics S. Kuznetsa in Kharkov (Ukraine), Cadi Ayyed University in Marrakech (Morocco), Hassan II University in Casablanca (Morocco) and the University of Lille (France), there is the possibility of research in the field of event management, in particular in measuring the satisfaction of event participants - cultural (opera, theater, museums) and sports. The project assumes through the participation of a panel of experts, questionnaires and case studies on the selection of the most important factors enabling achievement of satisfaction by the event participants (viewers, fans). The study design assumes checking if there are differences in the intercultural aspect (Poland - Morocco) and other economic situation (Ukraine - France).
The goals cover identification and measurement of factors affecting the satisfaction of participants in:

1. cultural,
2. sporting events.

Specific research tasks include:

1. developing research methodology,
2. development and presentation of differences in satisfaction factors for cultural and sporting events,
3. preparation of the research tool – questionnaire,
4. checking if there are differences in satisfaction factors for the countries of Morocco, France, Ukraine.

Supervisor:	Mateusz Tomanek, PhD (mtomanek[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Business Excellence, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	management and quality studies (event management)

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The crisis of representative democracy

The crisis of representative democracy can be considered as a crisis of the entire representative system or one of its elements. From a theoretical point of view, the concept “democracy” expresses the idea of self-government of the people, while the adjective “representative” indicates that governing happens indirectly, namely through the involvement and actions of representatives. The idea of representative democracy is implemented in a specific form of law making. Democratic legislation must be based on the will of the people and represent a contrast to the particular will. Legislative institutions should “represent the people”, i.e. act on its behalf and according to its will. According to J. Habermas, democratic shaping of the will owes its legitimizing power to (a) communicative assumptions that allow better arguments to prevail in various forms of deliberation and (b) procedures that ensure fair conditions of the deliberation process. The term crisis refers to sudden changes that threaten a particular status quo that require appropriate decisions. An adequate response to the crisis needs a thorough diagnosis of the given state of affairs. The crisis of representative democracy likewise requires an answer, what elements of the representative system are in crisis, what are its causes and consequences, what remedies are possible. The aim of the research is to examine whether and what elements of representative democracy are affected by the crisis. The aim of the research requires a comparison of the theoretical criteria of representative democracy with their constitutional and legal regulation and their practical implementation. The subject of the research will be selected countries towards which the view is expressed that they are in a state of crisis of democracy.

Supervisors:	dr hab. Maciej Serowaniec, prof. UMK (mserowaniec[at]umk.pl)
	dr Wojciech Włoch (wloch[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (comparative constitutional law)

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Current challenges to human rights protection in Europe

The aim of the research project is to identify and analyze case-law of the European Court of Human Rights focused one of the selected contemporary problems of human rights protection. The in-depth analysis of the jurisprudence is aimed to provide answers to the following research questions: How does the Court interpret provisions of the ECHR and build up their substance (material scope)? What kinds of limitations of the given rights and freedoms are viewed as compatible or incompatible with the Convention? Among the suggested issues to be covered are:

1. The situation of migrant minors in detention;
2. Hate speech on the Internet,
3. Rights of persons with disabilities;
4. Influence of environmental hazards on the enjoyment of human rights,
5. Surveillance at workplace
6. Administrative law and human rights.

These topics however do not constitute a closed list and another issue may be selected after a consultation with the project participant. It is expected that at the end of the project student will be able to analyze the jurisprudence of the Court, find and scrutinize the Council of Europe memos, briefs, and other information (e.g. reports prepared by non-governmental organizations) on a detailed theme of his/her interest, as well as to apply the reasoning of the Court to hypothetical cases. The project will be carried out according with the following steps:

1. Identification and selection of the relevant case-law;
2. An in-depth analysis of the case-law according to the project’s aims and research questions;
3. Consultations with mentors (project’s authors) throughout the project;
4. Presentation of outcomes.

Supervisors:	dr Julia Kapelańska-Pręgowska (jkp[at]law.umk.pl)
	dr Piotr Sadowski (psadowski[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Human Rights, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (human rights)

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Legal conditions for the development of InsurTech in Poland and other EU Member States

The research goal of the project is a multifaceted analysis (with a comprehensive use of the comparative method) of the legal regulation of the so-called InsurTech (technology used to improve the operation of the insurance industry). As in the case of the entire FinTech industry - customer expectations, which are closely related to technological progress, play a decisive role here. However, the mass use of new technologies (especially IT solutions) must be coupled with appropriate safeguards for the interests of clients, for example regarding the protection of their personal data and preventing the phenomenon of so-called misselling. Legal regulations can play a key role here.
Research tasks:

1. Determining the scope of the InsurTech concept in Poland and other selected EU Member States;
2. Analysis of the de lege lata legal status regarding InsurTech in Poland and other selected EU Member States;
3. Identifying key issues regarding the legal regulation of InsurTech in Poland and other selected EU Member States;
4. Identification of the main problems related to the development of InsurTech in Poland and other selected EU Member States;
5. An attempt to develop relevant recommendations and conclusions de lege ferenda.

Supervisor:	dr Michał P. Ziemiak (mpz[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Insurance and Medical Law, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (insurance law)

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Liability of Member States for the Violation of Fundamental Values of the European Union (the case of the Republic of Poland)

The European Union is founded on values, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, laid down in Article 7 TEU. Those values are common to all Member States and a precondition for a well-functioning Union based on mutual trust. Article 7 TEU protects the European Union against political developments in one or more member states that undermines values on which the common association is based. Unfortunately, in recent years, events in some Member States revealed systemic threats to the rule of law. The mail aim of this project is to present the consequences for the citizens, for the democracy, and for the whole Community of the possible infringement of the common European values and principles established in the art. 7 of TEU by the Member State of the European Union. The main research task of this project is to prepare a presentation which includes the analysis of current situation in Poland in a broad context of observing the requirements of the rule of law, fundamental rights, democracy and values common to the Member States of the European Union.

Supervisors:	dr hab. Katarzyna Witkowska-Chrzczonowicz, prof. UMK (kwch[at]umk.pl)
	Department of International and European Law, Faculty of Law and Administration
	dr hab. Maciej Serowaniec, prof. UMK (mserowaniec[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (comparative constitutional law, European law)

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The 20th century and present critique as a basis to strengthen protection of democracy, rule of law and human rights

In the light of todays problems when another economic crisis is under way alongside the crisis of legitimacy of democracy, rule of law, and the crisis of international law and human rights protection, we hear again the critique that we are doing something wrong. By undertaking the project I would like to present that the philosophy of the 20th century is a rich source where we should look for alternative narratives of how to protect democracy, rule of law and human rights.
The project will be comprised of the following 6 tasks/stages:

1. Analysis of conditions in which we live using insights from the critical analysis present in today’s legal and political science literature;
2. Analysis of the thesis that thanks to the critical analysis of the thought of selected 6 philosophers of the 20th century we can become more conscious of the processes that led in the past to the rise of nationalistic tendencies and totalitarian regimes;
3. Research on the applicability of analysed critical perspectives of 6 philosophers (which identifies false philosophical and ethical foundations in our thinking) to understand the causes of today’s nationalistic and authoritarian tendencies;
4. Comparative study of the applicability of the analysis of the six, twentieth century philosophers to the analysis presented by contemporary critics;
5. Research on the propositions for necessary legal and policy changes, as presented by the 6 philosophers and contemporary critics;
6. Analysis of the applicability and usefulness of the propositions for necessary legal and policy formation changes to deal with today’s problems (the rise of nationalistic and authoritarian tendencies).

The goal of the project is:

1. to gain knowleadge about critical approaches to crisis past and present (to broaden our consciousness of present and historical processes);
2. to understand the reasons and processes leading to crisis (to help us argue in the name of new basis that we need today to strengthen democracy, rule of law and protection of human rights);
3. to present how we can improve the process of law and policy formation (to secure us from future crisis).

Supervisor:	dr hab. Marcin Kilanowski, prof. UMK (markil[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Theory of Law and State, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	21.06 - 18.07.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (philosophy of law, human rights)

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Criminal protection of trademarks in the laws of selected states (student’s home country and Poland)

The phenomenon of product counterfeiting has been on increase, not only contributing to growing losses of the right-holders, but primarily constituting an increasing threat to consumers and safety of the country. Counterfeiting significantly reduces the revenue from taxes and fees; there are more and more reports about the fatal consequences of the use of counterfeited goods, especially drugs, dietary supplements, mechanical and electronic devices. The dynamic character of the phenomenon of product counterfeiting is reflected not only in the continuing increase in the amount of counterfeited products on the market and the diversification of the categories of the counterfeited products, which results in a situation where all the products available in the economic trade have their counterfeited equivalents, but also in new trends in the fields of manufacture and distribution. One of them is the growth of the importance of the internet as a significant channel of distribution of counterfeited goods. What is more, organized crime is increasingly strong engaged in the phenomenon, which contributes to its growing quality and quantity. Product counterfeiting is related to numerous other serious crimes, such as money laundering, human trafficking and enabling illegal immigration, tax fraud, corruption and document forging, while the revenue from the sales of the counterfeited goods are invested in drug dealing and terrorism, among others. The aim of the project is to provide a look at the problem of goods counterfeiting by:

1. a examination and understanding of the phenomenon of counterfeiting, in particular, from the criminological perspective;
2. examination and evaluation of the penal regulations aimed at preventing product counterfeiting in the EU law;
3. examination and evaluation of the penal regulations aimed at preventing product counterfeiting in one selected state (student’s home country); and
4. and comparing them to the Polish regulations

Supervisor:	dr Natalia Daśko (ndasko[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Criminal Law, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (criminal law)

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Lawmaking competences of local public administration bodies in selected countries

The project will be comprised of the following 3 tasks/stages:

1. Verification of the thesis that local public administration bodies are commonly equipped with lawmaking competences;
2. Determining the scope of lawmaking competences of local public administration bodies in selected countries;
3. Determining the legal characteristics of local public administration bodies equipped with lawmaking competences in selected countries.

The goal of the project is:

1. Determining the meaning of the concepts of lawmaking competences and local public administration bodies;
2. Determining whether equipping local public administration bodies with lawmaking competences is used in the legal systems of selected countries;
3. Indication of local public administration bodies equipped with lawmaking competences and analysis of the scope of these competences in selected countries;
4. Analysis of selected practical problems related to the lawmaking activity of local public administration bodies in selected countries.

Note: research tasks carried out based on the legal regulation of the countries selected by the student.

Supervisor:	dr Łukasz Maszewski (maszewski[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Administrative Law, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (administrative law)

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In dubio pro libertate (in dubio pro tributario) as a rule of legal reasoning in tax law - legal regulation and practice of application

The project will be comprised of the following 3 tasks/stages:

1. Verification of the thesis that the in dubio pro libertate principle is widely used in tax law systems;
2. Assessment of the impact of the fight against tax avoidance in the context of the BEPS project on application of the in dubio pro tributario principle - verification of the thesis that BEPS raises the risk of restricting the use of the in dubio pro tributario principle;
3. Determining whether the in dubio pro tributario rule can be an independent basis for resolving a tax case.

The goal of the project is:

1. Determining the way of understanding the principle in dubio pro libertate in selected countries;
2. Determining whether the in dubio pro libertate principle is widely used in the tax systems of European countries – examination of the legal regulations and literature in selected countries;
3. Examination of jurisprudence practice of applying the in dubio pro libertate principle in the context of the problem of combating tax avoidance and tax evasion in selected countries;
4. Analysis of selected practical problems.

Note: carried out research tasks are based on the legal regulations of the countries selected by the student.

Supervisors:	dr hab. Wojciech Morawski, prof. UMK (wmoraw[at]umk.pl)
	dr hab. Jacek Wantoch-Rekowski, prof. UMK (rekowski[at]umk.pl)
	Department of Public Finances Law, Faculty of Law and Administration
Internship period:	16.08 - 12.09.2021
Scientific disciplines:	law (tax law)

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