Ewa Kurantowicz, Adrianna Nizinska, ULS
Case 1. University of Wroclaw
General information:
The University of Wrocław has a rich history of more than three centuries. Founded by
Leopold I Habsburg the university evolved from a modest school run by Jesuits into one of the
biggest academic institutions in Poland. At the beginning of the 19th century the university had five
Faculties: philosophy, catholic theology, evangelical theology, law and medicine. Later it was
expanded by numerous sections, laboratories and a natural museum, which exists until today.
After the Second World War a group of Polish professors, formerly from Lvov, started
teaching and research activities at the University of Wrocław. Initially they created the Faculties of
law and administration, arts, natural sciences, agriculture, veterinary, medicine, mathematics,
physics and chemistry. Some of these Faculties were soon transformed into other universities.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the University of Wrocław produced 9 Nobel Prize
winners, such as Theodor Mommsen, Philipp Lenard, Eduard Buchner, Paul Ehrlich, Fritz Haber,
Friedrich Bergius, Erwin Schrödinger, Otto Stern and Max Born. Today, the first and foremost focus
of The University of Wrocław is scientific research.
The Academic Incubator of Entrepreneurship is a new unit of the University of Wrocław
designed to aid students in starting their own businesses by providing free entrepreneurial advice,
organizing conferences, seminars, subsidizing selected investments and offering office space.
Today the University of Wrocław is the largest university in the region and teaches over
40,000 students and around 1300 doctoral students at 10 Faculties. 9000 students graduate from the
University every year.
Structure:
The University offers a broad range of courses taught in Polish and English in over 70 areas of
study offered by 10 Faculties:

philology,

history and pedagogy,

social sciences,

law, administration and economics,

mathematics and computer science,

chemistry,

physics and astronomy,

biotechnology,

biological sciences, and

earth science and environmental management.
All courses have three stages, according to the Bologna process: a three-year Bachelor program, a
two-year Master program and an optional 4-year doctoral program. There is also a wide range of
continuing education programs.
1
Libraries
There are two main university libraries in Wrocław. General collections are held in the building at
Szajnochy Street, and special collections are stored in the building of the former Augustian
monastery in Sw. Jadwiga Street
General collections include books and journals published after 1800 as well as a constantly
growing collection of e-books. The building also houses the departments of collection cataloguing,
the computer section with the main server room, the director's and administration offices, and
exhibition halls which are available to the public.
Apart from the main libraries, each Faculty has its own branch library. The newly designed,
state-of-the-art University Library is currently under construction close to the city centre.
The university library with over 7000 items online offers services which may be accessed
through a specially designed website (www.bu.uni.wroc.pl). Services include an internet store,
online registration, online query, interlibrary loans, ordering photographic and digital copies of
library materials, and online access to the Digital Library of University of Wrocław.
Students in numbers:
To estimate a drop – out rate one cohort of student (2004-2006) was followed at their first,
second and third year. Number of all students was presented to enable realistic comparison between
different institutions (other case studies).
Numbers of students:
All students in 2004 – 41447
First year students 2004 – 8428
All students in 2005 – 39701
First year students 2005 – 8218
Second year students 2005 - 6701
All students in 2006 – 39061
Second year students 2006 –6382
Third year students 2006- 6583
2
UWr Students cohort 2004-2006
9000
100%
8000
79,5%
7000
78,1%
1.year
students
(200
2.year
students
3.year
students
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Close to 20 % of drop-out on the first year of study, which seems to be a critical year for the
students. Later on rate of drop out is minimal when compare to second year number of students.
Student societies
There are over 130 student societies at the University of Wrocław which offer a wide range of
activities. Students can organize and participate in conferences, workshops, field trips, and take
advantage of advice services. All students are welcome to join students government and have an
impact on institution's policy and actions.
Scholarsip system
University provides a numbers of scholarships (social, for an outstanding results, for a persons with
disabilities). In year 2005 9.777 students were supported by institution (close to 25 % of the whole
cohort).
Academic teachers in 2005:
Professors
(% in total 28
Ph.D's
M.A's
Foreign
(% in total 52) (% in total 19) Languages'
teachers
Total
Students on
one teacher
ratio:
1747
22, 7
(% in total 1)
482
3
916
331
18