Jesuit University of Philosophy and Education "Ignatianum" in Cracow is a Church school of university standing run by Jesuits which is officially recognized by state authorities. It consists of two faculties: Philosophy and 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 Cracow 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 Cracow to University School 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 Cracow 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. studies.

        At present, Jesuit University of Philosophy and Education ''Ignatianum'' in Cracow is a Church 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 and political science. There are programmes for full-time studies as well as extramural ones. IGNATIANUM also offers postgraduate