Jakub Bijak

Jakub Bijak is an academic assistant at the Department of Political Movements and Ethnic Studies, Institute of Political Science and Administration, Faculty of Political Science and Journalism, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin, Poland. Actively engaged in teaching and research since 2020, he contributes to courses including Economic Security of Poland, Migration Processes, and Crisis Management while supervising student initiatives.

Education:

• Master's degree in Political Science and Journalism from UMCS (2020); thesis: 'The Separatist Movement of the Inuit in Greenland' supervised by Prof. Maria Marczewska-Rytko.

Research Interests: His work critically examines separatism (focusing on Greenlandic Inuit movements), ethnic policy in Scandinavian states, Inuit studies through decolonization and identity lenses, international migration dynamics, and Arctic geopolitical rivalries involving US-China tensions. He emphasizes historical legacies, church-state relations, and participatory democracy models.

Publication Trends: Between 2021-2023, Bijak produced seven scholarly outputs exploring Greenland's political evolution (4 articles), Scandinavian ethnic policy (2), and space security (1). His research reveals recurring themes: colonial impacts on Inuit autonomy, comparative analysis of Nordic minority governance, and emerging security threats in both Arctic and outer-space domains, bridging political science with indigenous studies.

Scientific Awards:

• Distinction for best master's thesis in national security (2020).

Advising and Grants: As supervisor of the Political Movements and Ethnic Studies Scientific Circle, he mentors student research. Secured two Rector's Office grants: 2023 (No. 12/2023/GR) for 'Lublin Region - My Small Multicultural Homeland' and 2024 (No. GR/17/2024) for 'Participatory Democracy in Practice', funding workshops on multiculturalism and civic engagement.

Labs and Teams: Leads the Scientific Circle of Political Movements and Ethnic Studies (with active Fanpage), organizing educational events like 'Show Culture, Respect Nature' workshops during Lublin's Green Week and 'Multicultural Lublin Region' initiatives at the Lublin Science Festival, focusing on Indigenous Arctic cultures and community-based research.