Poznań University of Economics

The Poznań University of Economics is one of the most prestigious business schools in Poland.

The Poznań University of Economics (PUE) is a major academic institution in the western part of the country attracting students from many parts of Poland. It is the biggest and oldest business university in the region of Wielkopolska. Its origins go back to 1926, when the Foundation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry founded the College of Commerce. As a private school, it had no authority to grant degrees. The school was given the authority in 1938 and, in the same year, was named the University of Commerce.

In 1950, there were 2026 students attending the University. In that year, the University was taken over by the state and renamed the Higher School of Economics, initially with two faculties, then three. In 1954, the University ran uniform five-year courses leading to a Master’s degree.

In 1974, the school was named the University of Economics and was granted the authority to award the following degrees: doctor of economic sciences and doctor of commodity science.

In 1990, the Poznań University of Economics fundamentally restructured its faculties, courses, specialisations and curricula. While the years 1998-2000 witnessed a further growth in the number of students, the University’s strategy emphasises continuous improvement in education quality. Changes in syllabuses make it possible to aim at European educational standards in all major fields of training and specialisation.

Presently, PUE specialises in educating economists, managers and specialists in quality management in all sectors of the economy. It offers all academic degrees: Master of Arts, Master of Science, Doctorate and Habilitation (mgr, dr, dr hab.) in three study modes (day, evening and extramural). The University expands its post-master programmes in order to meet the growing demand from those who are already professionally active. During the academic year 2000/2001, the University introduced the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) at the Faculty of Management, the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Commodity Science.

For international students, the University has developed courses in English, French, German and Russian as well as Polish language course for beginners. The courses in foreign languages are also available for Polish students, who are thus given an opportunity to develop their language skills and prepare for studies abroad.

The main subjects of research range from various aspects of Poland’s economic transformation to the preparation of Polish enterprises for competition within the European Union and the globalisation trends in the world economy. Product and organisational innovations are those subjects of research which the Poznań University of Economics intends to develop further in close co-operation with Polish enterprises. PUE also focuses on international market research (primarily the EU, but also Central and East European countries) in order to facilitate the expansion of Poland’s export trade.

In the academic year 2010/2011, there were altogether app. 15,000 students enrolled^[1]. The main campus of the university is located in Poznań, but the University offers its courses also in seven other locations (colleges of higher education) situated within a distance of 30-100 km from Poznań (Bydgoszcz, Kalisz, Konin, Piła, Leszno, Zielona Góra, Szamotuły).

In terms of enrolment as well as scientific and academic potential, the Poznań University of Economics ranks among the leading economic universities in Poland. Since 2000, the University has become second in rankings published by such Polish magazines as Polityka, Rzeczpospolita, Perspektywy, Magazyn Businessman and Newsweek Polska.

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