Wroclaw University of Economics and Business

The Wroclaw University of Economics and Business is ranked among the top economic schools of higher education in Poland, and an important center of science and research. Its activities are aimed at maintaining and strengthening the position of the university on regional, national, and international levels, improving competitive advantage, and shaping its image of a modern institution, open and friendly to its employees, students, and the environment.

The Wroclaw University of Economics and Business provides fields of study as follow:

• Economics
• Finance and Accounting
• Informatics and Econometrics
• International Economics Relations
• Business Informatics
• Management
• Management and Productions Engineering
• Economic Analytics
• European Studies
• Logistics
• Spatial Economy
• Tourism

The students can choose from 40 specializations within the range of courses offered by the faculties.

Education

The educational system at WUEB follows the requirements of the Bologna declaration. We apply the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and issue Diploma Supplements. The exchange of academic staff and students is carried out under the Erasmus and other programs. In the academic year 2018/2019, there are more than 120 courses offered in foreign languages to Erasmus students. The WUEB has 200 Erasmus bilateral agreements and about 60 general cooperation agreements with foreign partners. The courses organized by the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, which are divided into semesters, are run in one or two-level systems and can be attended as full-time day courses, part-time weekend courses, and in the form of evening classes. The University is authorized to run an Executive MBA Program for graduates, which is available in a Polish or English language version. The Program is organized in cooperation with universities from Belgium, France, Ireland, Germany, and Great Britain.

Curricula realized at the University include foundation subjects, general and specialist subjects and ensure full complementarily with other European university curricula, which enables our students to participate in academic exchange and to study abroad as a part of their course. Foreign graduates are accepted here to complete their bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

The University offers free Polish language courses for exchange students. The courses are provided during each semester and have two levels for the student to choose: beginners and intermediate. The course content will also help you to get acquainted with the Polish culture.

Didactic personnel

Qualified personnel of the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business has always been our greatest asset. WUEB employees receive numerous awards for didactic and scientific achievements and have exercised responsible duties over a number of scientific associations and societies, both in Poland and abroad. The most prominent of our colleagues have been awarded honorary titles by local and foreign institutions of higher learning. Prof. Zdzisław Hellwig received honorary doctorates of Cracow University of Economics and Prague University of Economics; prof. Józef Popkiewicz – of the Technical University of Dresden; prof. Ber Haus– of the Katowice University of Economics; prof. Stanisław Urban – of the Cracow University of Agriculture; prof. Andrzej Gospodarowicz – of the University of Vilinius, and prof. Krzysztof Jajuga – of the Cracow University of Economics. Our University has also awarded honorary titles to a number of leading economists.

Of the 24 scientists honored with the WUEB doctorus honoris causa title are such figures as: Jochen Schumann, Giuseppe Calzoni, Robert Leroy King, János Kornai, Reinhard Selten – Nobel Prize laureate born in Wrocław, Andrzej Stanisław Barczak, Leszek Balcerowicz, Jerzy Rokita, Hiroyuki Itami, Marek Belka and Janusz Lewandowski.

Research endeavors of our employees have always been in close relation to didactic pursuits.

Our mission

To be a leading center of creative thought and economic education in our region of Europe.

Our vision

The WUE shall be a modern unit of education and research, and advisory and opinion-making unit permanently embedded in the regional, national and international area, undertaking activities leading to sustainable development in the sense of social and ethical responsibility, friendly to the staff, students and graduates, and open to all its surroundings.

Both the mission and the vision of the University are a fruit of broad consultations with various stakeholder groups, both external and internal. Our mission statement places emphasis on two central elements or fundaments, namely: the scientific research (To be a leading center of creative thought), and the equally important area of student education (economic education). Both elements have been formulated in reference to the intended objective (To be a leading center in our region of Europe). The wealth of resources available to us in terms of research personnel, administrative support, and the appropriate infrastructure, are perceived as central in the task of meeting the stated objectives of attaining a position of a regional leader in both dimensions.

Our University’s mission represents a long-term commitment, and its fundaments have served as the basis for the formulation of strategic objectives for WUE to be reached by the end of 2020. The objectives are subject to continuous scrutiny by members of the WUE Committee for Academic Strategy, comprised of research personnel and representatives of the student body. In the course of its regular meetings, the Committee is involved in monitoring the progress in the realization of objectives deemed strategic for our University, as identified in the formal wording of our mission, vision, and development strategy statements. All initiatives undertaken by our University are perceived in the context of their potential impact upon the realization of objectives expressed in the mission and the vision statements.

History

The Wroclaw University of Economics and Business is a long-established center of scientific and educational activities in the region. Its precursor, The Higher School of Trade, was established on the initiative of the Wroclaw Association for the Advance of Economic and Trade Sciences, the original founder and proprietor, in accordance with the Act of 1937 on privately owned schools of higher education. The majority of the staff was represented by former lecturers and employees of King Jan Kazimierz University and the Academy of Foreign Trade in Lvov, and of King Stefan Batory University in Vilnius. Professor Kamil Stefko was the first elected Rector of the school. The inaugural lecture was given by professor Wincent Stys (future Rector of the Higher School of Economics on the day of 3 February 1947. The Higher School of Trade was a single-faculty trade school offering 3-year courses in the following specializations: General Trade, Cooperative Management, Administration and Public Economy, Trade Insurance. In 1948, the total number of student admissions was set at 2817, ranking the school as the second-largest institution of higher education in Western Poland. Between 1947-1950, the total number of students exceeded 6000.

In 1950, the school was nationalized and transformed into the Higher School of Economics, with two faculties – Industry and Finance. In 1954, these were supplemented by the Faculty of Engineering and Economics in Food Processing. In 1958, the Faculty of Industry was renamed to Faculty of Company Economics, and finally in 1969, to the Faculty of National Economy (at present, it bears the name of Faculty of Economic Sciences, since 2006).

Another important milestone in our history came in 1974, with the formal adoption of a new name: Oskar Lange Academy of Economics. In 1976, the organizational structure was supplemented by another faculty – Engineering and Information Technology. In 1982, a new filial Faculty of Municipal Economy and Services was established in Jelenia Gora.

On the 18th of March 2008, by the power of an act of the Parliament of the Republic of Poland, the school was formally renamed to Wroclaw University of Economics. The formal change was introduced on May 6th, 2008.

In October 2019, according to the new Statute, the official English name of the University has changed to Wroclaw University of Economics and Business.

In the first academic year of its operation, our precursor institution admitted 1853 students. Admissions figures have grown steadily over the years. In the 1970s, the number of our students passed the 5 thousand thresholds and reached 10 thousand in the 1990s. The largest group of students was registered for 2005, coming close to 18 thousand marks. In May 2015, the number of UEW students was 12 207 and according to the most recent report in 2017 we had 11 604 students.

Today, the Wrocław University of Economics and Business is ranked among the top economic schools of higher education in Poland, an important center of education, science, and research. Its activities are aimed at maintaining and strengthening the position of the University on regional, national, European, and international levels, improving competitive advantage, and shaping its image of a modern institution, open and friendly to its employees, students, and the environment. Our University is fully privileged to provide academic training in the area of economic and management sciences.

Qualified personnel of the Wrocław University of Economics and Business has always been our greatest asset. UEW employees receive numerous awards for didactic and scientific achievements and have exercised responsible duties over a number of scientific associations and societies, both in Poland and abroad. The most prominent of our colleagues have been awarded honorary titles by local and foreign institutions of higher learning. Prof. Zdzisław Hellwig received honorary doctorates of Cracow University of Economics and Prague University of Economics; prof. Józef Popkiewicz – of the Technical Univesity of Dresden; prof. Ber Haus – of the Katowice University of Economics, and prof. Stanisław Urban – of the Cracow University of Agriculture.

Our University has also awarded honorary titles to a number of leading economists. Of the 19 scientists honored with the UEW doctors, honoris causa title is such figures as Jochen Schumann, Giuseppe Calzoni, Robert Leroy King, János Kornai, Reinhard Selten – Nobel Prize laureate born in Wrocław, Andrzej Stanisław Barczak, Leszek Balcerowicz, Jerzy Rokita and Janusz Lewandowski. Research endeavors of our employees have always been in close relation to didactic pursuits.

Key Facts

• More than 11 000 (Bachelor/Master/PhD) students
• More than 550 academic teachers
• More than 73 000 graduates
• More than 300 foreign students each academic year
• The first lecture at the university was given in February 1947

Facilities

The University possesses 31 premises for teaching, research, administration, and social purposes. Classes are performed in lecture rooms and exercise rooms, and in the computer, chemical and technological laboratories. Rooms are equipped with modern audio-visual aids. Some rooms possess facilities enabling direct teletransmissions and teleconferencing activities.

Take a Look at Wrocław

The city of a thousand years is abundant with world-class historic monuments and cultural objects. The privileged position of Wrocław over other Polish cities is based on such factors as strategic location, convenient transport (airport, motorway, river transport, railways), life standard, rich infrastructure, and stability. Wroclaw is also an industrial city, rapidly developing the IT sector, electronic, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. These advantages are attested to by many successful foreign investments, such as Allied Irish Bank, APSYS, ABB, Credit Agricole, Capgemini, Cadbury, Castorama, CARGILL, Decathlon, Fagor, Generall Bottlers, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, IKEA, Siemens, Volvo, WABCO, and Whirlpool.

Summing up, Wrocław builds its current and future prosperity on three pillars: economy, culture, and higher educations.

Basic facts about Wrocław

• City area: 293 km square
• Population: 634 thousand
• Population of agglomeration: approx. 1 million
• Within driving distance to Prague, Berlin, Vienna, and Warsaw
• 1000-year-old city
• 12 verdant islands
• 112 bridges
• Wrocław has been selected as a European Capital of Culture in 2016 (along with San Sebastián).