Experience

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

since 1969 researcher, academic teacher, translator, interpreter, author, editor and consultant.

a) Positions held:

since 2013 – lecturer of Islamic Civilization, Collegium Bobolanum (Papal Theological Faculty), Warsaw;

since 2012 – lecturer of Islamic Civilization, 3rd Age University, Warsaw;

since 2001 – lecturer of Islamic Civilization, Collegium Civitas, Warsaw (initially in Polish; and since 2008 also in English);

since 1995 – expert member, Commission for the Standardization of Geographical Names Outside of Polish Frontiers by the Office of the Chief Geodesian of the State (earlier situated by the Ministry of National Education); consequently member of UNGEGN (United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names);

since 1991 – owner and manager of Ibn Khaldun Institute (private research institution), Piastów (at present; earlier in Warsaw);

2005-2007 – editor-in-chief: “Egypt – Gods and Pharaohs” fortnightly, at StudioPrint, Warsaw;

2004-2006 – lecturer in Islamic Civilization, Giedroyc College of Communication and Social Media, Warsaw

2004-2005 – editor-in-chief: “Ancient Civilizations” fortnightly;

2000-2004 – director of editorial department and editor-in-chief at the publishing company MediaPlus Co. Ltd., Warsaw (incl. magazines for teaching English to Polish students, teaching English, French and German to Russian-speaking students, “E@sy Internet” e.a.);

1998-2000 – editor-in-chief and manager of encyclopedia project (over 350 collaborators) at Bertelsmann Media Co. Ltd., Warsaw;

May -Sep.’92 – newsroom journalist, Polish Television (public);

Feb.-May ’92 – English newsroom journalist, Wawa Radio (local, private), Warsaw;

1991-1996 – director of Transmontana company (consulting and publishing enterprise), Piastów (earlier in Warsaw);

1990-1991 – director of Echnateon Publishing House, Celestynów (Mazovian voivodship);

1979-1993 – lecturer at the Department of Arabic Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Warsaw University (specialization: transcription and transliteration; geographical names; classical Islamic texts);

1979-1989 – expert and consultant in Arabic onomastics in topographical cartography, National Geodetic and Cartographic Enterprise (PPGK), Warsaw;

1971-1979 – Arabic lecturer and researcher, also in charge of foreign cooperation at the Institute of African Studies (earlier called: Centre of African Studies, subsequently transformed into Institute of Developing Countries), Warsaw University;

1970-1972 – translator and transliterator, Department of Cartographic Documentation, State Cartographical Publishing House (PPWK), Warsaw.

b) Research experience:

– religion, history and civilization;

– historical geography and cartography;

– ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities;

– practical and political issues (on domestic and international levels);

– linguistics: teaching methods, onomastics, transnationalisation of scientific terminology.

c) Other professional activities:

– expertise consultancy and editorial work for theatre, films (cinema, TV serials), TV and radio programs in the field of Arabic and Islamic matters, international relations;

– preparation and/or participation in numerous radio and TV programs and public lectures on linguistic problems, Islam and the Muslim World (cultural and political).

d) Study/business /lecturing trips to over 50 foreign countries, in:

Africa (Northern and Western: Algeria, Ghana, Libya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia),

America (Northern: Canada, USA),

Asia (Western, Southern and Central: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia – incl. umrah and hajj, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, U.A.E., Uzbekistan),

Europe (Eastern, Western, Central and Southern),

Longer sojourns in: Algeria, Bulgaria, France, U.S.A.

EDUCATION

a) Doctoral studies:

since 2019 – Institut des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO – Université Sorbonne Paris Cité);

2015-2019 – Warsaw University (Faculty of Oriental Studies and Faculty of Polish Studies);

b) Postgraduate studies:

1992 – special course in free press and communication skills, Danish School of Journalism, Åarhus, Denmark;

1974-1975 – Berber studies at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO – Université de Paris V) and École Pratique des Hautes Études – EPHE, Paris, France;

1973 – summer course in Arabic at Institut Bourguiba des Langues Vivantes (IBLV), Tunis, Tunisia;

1972-1973 – apprenticeship in Maghribian studies at the Faculté des Lettres, Université d’Oran, Algeria;

1970-1971 – assistantship preparatory studies, Centre of African Studies, Warsaw University;

c) Higher studies:

1969 – M.A. in Oriental Studies – in the field of Arabic philology, Warsaw University;

1966-1968 – Mediterranean Archaeology at Warsaw University (in minor);

1964-1969 – Arabic and Islamic Studies at Warsaw University (in major).

SPECIAL SKILLS

– openness and ability of acting in a multicultural environment, on diversified social levels;

– awareness of historical and geographical sources of communal contradictory interests; understanding ways how they turn into conflicts and clashes;

– negotiator and moderator in big gatherings in stress conditions;

– languages known: Arabic, Bulgarian, English, French, Polish, Russian (slightly: Belorussian, Berber, German, Italian, Latin, Persian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu).

MEMBERSHIP

a) Board Membership:
– Polish-Arabic Friendship Society – founding member (1968), member of the main board, president (since 2005);

– International Organization for Unification of Terminological Neologisms – founding member (1980), member of the main board;

– Library of Arabic Linguistics (Kegan Paul International, London and Boston) – member of the advisory editorial board;

– “Onomasticon Arabicum”, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris – correspondent for toponymy;

– “Neoterm”, Journal of the International Organisation for Unification of Terminological Neologisms, Warsaw, Poland – member of the editorial committee;

– Servas Poland (branch of Servas-Open Doors International, UNO affiliated), 1976 (initially underground); founding member at formal registration (1990);

b) Other NGO’s:

– Polish Onomastic Society, since 2019

– Joint Council of Catholics and Muslims, since 2010;

– Middle East Studies Association, since 1993;

– The “Islam in Europe” Group, The Islamic Foundation, Leicester, U.K., since 1992;

– Polish Geographical Society, since 1977;

– Exploration Society, Warsaw, since 1975;

– Association Internationale d’Étude des Civilisations Méditerranéennes, since 1974;

– Association Française des Arabisants, since 1974;

– Polish Oriental Society, since 1964.

PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

1971-2020: over 50 conferences in: Albania (Tirana), Algeria (Oran, Algiers, Constantina), Austria (Vienna, Tainach/Tinje, Hermagor/Šmohor), Belgium (Antwerpen, Brussels), Bulgaria (Varna), Canada (Montreal), France (La Saulai, Paris), Germany (Bad Neuenahr, Berlin, Bonn, Leutherheide, Loccum, Lüneburger Heide, Munich), Greece (Corfu); Iran (Tehran), Italy (Rome), Kuwait, Latvia (Riga), Libya (Benghazi), Morocco (Agadir, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat); Netherlands (Leiden); Niger (Agadez), Northern Cyprus (Girne/Kyrenia), Pakistan (Karachi), Poland (Cracow, Gdańsk, Warsaw, Wrocław), Qatar (Doha), Romania (Timişoara), Russia (Moscow), Saudi Arabia (Mecca, Riadh), Spain (Barcelona), Switzerland (Davos), U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi, Dubai), U.K. (Leicester, London, Sheffield), U.S.A. (Dayton, Oh.).

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