About SWPS
History
| The Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities |
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The Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities (Szkoła Wyższa Psychologii Społecznej, SWPS) was founded in 1996 by Andrzej Eliasz, Zbigniew Pietrasiński, and Janusz Reykowski, former professors of the Institute of Psychology, and the Polish Academy of Sciences (Polska Akademia Nauk - PAN). At present, it has more than 11 000 students studying in five faculties: psychology, philology, humanities & social sciences, and two branch-campuses in Sopot and Wrocław.
Poland's Ministry for Education has granted the College the right by to run three-year bachelor of arts programs in European Studies, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Philosophy, English Studies, Scandinavian Studies, Politics and International Relations as well masters of arts programs in Sociology, Cultural Studies, English Studies and Psychology. The SWPS psychology programme was the first (and so far the only) such programme in Poland to receive a mark of distinction from the National Accreditation Committee (PKA - an independent body working to ensure the quality of education at Polish higher education institutions and to encourage world-caliber educational standards). The Committee has also confirmed the quality of the SWPS sociology and cultural studies programmes. Our college consistently ranks high in classifications of higher education institutions in Poland sources, being a six-time winner of Wprost magazine's top prize for academic excellence. The college has also gained excellent reviews from students and external bodies, winning the "Reliable School" and "Student-Friendly College" awards.
CALENDAR1996 :: 1997 :: 1998 :: 1999 :: 2000 :: 2001 :: 2002 :: 2003 :: 2004 :: 2005
1996Warsaw School of Social Psychology founded The Warsaw School of Social Psychology (SWPS) became officially licensed as a private higher education institution in Poland on 8 July 1996, under a decision issued by the National Education Minister (conferring the registration number 95). The college was founded by Andrzej Eliasz, Zbigniew Pietrasifski, and Janusz Reykowski, full professors from the Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Prof. Andrzej Eliasz assumed the post of SWPS Rector, Prof. Janusz Reykowski that of Chairman of the Advisory Program Committee. Prof. Krystyna Skarżyńska was appointed as Vice-rector for Research, Prof. Zbigniew Pietrasifski as Vice-rector for Student Affairs, and Renata Karwowska-Szulkin, Ph.D., as Vice-rector for Administrative Affairs. The rector's office was initially based in the building of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management on PodleEna Street, while classes were held at the facilities of the Stefan Batory Secondary School. First program of study In its first year, SWPS established a 5-year MA program in Psychology specializing in Social Psychology.
1997New specialization in psychology The second year of the SWPS's psychology program saw the launch of a second specialization: the Psychology of Cross-Cultural Relations.
1998Social Clinical Psychology at SWPS In October 1998, SWPS opened up a new specialization in the Psychology program: Social Clinical Psychology. SWPS joins the Conference of Rectors Becoming a member of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Private Higher Education Institutions (KRUN), SWPS likewise joined the KRUN scholarship program - an initiative entirely funded by the private colleges themselves, under the auspices of the President of Poland.
1999SWPS Centre for Applied Professional Education In pursuit of the chief objective of practical psychology, i.e. improving people's quality of life, SWPS opened a Centre for Applied Professional Education under the direction of Prof. Bogdan Wojciszke. Since its beginning, the Centre has been organising applied post-graduate programs and training courses, keeping pace with modern professional standards. SWPS Laboratory for Experimental Research Set up in autumn 1999, SWPS's Laboratory for Experimental Research investigates the automatic processing of social information and attitude modification. SWPS obtains its own building In December 1999, SWPS purchased the former office building and industrial facilities of an electrical device plant on Chodakowska Street in Warsaw, thereby gaining premises in which to establish its own headquarters.
2000Accreditation for SWPS program in Psychology On 23 May, after four years in operation, SWPS obtained certification for its program in Psychology from Poland's University Accreditation Committee (UKA). SWPS was Poland's first private college to seek and receive such accreditation from the Committee, affiliated with the Conference of Polish University Rectors. Sociology and Cultural Studies at SWPS In 2000, SWPS was given approval to establish three-year BA programs in Sociology and Cultural Studies.
2001Launch of renovation work at the SWPS building Work on renovating and adapting the premises on Chodakowska Street in Warsaw was launched in January 2001. In October, a ceremony inaugurating the new academic year and SWPS's fifth anniversary was already held in the newly remodelled building. Faculty of Psychology established On 8 June 2001, a SWPS Senate resolved to create the SWPS Faculty of Psychology, with Prof. Jan Strelau as dean of the new faculty. New programs in Philosophy and English Studies, new specialization in Psychology SWPS received approval to establish BA programs in Philosophy and English Studies. A new specialization was likewise launched under the Psychology program: Social Psychology of IT and Communication. Lancaster University MA offered at SWPS SWPS forged an agreement with the Central European Education Foundation, enabling students of Sociology and Cultural Studies to seek MA (Master of Arts) diplomas from Lancaster University (Great Britain), through a program of study run by the Centre of Sociological Research (of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences) and the Central European Education Foundation. ECTS at SWPS The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), a uniform credit system among higher-education institutions in EU member states and accession states, was implemented at SWPS in 2001. First SWPS diplomas awarded The first graduates to earn MA degrees from SWPS received their diplomas at the ceremony inaugurating the 2001/2002 academic year. SWPS Chamber Choir The SWPS Chamber Choir was set up in 2001, at the initiative of the SWPS Student Government. The choir includes students of various majors and specializations. SWPS becomes co-publisher of the journal Charaktery Since September 2001, together with Bogdan Bia?ek (the journal's initiator and editor-in-chief), SWPS has published Charaktery - a popular psychological journal of nationwide scope that had initially been published by PWN. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences established On 26 October 2001, the SWPS Senate passed a resolution to set up the SWPS Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, encompassing four programs of study: Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Sociology, and English Studies. The post of dean was taken by Prof. Jerzy Bralczyk. Oriental studies book collection at SWPS Since 2001, SWPS has been developing the Oriental Studies Section of its library, under the guidance of the SWPS Centre for East Asian Civilizations. The collection now includes more than 10,000 books and periodicals, mainly related to Chinese topics. Its aim is to become the first modern oriental studies library in Poland addressing social sciences.
2002Agreement between SWPS and Bielefeld University On 16 April 2001, a co-operation agreement in the field of social sciences and cultural studies was signed with Bielefeld University, encompassing the exchange of teaching and research staff and students, the pursuit of joint research and educational projects, and the involvement of staff members and students in seminars, conferences, teaching classes, and internships organised by both sides. SWPS authorized confer Ph.D. degrees in Psychology On 27 May 2002, the Central Commission for Scholarly Degrees and Scientific Titles granted the SWPS Faculty of Psychology the power to confer Ph.D. degrees in the humanities, in the field of Psychology. In September 2002, a doctorate program was launched by SWPS in co-operation with the Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, and under the direction of Prof. Tomasz Maruszewski. Academica publishing house In August 2002, the college set up its own publishing house, "Wydawnictwo SWPS Academica", established at the initiative of Dr. Renaty Karwowskiej-Szulkin. New programs: Political Science and Public Health In 2002 SWPS secured approval to establish two new three-year BA programs, in Political Science and Public Health. SWPS Campus in Sopot The next stage in the college's development came in 2002 with the establishment of the SWPS Campus in Sopot, with Prof. Alina Kolańczyk as dean. Membership in the European Consortium for Political Research In 2002 SWPS became a member of the European Consortium for Political Research. The ECPR is an independent research association, drawing together higher-education institutions that strive to support and initiate research and international co-operation in the field of political sciences (and related domains). Academic Centre for Psychotherapy and Psychological Consultation The SWPS Academic Centre for Psychotherapy has been in operation since 2002, with the main objective of providing professional psychological assistance to children, teens, and adults. One form of its activity involves organizing internships for graduates of psychology programs who are preparing for independent clinical work. The Director of the SWPS Academic Centre for Psychotherapy is Prof. Barbara Weigl. Professional School of Psychotherapy In 2002, the Council of the Faculty of Psychology and the SWPS Rector resolved to establish a new organisational unit: the SWPS Professional School of Psychotherapy, which has launched its first post-graduate programs in professional psychotherapy. The School's initiator and director is Associate Professor Jerzy Mellibruda - a certified psychotherapist and psychotherapy supervisor of the Polish Psychological and Psychiatric Society.
2003KRASP membership In June 2003, the presidium of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Academic Schools (KRASP) admitted SWPS as a member. The Conference is a voluntary association of rectors of higher-education institutions authorised to confer Ph.D. or equivalent degrees. SWPS passes KBN assessment In 2003 SWPS successfully passed a "parametric assessment" carried out by the State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN), becoming one of the few private colleges in Poland to receive state subsidies for its research activities. New programs: 2-year (post-BA) MA program in Sociology and BA program in Polish Studies In 2003 we secured approval to launch another BA major, Polish Studies, and to extend the program in Sociology to the MA level. Psychology: MA English Program - Poland's first 5-year program in psychology taught in English In the 2003/2004 academic year SWPS expanded its range of programs by offering the opportunity to study social psychology in English. Established at the initiative of Prof. Tatiana Klonowicz, the "Psychology: MA English Program" encompasses the full curriculum of the regular 5-year MA program in Psychology at SWPS and likewise gives students a chance to perfect their linguistic skills, thus better readying them to seek employment as psychologists within the EU. Centre for Middle East Affairs The Centre for Middle East Affairs, in operation since October 2003, represents a new type of research and teaching institution. It deals with Middle East issues, above all of a political and social nature. The head of the Centre is Prof. Janusz Danecki. "English for Psychology" Exam Certification 2003 "Steel Girder" prize goes to SWPS In October 2003, SWPS earned the Stalowe Przęsło ("Steel Girder") award at the International Market Communication Days event in Wrocław, in recognition of its harnessing of current research achievements in psychology to educate individuals in how to apply various aspects of social communication in practice. First doctorate awarded
2004SWPS program in Sociology certified as high-calibre The National Accreditation Committee (PKA) confirmed the quality of SWPS's program in Sociology. The Committee recognised SWPS as having high teaching standards, a vision for development, and topnotch teaching staff. Campus in Wroclaw The college's dynamic growth led to the creation in January 2004 of the SWPS Campus in Wrocław, with Prof. Dariusz Doliński as dean. SWPS offers a new program: Psychology as a Second Major Since the summer semester of the 2003/2004 academic year, SWPS has offered an opportunity to study Psychology as a Second Major for students who have earned a previous Masters Degree (since 1990) in social sciences or humanities and for qualified medical doctors. The Psychology as a Second Major program is handled by Prof. Anna Brzezińska. Centre for Scandinavian Studies The research and teaching efforts of the SWPS Centre for Scandinavian Studies, set up in March 2004, pertain to the languages and culture of the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland). Its head is Prof. Witold Maciejewski. Co-operation with Université Nancy 2 SWPS signed an agreement on scientific and research co-operation with Université Nancy 2 (in France). The agreement encompasses the exchange of teaching and research staff and students, the pursuit of joint research and educational projects, and the involvement of staff members and students in seminars, conferences, teaching classes, and internships organised by both sides. SWPS Cultural Studies extended to the MA level On 11 August 2004, SWPS received approval to establish a 2-year (post-BA) MA program in Cultural Studies. Political Science: BA English Program In the 2004/2005 academic year the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences expanded its range of programs by offering the opportunity to political science in English. The "Political Science: BA English Program" offers a full curriculum in Political Science, leading to a BA degree. Membership in the EUA SWPS joined the European University Association - an organisation representing both European universities and rectors« conferences in European countries. Its main objectives include actively supporting the process of building a uniform system of higher education and scientific research. SWPS a winner in the EQUAL Community InitiativeOn 15 November 2004, the Intercultural Centre for Professional Adaptation project founded by SWPS took eighth place in the EQUAL Community Initiative competition announced in June 2004. The EQUAL Community Initiative aims to implement the European strategy for promoting employment, development, and fighting against discrimination and social exclusion. Co-operation with higher education institutions in China Starting with the 2004/2005 academic year, Chinese students have become a growing presence among the SWPS foreign student community.
This is the outcome of nearly two years of intensive co-operation with Chinese higher education institutions, initiated by Prof. Andrzej Eliasz and Prof. Jan Strelau in 2004 during a visit to Beijing to attend the International Congress of Psychology. "Playground" Association The „Playground" Association was set up by SWPS students and staff members. Its first important project in 2004 was to organise a community centre to provide therapy for children from the South Praga neighbourhood.
2005Campus in Sopot gains own building Since the beginning of the 2005/2006 academic year, the Branch Campus in Sopot has had the use of its own building with a floor space of 4,000 m2. Students and staff have the following facilities at their disposal: 3 halls, 10 classrooms, a computer workshop, library, bookshop, student club, and cafeteria, staff offices, and administration rooms. SWPS Authorized to confer D.Sc. (habilitation) degrees in Psychology On 30 May 2005, the Central Commission for Scholarly Degrees and Scientific Titles granted the SWPS Faculty of Psychology the power to confer D.Sc. (habilitation) degrees in the humanities, in the field of Psychology. The first SWPS habilitation colloquium took place on 16 December 2005. On 24 April 2006, the Central Commission for Scholarly Degrees and Scientific Titles approved the conferral of SWPS's very first D.Sc. degree Dr. Tomasz Zaleśkiewicz. New program offered by SWPS: Information Technology On 31 May 2005, SWPS received authorization to establish a BA “Reliable College” certificate for SWPS On 7 June, SWPS received the "Reliable College" award from the Academic Information Centre, indicating that the college ensures students high standards of education and a pleasant learning environment, while at the same time doing its best to give them a head start in their professional lives. New program of study: Scandinavian Studies On 15 June 2005, the Minister of National Education and Sport gave SWPS approval to establish the new speciality of philology: Scandinavian Studies. Top mark of distinction for the SWPS program in Psychology On 16 June 2005, the National Accreditation Committee (PKA), which monitors the quality of education in Poland, granted its top mark of distinction to SWPS's program in Psychology. SWPS is the first and only psychology-teaching institution in Poland to receive the Committee's highest degree of assessment. SWPS offers MA in English Studies On 15 July 2005, SWPS received approval to launch a 2-year (post-BA) MA program in philology specializing in English Studies. New program of study: International Relations On 22 July 2005, SWPS received authorization to establish a BA program in International Relations. Co-operation with Appalachian State University On 12 September, SWPS signed a co-operation agreement with Appalachian State University (North Carolina) establishing onesemester and two-semester reciprocal exchanges of students and research staff. SWPS - A Student-Friendly College On 14 October, SWPS earned recognition from the student community: the Parliament of Polish Students awarded SWPS the title of a "Student-Friendly College". Agreement with the University of Florence - lecture by Prof. Leonardo Morlino On 24 November, SWPS signed an agreement on cultural and scientific co-operation with the University of Florence, calling for the development of a joint program of education and the exchange of academic teachers in the fields of social psychology and political science. The start of such co-operation was kicked off by a lecture delivered by Prof. Leonardo Morlino, an eminent specialist in political science.
Japanese government supports the SWPS library In December 2005, the Japanese government awarded SWPS a grant of 740,000 PLN from the Polish-Japanese Zloty Fund for expanding the SWPS Library's Oriental Studies Section. Over half of this amount will be allocated for the purchase of works of world literature addressing the social, cultural, and political affairs of Japan and other East Asian countries.
School of Pedagogy The year 2005 brought the launch of the SWPS School of Pedagogy, enabling students to acquire additional teaching certifications required for employment at institutions run by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The director of the School of Pedagogy is Associate Professor Krystyna Błeszyńska.
SWPS as a BEC Examination Centre
2006Faculty of Philology established On 1 January 2006, the SWPS Faculty of Philology was set up, encompassing two programs of study: English Studies and Scandinavian Studies (specializing in Swedish). In the 2006/2007 academic year, the faculty will likewise offer programs in Norwegian Studies and Spanish Studies. Prof. Janusz Danecki is dean of the new faculty. European Studies in Wrocław On 28 February the SWPS Branch Campus in Wroc?aw earned the right to establish a BA program in European Studies. Japanese government grant for the SWPS Library On 23 March, an agreement was signed to pave the way for the Japanese government to provide financial support to the SWPS Library's Oriental Studies Section. Cultural Studies program in Sopot On 6 July 2006, the SWPS Branch Campus in Sopot became authorized to establish a BA program in Cultural Studies. SWPS Political Science extended to the MA level On 19 July 2006, SWPS received approval to establish a 2-year (post-BA) MA program in Political Science. Swedex exam at SWPS The SWPS Institute of Scandinavian Studies became licensed as an examination centre issuing Swedex certificates, confirming practical knowledge of Swedish as a foreign language on the A1 and B1 levels on the European scale.
Ocena parametryczna jednostek naukowych SWPS W 2006 r., po przeprowadzeniu ponownej oceny parametrycznej jednostek naukowych, Wydział Nauk Humanistycznych i Społecznych oraz Wydział Psychologii otrzymały 2 kategorię. Przyznanie 2 kategorii oznacza znaczny wzrost dotacji na badania naukowe oraz potwierdza silną pozycję SWPS jako ośrodka naukowo-badawczego. Siedziba Wydziału Zamiejscowego w Sopocie Od roku akademickiego 2005/2006 Wydział Zamiejscowy w Sopocie dysponuje własnym budynkiem o powierzchni 4000 m2. SWPS sygnatariuszem Magna Charta Universitatum 15 września w Bolonii, siedzibie najstarszego Uniwersytetu w Europie, Rektor SWPS - prof. dr hab. Andrzej Eliasz, podpisał uroczyście deklarację Magna Charta Universitatum. SWPS wstąpiła tym samym do elitarnego grona uczelni - sygnatariuszy dokumentu proklamującego podstawowe zasady, które obecnie i w przyszłości powinny stanowić fundament działalności uczelni uniwersyteckich. Umowa o współpracy między SWPS i Animal Behavior Institute W październiku SWPS podpisała umowę o współpracy z Animal Behavior Institute. Jej celem jest przyznanie studentom pełnego zaliczenia programu studiów w SWPS, umożliwiając jednocześnie uzyskanie zewnętrznego dyplomu ABI (Animal Behavior Institute). Współpraca ta umożliwi studentom dostęp do wiedzy specjalistycznej oraz zasobów SWPS i ABI, a także wyznaczy mniejsze wymagania konieczne do ukończenia nauki i uzyskania dyplomów ABI.
2007Pozytywna ocena PKA dla socjologii 22 marca Państwowa Komisja Akredytacyjna zajmująca się oceną jakości kształcenia przyznała pozytywną ocenę dla kierunku „socjologia" prowadzonego przez Wydział Nauk Humanistycznych i Społecznych SWPS na poziomie studiów I i II stopnia. Potrójna uroczystość w SWPS 23 marca w imieniu Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Złote, Srebrne i Brązowe Krzyże Zasługi wręczył zasłużonym pracownikom SWPS prof. Karol Modzelewski, wiceprezes Polskiej Akademii Nauk. Odznaczenia otrzymali: prof. Krystyna Skarżyńska, prof. Magdalena Marszał-Wiśniewska, prof. Alina Kolańczyk, prof. Bogdan Wojciszke i prof. Wojciech Pisula. W dalszej części uroczystości odbyła się promocja doktorów połączona z nadaniem stopnia doktora habilitowanego. Uprawnienia doktorskie (kulturoznawstwo) 11 kwietnia Centralna Komisja do Spraw Stopni i Tytułów przyznała Wydziałowi Nauk Humanistycznych i Społecznych uprawnienia do nadawania stopnia naukowego doktora nauk humanistycznych w dyscyplinie kulturoznawstwo. SWPS stała się tym samym jedyną uczelnią niepubliczną, która posiada uprawnienia doktorskie na 2 wydziałach oraz uprawnienia habilitacyjne. Europejska akredytacja dla studiów podyplomowych z mediacji rodzinnych 11 maja studia podyplomowe z zakresu Mediacji Rodzinnych otrzymały akredytację „The European Forum Training and Research in Family Mediation". Studia są prowadzone przez Centrum Kształcenia Praktycznego SWPS. Nowy kierunek: dziennikarstwo i komunikacja społeczna 26 czerwca, decyzją Ministra Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego, SWPS otrzymała uprawnienia do prowadzenia studiów I stopnia na kierunku dziennikarstwo i komunikacja społeczna. Akredytacja PKA dla kierunku kulturoznawstwo Kierunek kulturoznawstwo, prowadzony na Wydziale Nauk Humanistycznych i Społecznych SWPS w Warszawie na poziomie studiów I i II stopnia, otrzymał pozytywną ocenę na mocy uchwały przyjętej 4 października 2007 r. przez Prezydium Państwowej Komisji Akredytacyjnej.
2008Zmiany na poziomie założycielskim W 2008 r. nastąpiły zmiany. Trzej założyciele Szkoły Wyższej Psychologii Społecznej, utworzyli Instytut Rozwoju Edukacji, który - za zgodą Ministra Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego - przejął funkcje założycielskie. Współpraca SWPS i WSNHiD 27 lutego Szkoła Wyższa Psychologii Społecznej w Warszawie oraz Wyższa Szkoła Nauk Humanistycznych i Dziennikarstwa w Poznaniu nawiązały ścisłą współpracę, popartą zmianami kapitałowymi na poziomie założycielskim. Podpisano porozumienie o współpracy, na mocy którego uczelnie rozpoczynają wspólne działania w obszarach: naukowo-badawczym, dydaktycznym, popularyzującym kulturę i sztukę oraz międzynarodowym. Współdziałanie uczelni opierać się będzie także na wymianie doświadczeń i dobrych praktyk. Pozytywna ocena PKA dla socjologii w SWPS 13 listopada 2008 r. Państwowa Komisja Akredytacyjna (PKA), nadzorująca jakość kształcenia na uczelniach wyższych, przyznała pozytywną ocenę kierunkowi „socjologia" na poziomie studiów I i II stopnia, prowadzonemu na Wydziale Nauk Humanistycznych i Społecznych w Szkole Wyższej Psychologii Społecznej. Komisja, uzasadniając przyznaną ocenę, podkreśliła, że Uczelnia spełnia wymagania kadrowe, programowe i organizacyjne, a także posiada odpowiednią bazę materialną do prowadzenia studiów I i II stopnia na kierunku „socjologia". Współpraca SWPS i British Council 4 grudnia 2008 r. prof. dr hab. Jan Strelau - Prorektor ds. Nauki i Współpracy Międzynarodowej SWPS, oraz Tony O'Brien - Dyrektor British Council podpisali porozumienie o partnerstwie strategicznym w latach 2008-2011. SWPS będzie współpracowała z British Council w realizacji międzynarodowego projektu „Intercultural Navigators". |
