This paper is about studying social cohesion in functional urban areas (FUA). These territorial units become an important stakeholder and recipient of urban policy. Therefore, it is important to study problems of their development, including social cohesion. In the paper it is understood in spatial terms, i.e. it occurs when the differentiation of specific territorial units in terms of selected social indicators is reduced. In the research was studied the sigma convergence related to functional urban areas of vovodeship’s capital cities in five least-developed regions of Poland (so-called the Eastern Poland). The aim of this article is to investigate whether social cohesion is increased in the FUA of the Eastern Poland. The obtained results showed that only in three FUA in the analyzed period was sigma convergence but it was very slow process. In two FUA, no sigma convergence was identified. At the same time, it was observed that in all the analyzed areas there was an improvement in the social situation.
Functional urban areas are becoming increasingly important in urban development policies as a comprehensive approach to solving problems and addressing development goals, not only of cities but also neighboring towns. Integrated territorial investments (ITI) are a new tool of cohesion policies aimed at better achievement of socioeconomic development objectives regarding urban functional areas. The purpose of the paper is to assess the use of ITIs in policies for the development of Bialystok Functional Area by analyzing strategic documents, including the Strategy of Integrated Territorial Investments of Bialystok Functional Area for the years 2014-2020. The following research hypothesis has been formulated: the financial resources in ITIs' allocation enable the city to strengthen its cooperation with the neighboring municipalities, mainly in the fields of public transport, investment attractiveness, and human capital.
Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) is a new support instrument dedicated to solving specific territorial problems of urban functional areas. About 6% of the allocation of the Regional Operational Program for Podlaskie Voivodship 2014-2020 is planned for realization of activities implemented in frame of ITI in the Białystok Functional Area (BFA). This support is for: strengthening the potential and competitiveness of the region's economy, enhancing competences and qualifications, low carbon economy and improving social cohesion. In particular, the support for business development by increasing investment attractiveness is planned. Allocation of ITI for this purpose is ca. 13,7 mln EUR. The aim of the article is to assess the state of entrepreneurship development and the range of support for the competitiveness of enterprises in the BFA in frame of ITI instrument. It will be presented a case study of projects implementing in BFA in frame of ITI instrument to support enterprise development and research conducted by Bialystok Functional Area Association (BFAA). Case study will be preceded by an analysis of the competitiveness of the local entrepreneurship and analysis of theoretical issues.
More than half of the world’s population lives in cities. Also, in Poland, urbanisation processes are still progressing. Moreover, the impact of an urban zone itself does not end with administrative boundaries. There are a number of functional connections between a given urban centre and its surroundings. Thus, functional urban areas begin to play a more important role in development policy. In particular, this aspect has gained importance in the face of the introduction, in 2014, of new territorial instruments of the EU cohesion policy, such as Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). The introduction of ITI was associated with formalising the operation of functional urban areas in Poland (FUA), mainly in the area of voivodeship centres. After a few years of their functioning, it is worth taking a closer look at their diversity. The aim of the study is, therefore, to determine the differentiation in the level of development of functional areas of voivodeship capital cities in Poland and their classification. The research was carried out with the use of the TOPSIS method on the basis of available, selected data from the Central Statistical Office. As a result of the research, FUAs were assigned to various classes of the level of socio-economic development and ranked in terms of the value of the synthetic indicator of socio-economic development that was constructed under the TOPSIS method. As a result of the study, it was found that, in general, studied units are characterised by rather small differentiation in the level of development; however, there are quite large discrepancies in the level of the synthetic indicator of socio-economic development between FUAs with the highest and the lowest value of this indicator.
Motivation: Today, the value of skilled, complex and creative work is growing fast. In the global knowledge economy, people's knowledge, skills learning, talents and abilities -their human capital -have become a main factor of economic growth. In many regions, the potential of human capital is restricted, e.g. in podlaskie voivodship. Particular problems exist in the field of vocational education as a result of long-term under-funding of vocational schools, reversal of proportion in choice between vocational and regular high schools, etc. Especially in the field of vocational education exists low quality of training. Education systems can do much to help people realise their potential and external funding (e.g. EU) can support innovative projects for the development of human resources. Aim: The main goal of this article is to show an example of innovative project in the field of vocational education that have an influence on development of human capital. In frame of EU instrument called Integrated Territorial Investments in Bialystok Functional Area (BFA) is implementing project of BFA Competence Center. The project is to support the development of knowledge, professional skills, talents and abilities. Results: The analysis led to the following conclusions: vocational education requires a broad integrated support; cooperation with different stakeholders (especially with em-
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