The Collegium Polonicum in Słubice is a joint academic unit of the Adam Mickiewicz University () in Poznań and of the Viadrina European University () in Frankfurt (Oder). Its focus is on interdisciplinary scientific research and teaching on German-Polish, European, intercultural and cross-border issues. Collegium Polonicum is also a branch (Polish: ) of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Słubice, in whose building this joint unit is physically based. This building had been erected in the years 1992–2001 by the Adam Mickiewicz University for the purpose of joint research and teaching activities with the Viadrina European University. As branch of Adam Mickiewicz University, Collegium Polonicum is one of four such units located outside Poznań and notably housing the Academic Secondary School for General Education in Słubice (Polish: ).
Founding History
The European dimension in the re-establishment of the Viadrina University in Frankfurt (Oder) in 1989, as enshrined in this university's founding mission, is to “fulfil distinctive tasks concerning the German-Polish foreign policy relations and culturally with a view to Europe” (German:„…außenpolitisch im deutsch-polnischen Verhältnis und kulturell mit Blick auf Europa besondere Aufgaben zu erfüllen“). In order to secure the claim of close scientific networking with Poland and a targeted allocation of one third of the student places to Polish applicants, cooperation with four Polish universities – one of them Adam Mickiewicz University – took place during the founding phase. First ideas came up to create university infrastructure – initially only residences for Polish Viadrina students – also in Słubice, i.e. in the twin city of Frankfurt (Oder). Yet the Cooperation Agreement between the Minister for National Education of the Republic of Poland and the Minister for Science and Culture of the Federal State of Brandenburg signed on the day of the ceremonial opening of the Viadrina European University (i.e. 6 September 1991), manifests the intention to create in Słubice student residences as well as an institution for research and teaching, including library and laboratory facilities. The 25th anniversary celebrations of Collegium Polonicum in 2016 referred to this date.
At Adam Mickiewicz University, the idea of a "Collegium Polonicum" was subsequently developed as an institution for joint teaching and research activities with the European University Viadrina. After having received political assent on the Polish and the German side, a joint commission of the Adam Mickiewicz University and the European University Viadrina developed a concept for the Collegium Polonicum. This concept was approved by the Senate of the European University Viadrina on 19 December 1992 and by the Senate of the Adam Mickiewicz University on 22 December 1992. This was preceded by a symbolic laying of the foundation stone on 16 October 1992 as the founding act for the Collegium Polonicum. Since 1994, first lectures for students of the European University Viadrina took place in rented rooms in Słubice. In 1995, the Collegium Polonicum library was opened, also in rented rooms. The opening of the first building part of the Collegium Polonicum took place on 10 June 1998, and of the entire building with the library on 1 February 2001. With its opening, the Collegium Polonicum received the status of a branch (Polish: ośrodek zamiejscowy respectively filia) of Adam Mickiewicz University, to which also belongs the library. On 2 October 2002, the Collegium Polonicum was put on a bi-national legal basis with the signing of the “Treaty between the Minister for National Education and Sport of the Republic of Poland and the Ministry for Science, Research and Culture of the Federal State of Brandenburg on the Collegium Polonicum in Słubice”. This treaty, as already the 1992 concept of both universities, enshrines the agreed basic consensus that the Polish side finances the construction and maintenance of the built infrastructure, while the German side covers the expenses for the establishment and operation of five professorial chairs.
Building For the Collegium Polonicum building, the design of the Poznań architect Tomasz Durniewicz was selected in a limited competition organised by Adam Mickiewicz University. Construction works started in 1995. The opening of the first building part of the Collegium Polonicum took place on 10 June 1998, and of the entire building on 1 February 2001. The Collegium Polonicum has a total floor space of 20,546 m2. Of this, 14,579 m2 are allotted to the main building with approx. 32 seminar and laboratory rooms, two conference halls and the large assembly hall with about 1,000 seats, a canteen and the offices for scientific as well as technical and administrative staff. 5,967 m2 are allotted to the library section connected to the main building by a bridge. The construction costs were approximately PLN 170 million.
Apart from the Collegium Polonicum building itself, the Adam Mickiewicz University has built several student residences in Słubice. In October 1993, the first Polish Viadrina students could move into an inner city student dormitory called Amicus, which constituted the completion of the abandoned shell of a nurses' home. From 1994 onwards, a student residences campus was constructed on a post-military site according to a design by the Warsaw architectural office Pracownia Architektoniczna BNS Warszawa. In addition to seven residential buildings, the campus includes areas for a student club, amenities and sports activities. The first rooms were ready for occupancy in 1998, and the overall project was completed in 2003 with the handover of a residence for doctoral students and university staff. In total over 1,100 dormitory places were created, mainly in single and double rooms, plus 40 two- and three-room apartments for university members and about 40 temporary overnight accommodation places in single and double rooms. The construction of the Collegium Polonicum and the student campus was financed to 65% from the budget of the Republic of Poland, to 20% from European funds under the PHARE programme and to 15% from the Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation. In accordance to the joint concept of 1992 and the interministerial agreement of 2002, it is the Adam Mickiewicz University only that is the owner of the properties and obliged to cover maintenance and operational costs (see Article 6 of the Treaty). In 2013, Adam Mickiewicz University began to reduce its real estate and building stock in Słubice. Apart from several undeveloped plots of land that had been set aside for extensions to the dormitory capacity and sports infrastructure, Adam Mickiewicz University sold the student residence Amicus to the municipality of Słubice, which set up 50 communal housing units there. Since 2017, the building constructed as a residence for doctoral students (Dom Doktoranta) is offered for sale by the Adam Mickiewicz University as a residential building with a floor space of 1,951.4 m2, land area 3,530 m2.
Management and Cooperation Structure In accordance to the 1992 concept for the Collegium Polonicum, in 1993 both universities appointed a management board for the Collegium Polonicum consisting of one Scientific Director and one Administrative Director. These two directors also participated in all meetings of the Mixed Commission (German: Gemischte Kommission, Polish: Komisja Mieszana), consisting of the rectors, deputy rectors (from 1999 on the side of the European University Viadrina the president and vice-presidents) and chancellors of both universities. On those regular meetings, all aspects of cooperation between Adam Mickiewicz University and European University Viadrina were discussed. Following the resignation of the Scientific Director in 1997, no new appointment was made. Since then, the management board of the Collegium Polonicum consists of the Administrative Director and the Deputy Rector or Vice-President responsible for the Collegium Polonicum on behalf of Adam Mickiewicz University and of Europa-Universität Viadrina respectively. This has also remained unchanged by the 2002 Treaty, by which the former Mixed Commission has been replaced by a Permanent Commission responsible explicitly for Collegium Polonicum (German: Ständige Kommission, Polish: Komisja Stała). It consists of the President and Rector of each university, the chancellors and the management board of Collegium Polonicum.
Management of Collegium Polonicum
Administrative Director 1993- Dr Krzysztof Wojciechowski
Scientific Director 1993-1997 Professor Waldemar Pfeiffer
Viadrina European University Vice President with responsibility for Collegium Polonicum 1997-2002 Professor Jan C. Joerden (until 1999 as Deputy Rector) 2002-2015 Ms. Janine Nuyken 2015-17 Professor Ines Härtel 2017- Ms. Janine Nuyken
Adam Mickiewicz University Deputy Rector with responsibility for Collegium Polonicum 1997-2002 Professor Stanisław Lorenc 2002-2008 Professor Janusz Wiśniewski 2008-2016 Professor Krzysztof Krasowski 2016-2018 Professor Beata Mikołajczyk 2018- Professor Tadeusz Wallas
The statute of Adam Mickiewicz University provides for a branch of the University, such as the Collegium Polonicum, to be headed by a branch director (Polish: "Dyrektor filii"). Such a position is not filled at Collegium Polonicum.
Academic Staff at Collegium Polonicum Academic Staff of the Viadrina European University at the Professorial Chairs financed by the Federal State of Brandenburg for the Collegium Polonicum In the 1992 concept for the Collegium Polonicum, jointly developed by the Adam Mickiewicz University and the Viadrina European University, it was agreed that the Viadrina would cover the costs of five professorial chairs at the Collegium Polonicum, while Adam Mickiewicz University would finance the construction, maintenance and operation of the Collegium Polonicum building and the student residences. In article 4 (No. 1 and 2) of the interministerial agreement for the Collegium Polonicum of 2002, the Federal State of Brandenburg accordingly committed itself to bear 'the staff costs for five professor and seven research assistant positions', including the related annual operative and administrative costs. Staff on these positions is to be employed in accordance to employment and salary regulations of the Federal State of Brandenburg.
In accordance with the concept adopted by Adam Mickiewicz University and European University Viadrina in December 1992, interdisciplinary academic activity at the Collegium Polonicum was to be committed to three overarching goals: complementation of research and lecture activities of the Viadrina European University, especially in the field of Polish history, language and culture (hence the name Collegium Polonicum), support of the idea of a united Europe and development and support of cross-border, regional and trans-regional cooperation.
In 2002, the inter-ministerial Treaty provided the substantive framework for the Collegium Polonicum as an interdisciplinary institution valid until today. The name Collegium Polonicum was retained, but the emphasis of this institution was shifted away from Polish language, history and culture. According to this, the spectrum for teaching and research covers all the scientific disciplines represented at Adam Mickiewicz University and at the European University Viadrina, however "with special consideration of problems of the European Integration, border regions and comparative research in an international and intercultural dimension”Treaty Collegium Polonicum 2002, art. 2 Nr. 4
The budget provided by the Federal State of Brandenburg for five professor and seven research assistant positions is divided into eight professorial chairs, i.e.: Entangled History of Ukraine, Comparative Central European Studies, Polish-German Literary and Cultural Relations and Gender Studies,