Opole to measure cultural openness of its inhabitants

Commissioned by the Marshal Office of the Opole Voivodeship, the Opole University of Technology will collect the opinions of 1,000 inhabitants of the region. The respondents will be asked about their attitudes towards different nationalities and how they would feel about having a foreigner as a colleague, neighbour or family member.

The aim of the survey is to measure the general acceptance of immigration in the region and to examine how Poles perceive immigrants’ impact on the country’s economy, job market or culture. Those interviewed will be given a chance to speak about their hopes and expectations when it comes to immigrant integration and share their ideas on how to give more rights to foreign residents (such as the right to vote in Polish local elections for citizens from outside the EU). As can be expected, respondents will also be asked to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general attitudes towards immigration.

It is worth observing that the Opole Voivodeship is home to a significant minority community in Poland - German nationals constitute around 10 per cent of the region’s population. Therefore, the study might provide valuable insight into how living in a more culturally diverse place affects the way we perceive people of other nationalities.

The study will be carried out as part of a project supporting the integration of foreigners into the local community. Its findings are to be published later this year.

What nations do Polish people feel especially connected to? Check out in our article!