About the program
Parenting today can be both rewarding and challenging. Families face new pressures from technology, work, social expectations, and changing ideas about family life. This course, examines main issues related to contemporary parenthood from the research perspective.
What will you learn?
During the course, you will:
- Enhance your knowledge and research skills concerning the challenges of contemporary parenthood in Europe
- Examine the role of gender, stereotypes, social norms, and beliefs in shaping parental experiences and behaviors
- Gain theoretical knowledge and methodological skills related to the key constructs such as parental identity, parental burnout, parental regret, and parental gatekeeping
- Understand beliefs concerning biological essentialism and neutrality in parenthood
- Learn about different forms of education and support for parents at various stages of parenthood
A special emphasis will be placed on the role of both psychological and cultural factors in shaping the context for contemporary parenthood, parents' mental health and access to care.
Through lectures, discussions, and practical exercises, you will critically examine the intersections of culture and gender in mental health contexts, which will prepare you for addressing parents' needs with cultural sensitivity and practical knowledge. Moreover, you will be prepared to plan your own research on parenthood and work on your first scientific publication.
Review course modules
Application Process
Before you start your application process, please prepare the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages, format A4, .pdf)
- Cover letter describing why you would like to participate in the course (max. 1 page, format A4, .pdf)
- CEFR B2 English proficiency certificate, we accept the following certificates: TOEFL, CAE, IELTS, or FCE. Alternatively, a letter confirming your English skills, printed on your home university’s letterhead, signed by one of your university lecturers.
Application deadline: March 10, 2026.
Funding
Students from ERUA partner universities, other than SWPS University, who are accepted to the program by SWPS University, can apply for travel and accommodation funding at their home university's ERUA Office.
Meet your lecturers
Piotrowski, Konrad
Role in the Faculty
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Role in the Department
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Role in the Institute
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Role in the Research Center
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Specialization
psychologist, specializing in developmental psychology, especially of adolescents and adults
First and last name
Konrad Piotrowski
Academic degree or title
Ph.D. / Associate Professor
Email
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Position
profesor uczelni
Role in the university
Director of the Doctoral School
Ph.D. / Associate Professor Konrad Piotrowskipsychologist, Principal Investigator in the Polish team of the Parenthood Regret Scale project
Janowicz, Kamil
First and last name
Kamil Janowicz
Academic degree or title
Ph.D. / Post-doc Researcher
Email
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Role in the Research Center
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Specialization
psychologist
Institute
Center for Research on Personality Development
Role in the Department
[]
Ph.D. / Post-doc Researcher Kamil Janowiczpsychologist
Skimina, Ewa
Specialization
psychologist specializing in personality psychology
First and last name
Ewa Skimina
Academic degree or title
Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
Email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Role in the Faculty
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Role in the Department
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Role in the Institute
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Role in the Research Center
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Ph.D. / Assistant Professor Ewa Skiminapsychologist specializing in personality psychology
Dzielińska, Michalina
First and last name
Michalina Dzielińska
Academic degree or title
M.A. / Teaching Assistant
Email
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Institute
Institute of Psychology
Role in the Faculty
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Role in the Department
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Role in the Institute
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Role in the Research Center
[]
M.A. / Teaching Assistant Michalina Dzielińskapsychologist
Idzikowska, Julia
First and last name
Julia Idzikowska
Specialization
psychologist
Academic degree or title
M.A. / Teaching Assistant
Email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Role in the Faculty
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Role in the Department
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Role in the Research Center
[]
M.A. / Teaching Assistant Julia Idzikowska
Lasota, Marta
First and last name
Marta Lasota
Academic degree or title
M.A. / Doctoral student at SWPS University's Doctoral School
M.A. / Doctoral student at SWPS University's Doctoral School Marta LasotaDoctoral Student
Osiecka, Patrycja
Specialization
psychologist
First and last name
Patrycja Osiecka
Academic degree or title
M.A.
Email
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M.A. Patrycja Osiecka
Duras, Jakub
First and last name
Jakub Duras
Email
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Academic degree or title
Fifth-year Psychology student at SWPS University
Fifth-year Psychology student at SWPS University Jakub Duras
Malawska, Zuzanna
First and last name
Zuzanna Malawska
Email
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Academic degree or title
Fifth-year Psychology student at SWPS University
Fifth-year Psychology student at SWPS University Zuzanna Malawska
Organizers
Funding sources
The project is co-funded by the European Union.
Contact
USWPS Office for International Cooperation: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.