Preserving the memory of the victims and warning against crimes of totalitarian regimes
Memorial sites play a crucial role in education. They also serve as a warning against horrific crimes committed by totalitarian regimes. SWPS University’s Center for Research on the Economics of Memorial Sites, headed by Prof. Adam Szpaderski, researches the economic, financial, and management processes related to the development, preservation, commemoration, and functioning of memorial sites around the world. Following the agreement with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, the Center prepares relevant analyzes and formulates strategy and education management recommendations for the Museum.
Roots of totalitarianism: unprecedented graduate certificate program
SWPS University and Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum have jointly launched a unique two-semester graduate certificate program “The Roots of the 20th Century Totalitarianism: Auschwitz – Holocaust – Genocides.” Admissions to the program are now open.
The goal of the program is to provide knowledge on the mechanisms of totalitarianisms of the 20th century, in particular Nazism and the Holocaust, including the role of the concentration camp Auschwitz. Our lecturers aim to present innovative teaching methods concerning such delicate subjects. The program is mainly addressed to teachers of history, civics, religion, or ethics as well as guides, educators, and employees of museums and memorial sites.
There is a particular dimension to education provided at the Auschwitz Memorial Site. Our mission and one of the most important duties is to teach and educate about the horrific events that took place there. Now, the museum experts have joined forces with SWPS University to offer a unique study program, a one-of-a-kind mission to expose the roots of 20th century totalitarianisms.
Andrzej Kacorzyk
Deputy Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
We aim to sensitize students to suffering and harm caused by indifference to antisemitism, racism, persecution, and war.
Bartosz Bartyzel
Spokesman for the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
As the head of the program, Professor Adam Szpaderski, explains, in spite of appearances, the program will not focus solely on history. The real goal is to relate historical events to the present day and show mechanisms of evil, which affect all of us acutely. This unique program is unparalleled on the market of post-graduate education.
Head of the Program
Adam Szpaderski, Ph.D. / Associate Professor – expert in management of memorial sites
Professor Adam Szpaderski specializes in strategic management, management of memorial sites, education management about Auschwitz, the Holocaust and genocides, including application of new technologies in the context of memorial sites as well as parametrization of the cultural heritage sector. He is the Head of the Center for Research on the Economics of Memorial Sites and Dean's Representative and the Chair of the Committee for Internationalization of Education Offer of the Faculty of Social Sciences in Warsaw at SWPS University. Professor Szpaderski lends his expertise to numerous museums and cultural institutions. In this capacity, he holds the following positions: Chief Consultant for Strategy and Education Management of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim, Chair of the Council of the Gross-Rosen Museum in Rogoźnica, Education Strategy Advisor to the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo, and Senior Consultant for Strategy and Education Management at the Central Museum of Prisoners-of-War. He is also the head of various implementation research projects, a recipient of numerous awards and a member of many scientific associations devoted to economics, management and culture.
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