The Adam Mickiewicz University

was established in 1919 and on May 2009 will celebrate its 90th anniversary.

The AMU history goes back to the 16th century. The first institution of higher learning in Poznań was founded in 1519 by Bishop Jan Lubrański. It was followed by the Jesuit College founded in 1573. Its founder and first rector was the reverend Jakub Wujek, author of a well-known Polish translation of the Bible.

On October 28th, 1611, King Sigismund III Vasa granted the Jesuit College the status of a university. Unfortunately, the King's decree evoked a sharp protest on the part of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow as a result of which Pope Paul V issued a bulla in which the Cracow Academy's privileges had been reconfirmed. The Jesuit College managed to maintain a high level of academic instruction, it conferred academic degrees and continued extensive publishing activities.

In 1772, Russia, Prussia and Austria accomplished the First Partition of Poland. The College was closed in 1773, following the annulment of the Jesuit Order.

Throughout the 123 years of the Prussian Partition, the idea of creating an institution of higher education in the Wielkopolska region had never vanished.

Shortly after Poland had regained independence, on May 7th, 1919, the University of Poznań, initially named the Piast University, officially inaugurated its activities. Dr. Heliodor Święcicki, was elected the first Rector of the newly-established University.

In 1920, the University changed its name to that of the University of Poznań. In the period before the Second World War, the University was organized into five faculties and offered academic education in the following disciplines: law, economy, medicine, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, agriculture and forestry.

During World War II, the Poznań University was closed, however the teachers and researchers did not stop working and organised the Underground University of Western Lands in Warsaw. Owing to their devotion and heroism about 2,000 students graduated from the Underground University. As the war drew to a close in February 1945, and while Poznań was still the scene of heavy fighting, the University was re-opened.

In December 1955, it was named after great Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz.

The year 1989, the end of communism and the rapid growth of Poland's economy offered a great chance to Polish high education.

The number of AMU students grew from 13,000 in 1989 to 51,000 in the year 2008. Since the moment of its foundation many distinguished scholars from all over the world as well as many outstanding personalities from politics and the fine arts have received the Honorary Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University. The few names that ought to be mentioned in this respect are: Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Ignacy Paderewski and Pope John Paul II.

Please refer to the webpage www.amu.edu.pl to learn more about the university

The Eugeniusz Piasecki University of Physical Education

is one of the oldest university level schools of physical education in Europe (the third one after Gent and Copenhagen). Its foundation goes back to the tradition of School Hygiene and Theory of Physical Education Chairs established at the newly opened Poznań University in 1919.

The University School trains tourism and physical culture staff at the graduate level to address the needs of physical education, sport, physiotherapy, tourism and recreation. The university is also a recognised scientific institution doing research in the fields related to its educational profile, especially in the areas of humanistic and natural bases of physical culture and tourism.

Didactic activity is carried out at: the Faculty of Physical Education in Poznań, the Branch Faculty of Physical Education in Gorzów Wlkp., the Faculty of Tourism and Recreation. The Academy offers 4 years doctoral studies (both stationary and extra-mural) and grants the title of Ph.D. in physical culture. It also has the rights to grant ”habilitation” (post-doctoral recognition of excellence in research).

Offers postgraduate courses for physical education graduates, postgraduate study in coaching for other university graduates, courses for sports coaches and trainers. The Academy also arranges year to year training and methodological conferences. During the 84 years of its history, a great number of student and graduates of the Academy participated in the Olympic Games and won many medals for Poland.

Please refer to the webpage www.awf.poznan.pl to learn more about the university.

Polish division of the European Anthropological Association

was established in 1987. The founding body consisted of 68 people. Prof. Paweł Bergman held a function of the first Local Treasurer. Between early nineties and in the year two thousand there were 127 Polish members of the EAA. At that time it was one of the largest groups in the EAA. Prof. Maria Kaczmarek was Local Treasurer for eleven years, between 1997 and 2008. At present, the EAA in Poland comprises 55 members.

Dr. Magdalena Skrzypczak, from the Institute of Anthropology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, has become Local Treasurer since 2008.