Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań is the major academic institution in Poznań and one of the top Polish universities. Its high reputation is founded on long tradition and the outstanding achievements of its staff and students.
Our University was founded on May 7th, 1919. On that day the University, initially named the Wszechnica Poznańska, officially inaugurated its activities. However the tradition of higher education in Poznań goes back to the 16th century. In 1519 Bishop Jan Lubrański founded an Academia which had the status of a higher learning institution. Shortly later another institution of higher learning was established in Poznań namely - the Jesuit College (1573). The first rector of the College - Jakub Wujek - was the scholar who first translated the Bible into Polish. On October 28th, 1611, King Sigismund III Vasa granted the Jesuit College the status of a university. In the troublesome years to come science and higher education were in one form or another always present in Poznań. Today our University is proud to bear the name of Adam Mickiewicz - one of the most important poets of European Romanticism compared to Lord G. Byron and J.W. von Goethe.
Scholars of our University have made significant contributions to the development of science. In 1920 world famous Polish sociologist Florian Znaniecki accepted the first Polish chair in sociology at the University in Poznań and continued his work on social phenomena. Adam Mickiewicz University is proud not only of the achievements of our scholars, but also of our graduates. In 1929 the best students graduating in mathematics received training from the Cipher Office of the Polish Army's General Staff. This was probably the first cryptology class ever! Three students of this class were Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski and Jerzy Różycki who cracked the Enigma code - used by Nazi Germany. Their work played a crucial role in ending WW II in Europe.
For more information visit: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań