Maria Opiela

Maria Opiela is a Professor at the Department of the History of Education, Care and Social Pedagogy, Faculty of Social Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Her work centers on the pedagogical thought of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski, focusing on Integral Development, Catholic Early Childhood Education, and Interdisciplinary Educational Applications. She has led EU-funded and NCN projects addressing family violence prevention and historical pedagogical concepts.

• Institute of Pedagogy
• International Studies in Catholic Education
• Editor-in-Chief of academic publications

Her research spans Integral Education, Religious Pedagogy, and Family-Based Educational Models, often analyzing Bojanowski’s legacy across 15+ years of curriculum development and cross-cultural implementations.

Her recent publications (2024–2025) emphasize Global Applications of Bojanowski’s pedagogy, Ukrainian-Polish Educational Perceptions, and Intergenerational Integration through toys and games. Articles consistently bridge historical theory with modern challenges in Childcare, Social Pedagogy, and Cultural Preservation.

Scientific Awards:

• Nagroda FENIKS 2023 & 2017
• MEDAL Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 2013
• Multiple Rector’s Individual & Team Awards (2017–2024)

As a committee member and reviewer, she evaluates doctoral dissertations and contributes to Poland’s Catholic education framework. She also organizes international conferences and serves on editorial boards, including Zeszyty Naukowe KUL and Paideia Παιδεία.