In June, doctoral students and academics from the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ostrava, joined the international Action Research Summer Camp in Innsbruck, Austria. The week-long BIP programme within Erasmus+ offered an intensive experience dedicated to participatory action research – exploring its methods, ethical issues, and practical approaches to engaging communities in the research process.

A highlight of the programme was the presentation of research by Iveta Kowolová from the Faculty of Social Studies, together with her co-researchers from the practice. Together, they introduced the process and findings of participatory research focused on community leadership, which they implemented with active women from communities across the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Their contribution stood out not only for its academic quality but above all for its emphasis on equal partnership between academia and practice. The research was conducted with the full involvement of community members as co-creators and interpreters of the studied reality. This approach created space for a deeper understanding of women’s everyday experiences in their communities and amplified their voices in both research and the public space.

Yet the Summer Camp offered much more than an academic programme. It was also a profound personal and professional experience that fostered the sharing of values of participation, solidarity, and respect across national and institutional boundaries.

One of the participants summed up her experience: “The Summer Camp was a wonderful opportunity not only to grow as a researcher, but also to reflect on ways of involving people in research and to engage in deep discussions with people from different parts of the world in a safe environment built on solidarity, equality, and respect.”

For the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ostrava, the Action Research Summer Camp was not only a prestigious opportunity to present its work, but also a valuable source of inspiration for further development of research and community activities, building an international network of contacts, and strengthening the values that participatory approaches bring into the academic world.