Date: Friday, 23 January 2026
Venue: Beskidzki Raj, Stryszawa 667, 34-205 Stryszawa, Poland
Conference Theme:
“Using Virtual Reality in Mountain Rescue Training to Ensure the Safety of Seniors and Persons with Disabilities in Cross-Border Mountain Areas” “VR technologies for Mountain Rescue Brigades to assure seniors and people with disabilities safety in cross-border mountain areas [RESCUER]”
Plenary Session - Theme: “Safety of older adults and persons with disabilities in mountain areas – health, technical and training aspects.”
10:00-10:10 – Foreword / Introduction to the conference
10:10-10:25 – Józef Bałos, MSc Eng., Starost of Suski County“ - Podbabiogórze – the heart of mountain tourism in Western Małopolska” (Poland) -
10:25-10:40 – Tomasz Pasierbek, PhD, Director of Babiogórski National Park (Poland) - “Nature for all – accessibility of mountain national parks for persons with disabilities”
10:40-10:55 – Sabina Bugaj, MA, Director of the Municipal Centre for Culture, Promotion and Information (Poland)“ - The Beskids without barriers – mountains for everyone”
10:55-11:10 – Bogumił Kanik, MA, WSB University (Poland) - “Innovations in the supply chain: Only a conherent system can change reality”
11:10-11:25 – Assoc. Prof. Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, PhD, WSB University (Poland) - “Persons with special needs in mountain areas - some health aspects”
11:25-11:40 – Albert Kościński, MA, WSB University (Poland) - “Challenges for the Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue Service (GOPR) in assisting persons with special needs”
11:40-11:55 – Lukáš Szlaur, MSc Eng., Director and Psychologist, Institut EuroSchola (Czech Republic) - “Cross-border cooperation of the Integrated Rescue System of the Czech Republic”
11:55-12:00 – Panel summary
12:00-13:00 – Lunch Break (During the break: presentation of scenarios, including online demonstrations.)
Afternoon Session
13:00-13:30 – Testing the RESCUER VR course
13:30-13:45 – Assoc. Prof. Ryszard Szynowski, PhD, WSB University (Poland) - “Help without borders - cross-border cooperation for safety and accessibility: experience from the RESCUER project”
13:45-14:00 – Dr. Paweł Buchwald, WSB University (Poland) - “Using virtual reality technologies to improve the safety of mountain tourism”
14:00-14:15 – Riccardo Cariani, MSc – Business Consultant, ECECE (Austria) - “The RESCUER VR course and the Carinthian mountain context”
14:15-14:30 – Katarína Lušňáková, MSc, Municipality of Čadca (Slovak Republic)-“The role of local government in developing accessible tourism for seniors and people with disabilities”
14:30-14:45 – Discussion
14:45-15:00 – Assoc. Prof. Ryszard Szynowski, PhD, WSB University (Poland) - “The RESCUER project as a shared experience and inspiration for future actions”