The first Chair of Pedagogy at the University of Warsaw was established in 1926 by Professor Bogdan Nawroczyński (1882–1974). In 1927, together with the Chairs of History of Education, Educational Psychology, and General Psychology, it became part of the Pedagogical Study within the Faculty of Humanities. The Study’s mission was to prepare teachers of pedagogical subjects for work in teacher training colleges and, after 1932, in pedagogical secondary schools, as well as to provide pedagogical education to secondary school subject teachers. The program lasted four years, and graduates received the degree of Master of Philosophy in Pedagogy. Alongside Bogdan Nawroczyński, lecturers included, among others, Stefan Baley (1885–1952) in educational psychology and Hanna Pohoska (1895–1953) in the history of education. During the German occupation (1939–1945), the Study operated clandestinely until the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising.
After the war, the Pedagogical Study resumed its work within the Faculty of Humanities under Professor Bogdan Suchodolski (1903–1992). Professor Bogdan Nawroczyński became Vice-Rector of the University of Warsaw and later Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. The Study continued to educate secondary school teachers and to provide full pedagogical studies, which were steadily expanded to include psychology. This development was reflected in the establishment of new organizational units such as the Department of Psychology and the Department of Educational Psychology.
Classes were held in difficult conditions, as university buildings had been destroyed during the war. In 1947, the Study was moved to surviving buildings of the Polish Teachers’ Union at 4 Smulikowskiego Street.
In 1951, the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences was separated from the Faculty of Humanities, and the Pedagogical Study, with six chairs—two in Pedagogy and School Organization, two in the History of Education and Schooling, and the Chairs of General Psychology and Educational Psychology—became part of the new faculty.
The faculty expanded with the addition of Professor Ignacy Szaniawski (1909–1983), head of the Chair of Pedagogy and School Organization; Professor Tadeusz Tomaszewski (1919–2000), head of the Chair of General Psychology; and Professor Łukasz Kurdybacha (1907–1972), head of the Chair of the History of Schooling and Education.
On September 5, 1953, the Minister of Higher Education established the Faculty of Education at the University of Warsaw. It comprised four chairs: Pedagogy, History of Schooling and Education, General Psychology, and Educational Psychology. It was the first such faculty at a university level in Poland. Professor Maria Żebrowska (1900–1978) became Dean, and Professor Ryszard Wroczyński (1909–1987) served as Vice-Dean before becoming Dean in 1954, a position he held until 1958. The Faculty set four main goals: organizing pedagogical and psychological studies, training future teachers, conducting research, and educating academic staff. The structure and content of studies changed. Pedagogy programs lasted five years, and each student was required to choose an additional subject they could teach after graduation. These included Polish philology, history, biology, mathematics, and geography. In subsequent years, students chose one subject from Polish philology, history, or biology.
In 1954, two-year external second-cycle studies were introduced, followed two years later by six-year external studies. These external studies laid the foundation for today’s part-time programs.
In 1956, the Faculty received its own building on Krakowskie Przedmieście, near the Kazimierzowski Palace and the former University Library. At that time, Professor Bogdan Suchodolski established the editorial board of Kwartalnik Pedagogiczny, a central journal addressing pedagogical issues.
In 1957, four new chairs were created: General Pedagogy (headed by Professor Bogdan Suchodolski), Didactics (Professor Wincenty Okoń), Social Pedagogy (Ryszard Wroczyński), and Theory and Organization of School (Professor Bogdan Nawroczyński).
In the academic year 1958/59, at the initiative of Professor Suchodolski, the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences was established, comprising six pedagogical chairs: General Pedagogy, Didactics, Theory and Organization of School, Social Pedagogy, History of Schooling and Education, and Special Education (headed by Professor Maria Grzegorzewska). Professor Bogdan Suchodolski became Director of the Institute. At that time (1958–1960), the Dean was Professor Wincenty Okoń. From 1960 to 1962, the Dean was Associate Professor Tadeusz Pasierbiński (1901–1968).
In 1961, a three-year doctoral program was launched, followed in 1965 by an Evening Pedagogical Study program.
Alongside the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences, psychological chairs developed within the Faculty. These included units within the Chair of Educational Psychology (Educational Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Psychology), and within the Chair of General Psychology (General Psychology and Physiology of Higher Nervous Activity). There was also a Chair of Experimental Psychology planning to establish a separate unit.
The coexistence of pedagogical and psychological sections led in 1968 to a name change. From the academic year 1968/69, it became the Faculty of Psychology and Education. Associate Professor Marian Maruszewski (1932–1973) served as Dean until 1973, followed by Professor Czesław Kupisiewicz (1973–1979). In 1973, two new institutes were established: the Institute of Psychology (headed by Professor Tadeusz Tomaszewski) and the Institute of Teacher Education (headed by Professor Stefan Słomkiewicz).
In 1979, the Institute of Psychology was separated and granted independent status. On September 29, 1979, the Rector of the University of Warsaw re-established the Faculty of Education with two institutes: Pedagogy and Teacher Education, as well as the Postgraduate Study of Career Orientation and Counseling. That year, the Faculty was moved from Krakowskie Przedmieście to Służewiec, to Szturmowa Street (“Smyczki”). Professor Czesław Kupisiewicz served as Dean until 1980, followed by Professor Stefan Wołoszyn for one year.
In March 1981, at the initiative of Professor Wincenty Okoń, the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Pedagogical Society was established at the Faculty. In June 1981, the first democratic elections were held, and Professor Anna Przecławska became Dean. Her first years in office coincided with strikes and martial law. In 1981, ministerial regulations abolished the institutes, making chairs the primary organizational units.
In 1982, the Faculty returned to its original name: Faculty of Education. Professor Anna Przecławska served two terms until 1987, followed by Professor Irena Szybiak (until 1993).
In 1992, the Faculty moved from Szturmowa Street to its current location at 16/20 Mokotowska Street. In the early 1990s, it participated in the TEMPUS program, enabling students to study at European universities.
From 1993 to 1996, the Dean was Professor Stefan Mieszalski; from 1996 to 2002, Professor Alicja Siemak-Tylikowska; from 2002 to 2008, Professor Mirosław S. Szymański. In 2008, Professor Alicja Siemak-Tylikowska was re-elected. On May 15, 2012, Professor Anna Wiłkomirska was elected Dean for the 2012–2016 term and served two terms until 2024. She was succeeded by Professor Rafał Godoń, who was re-elected for the 2024–2028 term. Associate Professor Agnieszka Wołowicz became Vice-Dean for Research, and Dr Ewelina Zubala became Vice-Dean for Student Affairs. The Scientific Council of the Discipline of Pedagogy is chaired by Professor Grzegorz Szumski, with Professor Anna Wiłkomirska as Deputy Chair.
The Faculty of Education conducts teaching and research activities and prepares students for pedagogical careers. In March 1998, it joined the Interfaculty Individual Studies in the Humanities (MISH). Since 1999, studies have followed the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), enabling flexible study programs and international mobility under the Socrates-Erasmus and MOST programs.
In 1999, the Faculty received the highest research category awarded by the State Committee for Scientific Research. In 2001, the Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities granted it a certificate of teaching quality.
The Faculty celebrated its 50th anniversary in the academic year 2003/2004 and its 60th anniversary in 2013, marked by conferences, exhibitions, and commemorative events. The 60th anniversary culminated in a national jubilee session held on November 18, 2013, in the Old University Library building on the main campus of the University of Warsaw. Distinguished members of the Faculty received state medals awarded by President Bronisław Komorowski.
The 70th anniversary was celebrated in 2023 with numerous academic events and the production of a commemorative film featuring faculty and students.
Prepared by Janina Kamińska.