On 19th November, the University of Warsaw will celebrate the 210th anniversary of its founding. This milestone offers an opportunity not only to reflect on the university’s history, but also to highlight the most significant achievements of its academic community. To mark the occasion, the university has organised special exhibitions and performances. The highlight of the celebrations will be a Gala Concert at the University of Warsaw Library.
Events organised to mark the 210th anniversary of the University of Warsaw
Exhibitions
- „UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI. 210 LAT BUDOWANIA TOŻSAMOŚCI” /“University of Warsaw. 210 Years of Shaping Identity”; The University of Warsaw Museum outdoor exhibition; 1st-31st October;
- „UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI: 210 LAT ROZWOJU” / “University of Warsaw: 210 Years of Development”; It is on display on the ground floor of the Kazimierzowski Palace (Main Campus); as of 1st October;
- „UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI. PASJA, NAUKA I TOŻSAMOŚĆ” / “University of Warsaw. Passion, Science and Identity”; The University of Warsaw Museum pernament exhibition; as of 16th December.
The UW Stage
- „ŻYCIE TO JEST TEATR. KULTURA STUDENCKA UNIWERSYTETU WARSZAWSKIEGO” by the Hybrydy Theatre; Auditorium of the UW’s Old Library 22nd October, 7:00 pm;
- „MAGICZNA MOC UW – UNIWERSYTECKA EPOKA PROFESORA BRODZIŃSKIEGO” by the UW Dance Theatre; Auditorium Maximum on the UW’s Main Campus; 4th November, 7:00 pm;
- „BLIŻEJ, NIŻ MYŚLISZ. MUZYCZNE POCZĄTKI UNIWERSYTETU WARSZAWSKIEGO” by the UW Choir; Auditorium Maximum on the UW’s Main Campus; 13th November, 7:00 pm.
„210 LAT UW: KONCERT GALOWY”/ “210 Years of UW: THE GALA CONCERT” by the university’s main representative ensembles: the UW Choir, the Hybrydy Theatre and the UW Dance Theatre; special guest: Poparzeni Kawą Trzy band.
The University of Warsaw: Past and Present
The beginning of the University is related to two schools of the Napoleonic epoch – the Law School founded in 1808 and the School of Medicine founded one year later. Both of these schools were transformed into two important faculties of the University as time went by. They were designed to educate specialists needed in every-day life of the Duchy of Warsaw. Earl Stanisław Potocki, the minister for Religions and Public Enlightenment and priest Stanisław Staszic were great advocates of the foundation of the University
The act resulting in the erection of the University was issued by the Russian Tsar and Polish monarch Aleksander I on 19th November 1816. Since then the University started to function under the supervision of the General Council headed by Stanisław Staszic. The official name of the university opened on 14th May 1818 was: the Royal University of Warsaw.
Priest Wojciech Anzelm Szweykowski became the first rector of the university. An eagle with laurel and palm branches in its talons surrounded by five stars representing the five faculties became the emblem symbolizing the University of Warsaw. Besides the faculties of Law and Medicine, the newly-formed University consisted of the following faculties: the Philosophical Faculty, the Theological Faculty and the Faculty of Sciences and Fine Arts. The total number of students at the university gradually reached 800. There were 40–50 professors.
Today, the University of Warsaw is the largest university and the leading research institution in the country. Our community consists of approximately 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 8,000 employees. In addition to 25 faculties and four doctoral schools, there are approximately 30 research and teaching centers. There are around 300 various study programmes across 260 fields of study in the humanities, social sciences, and the natural and exact sciences.
The University of Warsaw is a leader in Poland when it comes to ERC grants awarded and projects implemented and coordinated under the “Horizon Europe” programme. It ranks among the top 3% of universities worldwide according to major global evaluations such as the QS World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education.
The university collaborates with over 1,000 national and international partners, belongs to numerous Polish and international research networks, and is a member of many consortia established to carry out specific research projects. The University of Warsaw is a member of the 4EU+ Alliance, which in June 2019 was awarded the status of a European University in the European Commission’s ‘European Universities’ call for proposals, launched as part of the Erasmus+ programme.