The History of Academic Łódź – from the Founding of Higher Education Institutions to International Student Exchanges

Universities in Łódź were established in the post-war period. Earlier attempts to create Higher Schools were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. The first university to be established was the University of Łódź, which was founded by decree on May 24, 1945. The position of first rector was taken by the eminent scientist Tadeusz Kotarbiński. In the first academic year of the university's operation, six faculties were established: Humanities, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Law and Economics, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry. In 1950, three medical faculties were separated, which in turn initiated the establishment of the Medical University. Initially, the University of Łódź employed 530 staff members and accounted for approximately 12% of all students in Poland. The university developed dynamically and gradually new departments such as Education and Geography were incorporated into it. Currently, the University of Łódź (UŁ) has 12 faculties. It is worth mentioning that the University hosts the Polish Language Center, which is the oldest institution of its kind in Poland, operating continuously since 1952. Parallel to the University, the Łódź University of Technology was established. Its creation is inextricably linked with the history of industrial Łódź. The first premises granted by the city were a complex of rooms in the Rosenblatt factory. The continuous and dynamic development of the university means that today this prestigious technical university has a 32-hectare campus at its disposal with mansions, a park, and renovated post-factory facilities. The beginnings of academic Łódź are also linked with the establishment of art schools: the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music, the Władysław Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, and the Leon Schiller National Higher School of Film, Television and Theatre in Łódź.

Academic Łódź in the 21st century

Each of the universities needed time and changes to shape today's academic Łódź. Currently, our city has 28 universities, of which as many as 22 are non-public universities. Each of the 6 oldest public universities offers a rich range of studies, conducted both in full-time and part-time modes. The development of digitalization and the emergence of social media contributed to changes in how educational offerings are presented. For example, UŁ introduced new visual identification from 2016 onwards. An important part of changes and an attempt to adapt to today's conditions is also internationalization. Universities willingly implement international student exchange programs. The most popular of these is Erasmus. Additionally, the University has an Erasmus Mundus program, which enables studies in countries such as Chile, Mexico, and Brazil. This makes Łódź a city eagerly chosen by foreigners, and the number of English-language students continues to grow.

Successes of young scientists from the Łódź University of Technology

The Łódź University of Technology is a true treasure trove of talents and a center for research and innovative scientific discoveries. In 2015, the Łódź team Lodz Solar Team created the first solar-powered vehicle in Poland. It participated in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge competition in Australia and the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa. In 2016, students from the Faculty of Computer Science won the Imagine Cup 2016 competition in the Games category. In February 2018, doctoral student Anna Rył of the Łódź University of Technology became a winner of a special award at the National Competition for Student Inventors. Another award-winning project on the international stage was the innovative myHydro project – a textile armband that monitors the body's hydration level. The product is expected to appear on the market in the next 3 years. Meanwhile, scientists from the Łódź University of Technology won four gold and one silver medal at the International Invention Design Competition. The awarded projects include: "Biotectronic system for prevention and treatment support of lower urinary tract infections," "Device for measuring changes in femoral bone position during total hip arthroplasty," and "Lightweight structural composite with mineral filling." The first two solutions may have a significant impact on medicine, while the remaining ones play an important role in industry. In addition to the Łódź University of Technology, the Łódź Medical University is also a pioneer in research related to many medical fields such as cardiology, oncology, and molecular biology.