RESQL - Innovator of Mazovia 2021
Every year the Marshal's Office of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship takes several measures to develop and support innovation in the region and the Innovator of Mazovia competition is one of them. For the last 13 years, the competition has been held in two categories - Innovative Company and Innovative Scientist. This year's edition has been a record-breaker, with as many as 105 entries, including 79 submitted by companies and 26 by scientists. The jury selected 7 winners, as well as 4 honourable mentions.
The RESQL system, a tool to tackle peer violence at schools, won 2nd place in the Innovative Company category. The project, which allows students to anonymously report an incident and teachers to carry out a possible intervention, has been developed by psychologists from SWPS University - Dr Radosław Kaczan, Dr Małgorzata Wójcik and Dr Piotr Rycielski. RESQL received a cash prize of PLN 20,000 from the local government. The award was accepted by Piotr Ciszek and Krzysztof Rzeńca, who are responsible for the commercialisation of the system on behalf of the Center for Knowledge Transfer at SWPS University.
The competition was open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises registered and operating in Mazovia since 1 January 2015. For the application to be accepted, the submitted service or technology had to be launched on the market after 1 January 2018 or the company had to have acquired funds for its commercialisation.
RESQL - a revolutionary system that makes it easier to report violence
Moreover, the RESQL system features lesson scripts for teachers on psychological determinants of violence. The material has been written by psychologists and educators and tested in primary and secondary schools. Therefore, this system is an innovative, relevant, and well-prepared response to the increase in peer violence.
Although RESQL is new to the market, it is already available in 24 schools (one of the first to purchase it was one of the best secondary schools in Warsaw, the 9th Klementyna Hoffmanowa Secondary School). In total, over 6,000 students use this system today.
The Innovator of Mazovia title is not the first award granted to the project. It has already won the Grand Prix at the 13th International Fair and Competition INTARG 2020 Online - Social Innovation.
Radosław Kaczan
Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
RESQL project manager, psychologist at the SWPS University in Warsaw. His academic interests include psychology of human development, construction of diagnostic tools for studying the development of children and adolescents, competence diagnosis and supporting lifelong learning. He also conducts research on peer violence at schools and implements programmes to prevent this phenomenon. He was the manager of the implementation research project "Monitoring of the school environment and prevention of risky behaviour, including peer violence".
Małgorzata Wójcik
Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
RESQL project expert, psychologist at the SWPS University in Katowice. For many years, she worked as an English teacher and tutor in primary and lower-secondary schools. Currently, her work involves research into the causes and manifestations of school violence and peer group dynamics. Together with her team she develops and implements innovative educational programmes to prevent violence, stigmatisation and discrimination in peer groups.
Piotr Rycielski
Ph.D.
Co-founder of the RESQL project, psychologist at the SWPS University in Warsaw, scholarship holder at the University of Michigan. For many years he was an assistant professor and member of the Scientific Council of the Educational Research Institute. A long-time university lecturer, author and co-author of numerous scientific studies and publications in the field of educational psychology.
Innovation Broker
Piotr Ciszek
CEO of RESQL Sp. z o.o. He is responsible for the commercialisation of the RESQL system on behalf of the Centre for Knowledge Transfer.
Innovaton Broker
Krzysztof Rzeńca
Board Member of RESQL Sp. z o.o. He is responsible for the commercialisation of the RESQL system on behalf of the Centre for Knowledge Transfer. Psychologist, interested in the possibilities of using new technologies in psychology, especially in education and in online psychological interventions. He is involved in mHealth and e-Mental Health. He has many years of experience working for national and international corporations.