Welcome To University of Bialystok

The University of Bialystok was founded by virtue of the Act of 19th June 1997 as a thirteenth university in Poland from the Branch of Warsaw University, which was established by virtue of a decree of Minister of Science and Higher Education - Prof. Henryk Jabłoński, as of 15th July 1968. The first official inauguration of the academic year 1997/1998.

Teacher’s College in Bialystok: Initially, the Branch of Warsaw University in Bialystok functioned as Teacher’s College (TC), i.e. a triennial vocational school composed of three Faculties: Humanities, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and Primary Education. On 31st August 1969 the Branch incorporated Vocational College of Administration (VCA) as a branch of Faculty of Law and Administration of Warsaw University. The Act establishing the Branch permanently connected it with Warsaw University. Upon Warsaw University President’s motion, Eugeniusz Niczyporowicz, Assistant Professor at Bialystok Technical University (then College of Engineering), was entrusted with the task of organizing TC in Bialystok, whereas a position of his deputy was conferred to Antoni Konarzewski, MA, from the Teacher’s College. In the very first year of the College’s functioning, studies were successfully launched in all offered courses within three TC and VCA Faculties; 515 students commenced studies. Thanks to the College’s systematic development, a fundamental change took place in the academic year 1972/1973. TC was transformed from a vocational school to a university with the right to confer a master degree. Prof. Andrzej Jezierski was appointed Head of the Branch, whereas in October 1972, Jerzy Niemiec, Assistant Professor, was appointed Vice Deputy of the Branch. Eugeniusz Niczyporowicz, Assistant Professor, took office of Vice President of Warsaw University for Branch Affairs. At that time the structure of the College was changed. Three Faculties were created: Humanities, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Administration and Economics. Interfaculty organizational units were also founded: Centre for Foreign Language Teaching, Military School, Physical Education and Sports Centre, Department of New Teaching Techniques, Department of Pedagogical Trainings, and Library. Dynamism of the Branch development was extraordinary. In 1978, more than 4,600 students studied in daily and weekend modes of programs. During ten years, a number of students increased nine times. On 1st October 1977 a new Faculty was established – Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology. What is more, a number of academic staff increased too. At first, the Branch’s academic staff included one assistant professor, four doctors and 25 masters. In 1978 as many as 280 academic teachers were employed full time, including 37 professors and assistant professors, and 83 doctors. Moreover, the Branch joined the governmental research project by starting works on biological resources and nature protection in Arctic. The Branch also carried out research “benefiting the region”, e.g. referring to organizational and legal matters of simple forms of cooperation in agriculture as well as the system of supplying the countryside with agricultural machines. The society of North-Eastern areas of Poland from a perspective of historical development was researched too.

On the way to autonomy: The Branch’s intensive development became its strategic objective. Thanks to this, a jubilee of twenty fifth anniversary was celebrated by the Branch under the banner “On the Way to Autonomy”. It was becoming more and more attainable since the Branch of Warsaw University in Bialystok was successful despite the fact Poland suffered from a considerable decrease in expenditure on education and science at that time. The Branch extended its structure – it already comprised five Faculties; on 27thJune 1990, by virtue of a decree of Warsaw University’s President, the Institute of Law was transformed into the Faculty of Law of Warsaw University Branch. The Warsaw University Branch was, at that time, the largest school of tertiary education in Northeastern Poland. For this reason, the University Senate Commission for the Affairs of Warsaw University Branch in Bialystok forwarded a motion to Warsaw University President and Senate for active cooperation aiming at transformation of the Branch into an autonomous university. It was decided that an independent University of Bialystok could be a center of international comparative research and stood a chance of providing education in the spirit of penetration and supplementation of cultures of the bordering regions by searching for and teaching dialogue, recognizing and cultivating tradition, thus realizing europeization of attitudes and education, which is now commonly recommended. The idea of the university as a “cultural bridge” was considered a priority as it was accepted by the city and region authorities, political activists, the Branch’s professors and employees as well as the academic environment of Bialystok.

The establishment of the University of Bialystok: On 19th June 1997, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland passed the act founding the University of Bialystok as of 1st October 1997. The Act stipulated that the University of Bialystok was seated in Bialystok and was subject to Minister of National Education. Additionally, it was established therein that the University was created from the Branch of Warsaw University in Bialystok taking over its assets and other property rights. It was agreed that the Warsaw University staff employed at the Bialystok Branch became employed at University of Bialystok whereas Warsaw University students studying at the Branch became University of Bialystok students. The University’s Articles of Association were passed on 8th July 1998 at the sitting of the University of Bialystok’s Senate. One of the most crucial clauses therein was an entry stating that the University was an academic community of academic teachers, students and employees who were not academic teachers, administered by its collective and one-man bodies. It was also agreed that a basic objective of the University’s activity was providing education and doing research in the field of economic, humanistic, mathematical, natural and legal sciences. The Articles described the image of the University’s official emblem. It was decided that 10th October, the date of the first inauguration of the academic year, was the University’s Day. According to the Articles, the University’s one-man bodies were President and Deans, who were appointed for 3-year terms of office starting on 1st September of the election year and finishing on 31st August.