When Poland regained independence in 1918 after over a century of partitions, one of its most pressing needs was to establish strong academic institutions across all regions of the newly reunited state. In the west, the city of Poznań—part of the former Prussian partition—was a natural location for a new university. In 1919, this vision materialised with the founding of the University of Poznań, which later took on the name of Adam Mickiewicz, Poland’s national poet. Since then, the institution has become a central force in shaping Poland’s intellectual life, particularly in the Wielkopolska region, while fostering international collaboration and cutting-edge research.
Beginnings Rooted in Rebirth
Although Poznań lacked a university during the time of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, it had long been a centre of learning and patriotism. The idea of establishing a Polish university in the city dates back to the 19th century, but it was only after Poland’s rebirth in 1918 that the dream became reality. The University of Poznań was formally inaugurated on 7 May 1919, symbolically just months after Poland’s independence.
The university quickly became one of the new Polish Republic’s flagship academic institutions, alongside the universities of Kraków, Lwów, and Warsaw. It consisted of four founding faculties: Philosophy, Law and Economics, Medicine, and Agriculture. From the outset, the university attracted prominent scholars, many of whom had worked in German or Austrian institutions but now returned to serve the Polish state.
Among the first professors were distinguished names such as Heliodor Święcicki, the university’s first rector, and Stanisław Pawłowski, a noted geographer and future rector. They laid the foundations of a scholarly community that combined rigorous academic standards with a strong sense of public mission.
A University of Resistance and Identity
Located in a region long subjected to Germanisation policies under Prussian rule, the University of Poznań quickly assumed a symbolic role in affirming Polish culture and identity. It was seen not only as an educational institution but also as a bulwark of national heritage in western Poland. In contrast to the older universities in Kraków and Lwów, the Poznań university had to forge its identity from scratch—while responding to the unique challenges of Wielkopolska’s post-partition history.
Throughout the interwar period, the university flourished. New faculties were established, and the number of students steadily increased. It gained particular prominence in the fields of natural sciences, linguistics, law, and classical philology. Poznań’s strong traditions in practical agriculture and regional economics also shaped the university’s distinctive academic profile.
In 1920, the Polish University College in Gdańsk was created as a branch of the University of Poznań, extending its influence further. Although it would later develop independently, this move reflected the university’s broader ambition to serve as an academic engine for Poland’s western territories.
Tragedy and Continuity in Wartime
The outbreak of World War II in 1939 brought the university’s growth to an abrupt halt. Under Nazi occupation, the institution was officially closed, and many of its buildings were seized for German use. A number of professors were arrested, deported, or murdered. Students and faculty faced persecution and violence, particularly those involved in underground resistance.
Despite this, the university continued to operate covertly. A secret network of academic teaching known as Tajne Nauczanie (Underground Education) kept Polish education alive in Poznań, often at great personal risk. Professors gave lectures in private homes, and students studied in secret. The wartime experience reinforced the university’s role not only as an academic centre but also as a defender of national survival.
Rebirth and Renaming in the People’s Republic
With the end of the war and the re-establishment of Poland’s borders, the university reopened its doors in April 1945. In a powerful symbolic gesture, it was renamed the Adam Mickiewicz University (Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu), honouring the great Romantic poet and icon of Polish identity. The renaming was more than a tribute—it positioned the university as a cultural and intellectual heir to the ideals of Polish nationhood.
Under the new socialist state, the university expanded rapidly. The 1950s and 1960s saw the creation of new faculties and institutes. Research became more structured and centralised, with a stronger emphasis on the sciences. At the same time, like other Polish universities, AMU operated within the constraints of state ideology, and periods of political unrest—such as the student protests of 1968—led to censorship, dismissals, and surveillance.
Nevertheless, the university retained a measure of intellectual autonomy, especially in the humanities. Many professors, despite the system, continued to produce world-class research, particularly in areas such as Slavic studies, linguistics, geography, and chemistry.
Modern Achievements and Global Standing
The fall of communism in 1989 marked a new chapter for Adam Mickiewicz University. Freed from ideological constraints, AMU entered a period of internationalisation and modernisation. It joined the European University Association, forged partnerships with dozens of foreign institutions, and embraced the Bologna Process, aligning its degrees with European standards.
Today, AMU is consistently ranked among Poland’s top universities. It has sixteen faculties, including the highly regarded Faculty of Law and Administration, and a growing reputation in natural sciences, social sciences, and IT and digital humanities. The Morasko Campus, opened in the early 2000s on the outskirts of Poznań, houses modern facilities, research centres, and one of Europe’s most powerful radio telescopes.
AMU has also expanded beyond Poznań itself. It maintains regional branches in Gniezno, Kalisz, Piła, and Słubice. The university’s Collegium Polonicum, in cooperation with the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), is a symbol of Polish-German academic cooperation and postwar reconciliation.
Notably, the university has been deeply involved in EU research programmes, particularly Horizon 2020, and plays a key role in international consortia focusing on climate, migration, and digital culture. It also participates in the EPICUR alliance, a network of European universities working on cross-border education and research innovation.
A Living Legacy
Throughout its history, Adam Mickiewicz University has remained firmly rooted in the civic and cultural life of western Poland. It has shaped generations of lawyers, writers, scientists, and teachers, and its alumni include prime ministers, diplomats, and artists.
The university’s main building—Collegium Minus, with its striking Neo-Romanesque architecture—stands in central Poznań as a proud symbol of Polish scholarship. Inside, the Aula Uniwersytecka, with its renowned acoustics, hosts not only lectures but also concerts, conferences, and public debates. This synthesis of tradition and openness defines AMU’s mission to this day: to educate, to research, and to serve society in the broadest sense.
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