Kazimierz Wielki University, located in Bydgoszcz, was officially established on September 1, 2005. However, the institution’s origins can be traced back to 1969 with the founding of the Teachers’ Training College.
In Polish, the university is referred to as Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego w Bydgoszczy.
Throughout its history, the university has undergone several name changes and organizational restructuring:
- **1969-1974**: The institution functioned as a Teacher’s Training College, comprising three faculties: Humanities, Mathematics and Natural Science, and Pedagogy.
- **1974-2000**: It operated as the Higher Pedagogical School, which was authorized to confer Master’s Degree programs.
**2000-2005**: The establishment was known as Kazimierz Wielki Academy.
**Since 2005**: It has been designated as Kazimierz Wielki University.
Currently, Kazimierz Wielki University is a dynamic institution of higher education, recognized as the largest in Bydgoszcz and the second largest in the regional context based on the quantity of faculty members, academic programs, student enrollment, and graduates. The university is distinguished as one of the youngest comprehensive universities in Poland.
The institution is actively engaged in international collaborations and seeks European funding through various educational and research programmes. Its principal objective is to enhance competitiveness in the European educational market by promoting the mobility of students and faculty in accordance with the Lisbon and Bologna strategies.
Kazimierz Wielki University participates in the Erasmus+ programme and maintains partnerships with over a hundred institutions of higher education in numerous EU and non-EU countries, thereby offering exchange opportunities across more than twenty academic disciplines. In recent years, the number of incoming students has significantly increased, with a growing number of international students opting to continue their education at the university following their Erasmus experience. In order to attract and retain these international students, the university provides a robust support system, which includes academic assistance from Erasmus coordinators, mentor programs, complimentary Polish language courses, logistical aid, welcome weeks, and intercultural training initiatives.