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Bicentenary of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW
The Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) is
the largest and oldest university of life sciences in Poland.
Its origins date back to 1816, when the Institute
of Agronomy in Marymont was founded. It educated
future stewards, estate managers, sons of landowners
(at a higher level) as well as skilled workers (at an
elementary level). The Institute was established as
one of the ”Staszic schools” and its creation owed a lot
to efforts of Polish landed gentry. It was the fourth
institution of this kind in Europe. The long list of
prominent figures associated with the Institute, and
later with the University of Life Sciences, includes i.a.
Jerzy Beniamin Flatt (the first head of the Institute
of Agronomy), Józef Mikułowski-Pomorski (the first
rector of SGGW), Count Edward Raczyński (who
donated to the Ministry of Religion and Public Education
the Ursynów plot where the SGGW campus is
currently located), Władysław Grabski (Prime Minister
of the Second Polish Republic, the creator of the Polish
currency) and Franciszek Staff (Professor of SGGW,
a pioneer of fishery in Poland).
In the 19th and 20th century, new institutions and
forms of agricultural education were developed. These
were subsequently combined to create the Warsaw
University of Life Sciences. A small establishment
where 122 people had studied in the years 1816–1830
was transformed into a university with a student body
of 460 in 1918, and of 1 400 in 1939. Currently 25 000
students and doctoral students are being educated
there in 13 departments.
Today, SGGW is a well-equipped, dynamically developing
scientific and research center, highly esteemed
both at home and abroad. The university cooperates
with numerous domestic and foreign universities
and institutions, participating in prestigious research
projects of international economic and scientific significance.
Solutions developed by the SGGW researchers
are changing the face of industry and agriculture, and
research is conducted with a particular focus on future
practical applications in the economy. The university
cooperates with many companies in the field of food
economy, environmental engineering, veterinary
medicine and economics.
Prof. dr hab. Andrzej Radecki