Graduated in ethnology from the Jagiellonian University (1993), received a doctorate from the Faculty of History (JU, 2000) and a habilitation degree awarded by the Discipline Council for the Science on Culture and Religion (JU, 2020). A visiting professor (Lyon and Strasbourg, multiple times) and a scholarship holder from the governments of Switzerland (1995) and France (2017). Thanks to a scholarship from the Swedish Institute, he completed a postdoctoral stay at the Centre for European Studies at Lund University (2014). He was/is a member of many international research teams. Currently the head of the interdisciplinary doctoral programme at the Doctoral School in the Humanities JU and the coordinator of the double degree MA programme taught by the Institute of European Studies JU and l'IEP de Strasbourg (since 2010). Also represents the Jagiellonian University in the Self-Steering Committee in Cultural Heritage of the “Una Europa” alliance (since 2020).
K. Kowalski, Ł. Piekarska-Duraj, B. Törnquist-Plewa (eds), Narrating Otherness in Poland and Sweden. European Heritage as a Discourse of Inclusion and Exclusion, Peter Lang, New York–Oxford–Warszawa–Wien, 2019, p. 324.
K. Kowalski, Ł. Piekarska-Duraj, B. Törnquist-Plewa (eds), “Diversity and Unity. How Heritage Becomes the Narrative for Europe’s Future”, Politeja thematic issue2018, no 1, vol. 52, p. 193.
K. Kowalski, B. Törnquist-Plewa (eds), The Europeanization of Heritage and Memories in Poland and Sweden, Jagiellonian University Press, Kraków 2016, p. 276.
K. Kowalski, O istocie dziedzictwa europejskiego – rozważania, International Cultural Centre, Kraków 2013, p. 304.
K. Kowalski, F. Mancuso (eds), Squares of Europe, Squares for Europe. Places d’Europe, Places pour l’Europe, Jagiellonian University Press, Kraków 2007, p. 240.
K. Kowalski, B. Gierat-Bieroń (eds), Europejskie modele polityki kulturalnej, Instytut Europeistyki UJ i Małopolska Szkoła Administracji Publicznej Akademii Ekonomicznej w Krakowie, vol. 1., Kraków 2005, p. 211.
G. Skąpska, A. Orla-Bukowska with K. Kowalski (eds), The Moral Fabric in Contemporary Societies, Brill, Leiden–Boston 2003, p. 374.
K. Kowalski, Europa: mity, modele, symbole, International Cultural Centre, Kraków 2002, p. 271.
Populist rebellion against modernity in 21st-century Eastern Europe: neo-traditionalism and neo-feudalism, University College London (leader), Charles University (Czechia), Jagiellonian University, Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary), Tartu University (Estonia), University of Belgrade (Serbia), European Commission, Horizon 2020, 2019–2022. Member of research team.
Delayed Transformational Fatigue in Central and Eastern Europe: Responding to the Rise of Illiberalism/Populism (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks), University College London (leader), Charles University (Czechia), Jagiellonian University, Corvinus University Budapest (Hungary), University of Tartu (Estonia), University of Belgrade (Serbia), European Commission, Horizon 2020, 2018–2021. Member of research team.
Europeizacja miejsc pamięci i konstruowanie wspólnego dziedzictwa europejskiego, NCN (Harmonia 4), JU Institute of European Studies and Centre for European Studies, Lund University, 2013–2019. Coordinator and member of research team.
EUROMEC: European Identity, Culture, Exchanges and Multilingualism, Jean Monnet Network, University of Sofia (leader), Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica
(Slovakia), Trinity College (Dublin, Irelande), JU Institute of European Studies (Kraków), University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Durham University (UK), Leuven University (Jean Monnet Chair and JM Centre of Excellence, Leuven, Belgium), Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (China), 2015–2017. Member of research team.
In search of transcultural memory in Europe (ISTME), program COST: European Cooperation in Science and Technology, University of Lund (Project leader), 2015–2016. Deputy Polish member on COST Management Committee.
The Square: a European Heritage. La Place: un patrimoine européen, Culture 2000, polytechnics in Venice (leader), Barcelona, Thessaloniki, JU Institute of European Studies d Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, Paris, 2004-2007. Coordinator and member of research team.