“The theme of my books is complementary. One is about what students at school can do and what they are entitled to. The other is about their duties, i.e. what they are legally obliged to do,” says Mikołaj Wolanin, a student at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw, in a new episode of the “Read with the UW” series. He has been recognised for his social and scientific activities in the Global Student Prize competition, ranked among the ten finalists worldwide.
Mikołaj Wolanin is a fourth-year student at the UW’s Faculty of Law and Administration. He also studies canon law at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. He deals with student rights and duties, as well as constitutional law daily.
He is the president and founder of the Foundation for Student Rights (PL: Fundacja na rzecz Praw Ucznia), which was established in 2019, as well as chairman of the Main Committee of the Student Rights Knowledge Olympiad, observer on behalf of the Foundation to Child Rights Connect in Geneva, and member of the Student Rights and Duties Advisory Team to the Polish Minister of Education.
In 2020, he was nominated from Poland for the International Children’s Peace Prize, and in 2023 one of the grand prize winners of the Warsaw Mayor’s Award for Young People Active for Civil Society.
Mikołaj Wolanin has 14 scientific publications to his credit, including two monographs, and more than 30 conference papers, including at 12 international conferences. He is the only European in the top ten of the Global Student Prize competition. Mikołaj Wolanin appears in the next episode of the “Read with the UW” series, presenting books which he wrote.
A set of rules and norms
“The theme of my books is complementary. One is about what students at school can do, what they are entitled to, and the other is about their duties, i.e. what they are legally obliged to do,” says Mikołaj Wolanin, adding: “I wore them while in high school. There were also no previous studies that comprehensively covered these issues.”
Student rights are a set of rules and norms that ensure that students are appropriately protected, their dignity is respected, and that they can fully benefit from their education. In Poland, student rights are regulated by legislation such as the Education System Act and the Student Rights Charter.
Student rights aim to create conditions for development and safe and fair participation in school life. They are also important in the context of conflict resolution, preventing discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.
“It all begins with the constitution, but the books also draw on acts of international law and national regulations at a lower level, primarily the Education Law,” says the student.
Primary recipients
The obligation to attend school and comply with its rules and regulations is one example of the rules and norms that define how a student should behave at school to function well in the school community, develop their skills and take full advantage of the education available. Laws, internal school regulations and social life rules are those which regulate student responsibilities.
“The books Student Rights and Student Duties are addressed to everyone. The primary recipients of the book are students at schools, their parents and teaching staff. The book can also be read by those involved in legal or pedagogical sciences,” sums up Mikołaj Wolanin.
Mikołaj Wolanin’s publications are available in the University of Warsaw Library, in open access, in the section Law. Political Science.
