We are happy to announce that the past eight years of diligent work contributed by faculty members from SWPS University in Katowice and Poznań have been recognized by the Central Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles, which has accorded the faculties in both locations the right to grant doctoral degrees in psychology. This means that all Faculties of Psychology at SWPS University, in all campuses, are now authorized to grant doctoral degrees.
Over 800 alumni have graduated from SWPS University in Poznań, including specialists in clinical and forensic psychology, child development and mental health. Apart from psychology, SWPS University in Poznań offers programs in law and design. In 2016, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Design in Poznań received a positive assessment by the Polish Accreditation Committee, responsible for the quality of education in Poland. The Committee highlighted the quality of our psychology program and the qualifications and achievements of the research and teaching staff.
The Faculty of Psychology in Katowice offers programs in psychology and criminal psychology. The criminal psychology program is the only one of its kind in Poland. Close to 1,400 alumni graduated from the Katowice Faculty of Psychology, including specialists in adult, child and adolescents clinical psychology, forensic psychology and business psychology. The Katowice Faculty is the only psychology faculty in Silesia to have received category A in the overall assessment conducted by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. In the assessment, the Ministry recognized the quality of the program and teaching as well as the faculty’s community engagement and collaboration with business partners as well as partners from the arts and culture sector.
The authority to grant doctoral degrees in psychology confirms the scientific acumen of the team working at the Katowice Faculty of Psychology, increases prestige of our Faculty and opens doors to further development. It also provides students with opportunities to follow their interests and helps them to begin their academic careers. Additionally, the right to grant doctoral degrees confirms that our University is a leading center for psychological research in Poland.
Associate Professor Katarzyna Popiołek, Dean of Katowice Faculty of Psychology
Currently, SWPS University is authorized to grant doctoral degrees in five disciplines (cultural studies, law, psychology, sociology and literature studies) and post-doctoral degrees in three disciplines (cultural studies, law and psychology).
Our team includes 62 professors, 69 faculty members with post-doctoral degrees (habilitacja), and 199 faculty members with doctoral degrees. Our researchers conduct numerous research projects. In the period 2013-2017, SWPS University received 93 grants worth close to EUR 7.5M from the National Research Center.
SWPS University is part of an elite group of research institutions granted the right to display the HR Excellence in Research logo. The certificate, awarded by the European Commission, confirms the university’s commitment to transparent recruitment and appraisal procedures for researchers, which include providing stability of employment, development opportunities, and an excellent environment for conducting research projects.
Participation in numerous international research projects strengthens the position of SWPS University among higher education institutions in Poland. Every year, we open new research centers and laboratories that enable our scholars to conduct high quality research projects. SWPS University was Poland’s first institution to join the international organization VITAE, a global leader in supporting the professional development of researchers. Together, we are working on establishing a Centre of Excellence for research and researchers in Poland.