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The zone covers 26 communes within four counties: Włocławek, Lipno, Aleksandrów
and Radziejów, from where as many as approximately 8 thousand persons commute
daily to work. It is worth remembering, though, that the presented data by no means
represents the entire phenomenon. Research carried out in communes neighbouring
Włocławek have revealed that a substantial number of commuters travel by their own
car rather than by public transport. It particularly concerns the communes located in
the direct vicinity of the town; the estimate figures stand at 1000 – 1500 persons.
Education, culture and sport
Higher-level and secondary education are a vital factor influencing the functioning and
the extent of the zone in which the town affects its neighbouring areas. There are four
higher education school in Włocławek at the moment: Higher School of Humanities
and Economics, State Higher Vocational School, Higher School of Techniques and
Entrepreneurship, and Higher School of Information Technology in Łódź Włocławek
Affiliate. A total of approximately 9 thousand students attend the classes in these
schools both on normal and extramural basis. Over 60% of the students come from
the Włocławek region and other regions in Poland.
Włocławek is also home to numerous secondary schools both of general education and
vocational ones. They are very popular with students from outside of the town, which
particularly true for vocational schools where the percentage of students from the
neighbouring communes and counties reaches as high as 30%.
Włocławek Scientific Society is an important centre of science in the city. The society
organises numerous scientific conferences of both regional and national character, it
also initiates many scientific researches and projects connected Kujavy and Ziemia
Dobrzyńska area. Włocławek Scientific Society is the biggest publisher of scientific and
regional literature in the city. Through its members and the affiliate in Rypin the
society has a great impact on local societies of the intelligentsia in the neighbouring
communes and counties.
A number of educational and training centres are present in Włocławek offering
services to the residents of the whole functional area. They include among others the
Voivodship Centre for Drivers’ Training and Testing which trains and tests future
drivers from the area of five counties: Włocławek, Aleksandrów, Lipno, Rypin and
Radziejów. Foreign language schools and other educational institutions organising
further vocational training courses are also numerous.
The cultural life of the city and its level as well as the quality of cultural events
organised have a crucial impact on the surroundings. Włocławek is home to numerous
cultural and culture-related institutions offering services to the residents of the
neighbouring areas. The Impresario Theatre, where the best Polish actors appear on
stage, the concerts organised in the largest arenas in town, exhibitions of modern art
by renowned artists both Polish and foreign make up an offer widely accepted not only
by the residents of Włocławek. Research proves that the residents of the communes in
the following counties eagerly take advantage of the cultural offer of the city:
Włocławek, Radziejów, Lipno, and partially Aleksandrów.
The cultural resources such as monuments of material culture, numerous museums
(seven) are a rich offer for residents of other areas. The offer is used by school groups
from neighbouring communes and counties visiting Włocławek during excursions.
The importance of the city and its influence on the vicinity is also marked by the fact
that it’s the seat of two local daily newspapers: Gazeta Kujawska and Nowości
Włocławskie. The city is also home to two radio stations of overlocal range: Radio Gra
and Radio Hit.
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