History of the University of Lodz

University of Lodz

Our story. Our community

For nearly 80 years, the University of Lodz has been a meeting place for people who believe that knowledge is the first step to freedom.

We have always created a space where students, doctoral candidates, and those focused on conducting research, teaching, and administrative work learn about the world together – with curiosity, responsibility and respect for others.

Our university was established on 24 May 1945, shortly after the end of the war, but its roots reach further – to the Lodz branch of the Free Polish University (1928), the Teacher Training Institute, and the University of Social and Economic Sciences.

The idea of the university was created by Professor Teodor Vieweger – a biologist and a social activist who, even during the occupation, gathered the scientific community from Vilnius, Lviv, and Warsaw around him. He died tragically just before the inauguration. In his place, Professor Tadeusz Kotarbiński, an eminent philosopher and an ethicist – a co-founder of post-war academic life in Poland became the university's first Rector.

Development and challenges

In its early years, the university grew rapidly, attracting distinguished figures from the academic worlds of Warsaw, Vilnius and Lviv. Soon, our university became the second largest in the country in terms of student population, with 9,000 students across six faculties. However, history took a turn soon – the 1950s brought restrictions on academic freedom and political pressure. The number of students at the university dwindled, until a total of 1,500 at all the faculties.

After 1956, thanks to the courage and commitment of, among others, then-Rector Adam Szpunar, the university's autonomy was restored and humanities study programmes were rebuilt. The academic ceremony that remains in effect at our university to this day was also firmly established.

A voice that never fades

The following decades were a time of trials and resistance for us. March 1968 was marked by the repression of those studying and working at the university, and the suppressed protests – all of this left a mark on the university's history. Despite this, our community did not remain silent. In 1981, a sit-in protest broke out, culminating in the groundbreaking registration of the Independent Students' Association – the first such organisation in the entire Eastern Bloc.

Our university was one of the main centres of these events. Thanks to this, when communism fell, we were not only able to build, but also succeeded in, building a university based on dialogue and collective action.

A university open to the world and people

The 1990s and the early 21st century saw a new dynamic: infrastructure development, the establishment of new faculties, an increase in the number of students and employees, as well as international research and educational programmes.

Today, our university also encompasses:

  • over 30 academic disciplines,
  • hundreds of study programmes offered in Polish and English,
  • thousands of students from around the world,
  • programmes such as Erasmus+,
  • social initiatives and integration projects such as University Diversity.

A university of values

Since its inception, the University of Lodz has been more than just an institution. It has been a place where truth, freedom, respect, and curiosity meet in practice. It’s a place where research is conducted not only with progress in mind, but above all, for the common good. It’s a place where science is not a distant, cold world of numbers and facts, but a part of social life, culture and sensitivity.

This goal still guides us – because today, as before, we believe that a university is created together, with people and for people.

The future: Together

The University of Lodz's strategy for 2021–2030 is based on the belief that only a university that is bold, responsible and humane can respond to the challenges of the modern world. We want to develop towards a research university, measuring quality not only through results, but also by verifying how much of a community we are – how close we are to people and their concerns.

This is what #HumanUniversity means to us.

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Bibliography: Puś, W. (2020). Zarys historii Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego 1945–2020. Wyd. II. Łódź: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego