Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow

PL-31-501 Kraków
ul. Kopernika 26
fax: +48 12/3999 501
e-mail: rektorat@ignatianum.edu.pl
WWW: www.ignatianum.edu.pl

 Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow is a catholic school of university standing run by Jesuits which is officially recognized by state authorities. It consists of two faculties: The Faculty of Philosophy and The Faculty of Education. Both faculties are entitled to confer the degree of magister. The Faculty of Philosophy also has the right to confer the degree of doktor. The operating policies of Ignatianum are defined in an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Conference of Bishops of Poland from July 1st 1999 (Dz. U. 1999, nr 63, poz. 727).

The shortened name of Jesuit University - Ignatianum - refers to the jubilees celebrated by Jesuits: the 500th anniversary of the birth of the order's founder - St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1991) and 450 years of the existence of the Society of Jesus (1540-1990).

The beginnings of Ignatianum date back to 1932 when the Faculty of Philosophy of the Society of Jesus in Krakow obtained the rights of a Church school of university standing. At first, the Faculty educated mainly Jesuit candidates for priesthood. On May 17th 1989 its legal existence was confirmed by state authorities. Since June 30th 1989 it has conformed to the rules of the agreement between the Polish Government and the Conference of Bishops of Poland in the matter of the legal status of papal university schools and ways and means of recognition by the state of degrees conferred by these schools.

In October 1989 Jesuits working in the Faculty of Philosophy of the Society of Jesus in Cracow established the Religious Culture Institute - a two-year philosophical and theological programme of studies for laymen. During the next academic year - 1990/91 - a new field of study at the Faculty of Philosophy appeared: religious pedagogy. This field was created especially for the purpose of educating future lay teachers of religious education.

During the following years the Faculty of Philosophy broadened its activity introducing new fields of education. Because of this, the name of the school no longer corresponded with the facts. As a result of the efforts of school authorities The Congregation for Catholic Education accepted the change of the name from Faculty of Philosophy of the Society of Jesus in Krakow to Jesuit University of Philosophy and Education "Ignatianum" in Cracow (letter dated June 7th 1999). The change was taken into account in the signed agreement in 1999 between the Polish Government and the Conference of Bishops of Poland about the legal status of universities founded and run by the Catholic Church.

In a letter dated January 18th 2000, the Minister of National Education stated that Jesuit University of Philosophy and Education ''Ignatianum'' in Krakow fulfilled conditions for Master studies in the field of pedagogy. The Faculty of Education itself was opened by the decision of The Roman Congregation for Catholic Education on December 8th 2000.

The decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education of 3rd May 2010 authorized and approved the new University Statute.

With the decision of February 22nd 2010 the Central Commission for Academic Title and Degrees granted the Faculty of Education of Ignatianum  the rights to confer the academic degree of doktor nauk humanistycznych within the discipline - "pedagogy".

Having complied with the requirements of the Act of July 27th Prawo o szkolnictwie wyższym (Journal of Laws no. 164, item 1365, with subsequent changes) concerning the right to use the name – akademia, Wyższa Szkoła Filozoficzno-Pedagogiczna „Ignatianum” w Krakowie uses the name  - Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie.

 With the decision of 30th January 2012, the Central Committee for Academic Degrees and Titles granted the Faculty of Philosophy at Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow the rights to confer the academic degree of doktor nauk humanistycznych within the discipline of cultural studies.

At present, Ignatianum is a catholic university with state rights. It consists of two Faculties: Philosophy and Education. The Faculty of Philosophy offers two majors: philosophy and cultural studies and the Faculty of Education: pedagogy, political studies and social work. There are programmes for full-time studies as well as extramural ones. Educational offer at both faculties also includes a number of postgraduate studies.