Academic potential of Katowice and the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis (Metropolis GZM). It's social perception and institutional conditioning.

Abstract

The article delved into analysing the academic potential of Katowice and the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis (Metropolis GZM). The theoretical framework revolved around the concepts of an academic city and a metropolis. The thesis proposed in the work discusses the dispersion of academic potential within the Metropolis GZM. This phenomenon resulted from the polycentric nature of the Katowice conurbation and the lack of targeted efforts to harness the presence of students and academic staff in the municipalities that make up the metropolis. The article used selected quantitative indicators of academic potential and qualitative and quantitative data from the authors' research and studies. These indicators and data highlighted efforts to overcome the identified dispersion of academic resources and strengthen cooperation in the triangle composed of higher education institutions, the city of Katowice, and the Metropolis GZM. The outcome of such collaboration became the European City of Science 2024 title, awarded by Katowice.