History
A brief history of Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University is the oldest in Poland and one of the oldest in this region of Europe. It was founded on 12 May 1364 by the Polish king Casimir the Great. Studium generale - as the University was then called - consisted of three faculties: liberal arts, medicine, and law.
Currently, Jagiellonian University has 16 faculties, including three medical faculties, which returned to Jagiellonian University in 1993 and form the so-called Collegium Medicum. Currently, there are 158 faculties at Jagiellonian University.
The University has more than 3.5 thousand academic teachers, about 40 thousand students and Ph.D. students, and about 3.5 thousand administrative staff.
Key dates in the history of JU
The Origins of the University
12 May 1364
King Casimir III the Great establishes a "General Study". In his privilege, he promises to endow three faculties: law, medicine, and liberal arts (philosophy). During the life of the founder, only the first two were functioning. After the king's death, the university ceased to exist, only to resume teaching in 1391 thanks to the efforts of Jadwiga of Anjou.
Renewal by Ladislaus Jagiello
26 July 1400
The University was renewed by King Ladislaus Jagiello, thanks to a bequest in the will of Queen Jadwiga, who had died the year before. A fourth faculty was added - theology, thus the university gained a range of universities.
"Golden period"
15th century
Every year, about 200 students entered the University of Cracow, almost half of them foreigners. Law, mathematics, and astronomy were especially renowned. Lectures were given by, among others: Paulus Vladimiri and Stanislaus of Skalbmierz (co-authors of the concept of international law), Marcin Bylica of Olkusz, Wojciech of Brudziew and Jan of Głogów (astronomers), or Maciej Miechowita (a medical doctor).
Nicolaus Copernicus
1491
Nicolaus Copernicus, the author of the groundbreaking "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium", begins his studies at the University.
Times of the Reformation
mid-16th century
The Reformation and the religious divisions in Europe caused by it, as well as the establishment of many new universities, limited the influx of foreign students. Due to the abolition of higher education required to hold state and church positions, the nobility also lost interest in studying. Despite this, such personalities as Mikołaj Rej, Jan Kochanowski, Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski and Marcin Kromer are mentioned among the students of the University.
Cracow Academy
Late 16th Century
The university begins to be commonly referred to as the Krakow Academy.
Crisis of the Universities
The 17th and 18th centuries
The Academy came into conflict with the Jesuits supported by the king. Among others, the mathematician and astronomer Jan Brożek works at the Academy. Jan Sobieski, the future king of Poland and commander of the relief of Vienna, becomes a graduate.
Enlightenment reform
1776 - 1785
Under the authority of the Commission of National Education, Hugo Kołłątaj carried out a reform of the university. The 4 faculties were replaced by the Moral and Physical Colleges. The language of instruction was changed to Polish. It was a time of investments, and the construction of an astronomical observatory, a botanical garden, and a university clinic began. The University received the name of Crown Main School. Outstanding professors: Jan Śniadecki (mathematician and astronomer) and Jan Jaśkiewicz (chemist and medic).
Jagiellonian University
1817
The university adopted its current name, Jagiellonian University. It operates in the Free City of Krakow.
Integration into Austria
1846
Krakow is incorporated into Austria. German becomes the language of instruction.
Re-emergence
mid-19th century
After Galicia was granted autonomy, the Jagiellonian University flourished again. Both the humanities and the natural sciences developed. In 1883, Karol Olszański and Zygmunt Wróblewski were the first to condense the components of air. Among the finest researchers: Marian Smoluchwoski (physicist), Jan Bauduin de Courtnay (linguist), Napoleon Cybulski (physiologist, codiscoverer of adrenaline), Odo Bujwid (bacteriologist, pioneer of vaccination against rabies) or the founders of the so-called Krakow school of history - Jan Szujski, Michał Bobrzyński and Stanisław Smołka. Once again the language of instruction becomes Polish.
Collegium Novum
1887
The building of the Collegium Novum, the current seat of the University authorities, was erected.
Equal rights for women
1897
The first female students appear at the university.
Interwar period
20 years between the wars
The Faculty of Agriculture and the new Jagiellonian Library building are built.
Sonderaktion Krakau
6 November 1939
The Nazis arrest and deport to concentration camps many scholars and University employees. Some of them do not survive their imprisonment. The University is closed. The Jagiellonian University community acts underground and conducts secret teaching. One of the students is the future pope Karol Wojtyla.
People&pos;s Republic of Poland
After 1945
In the first year after the war, Wisława Szymborska, the future Nobel Prize winner, enrolled at Jagiellonian University. During the period of the People's Republic of Poland, the University loses its autonomy, the freedom of science is restricted. From several faculties excluded from the University new schools of higher education are established.
Restoration of autonomy
After 1989
JU regains its autonomy. The medical faculties rejoined the University. Construction of the Campus of the 600th Anniversary of Jagiellonian University Renewal begins in Pychowice. Life Science Park is created. The Jagiellonian Center for Drug Development and the Małopolska Centrum Biotechnologii start their activity. In 2015 the first synchrotron in Poland, Solaris, is launched.
This page was last updated at: 2022-05-04
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