The year 1956 marks the beginning of existence of the “Polonicum”. It is a crucial date, as it was only then that, after the Second World War, it became possible to educate foreigners in Poland; proceedings began to organise a summer course for foreign scholars of Polish and Slavonic languages. The first course at the Institute took place in September 1956, with 39 participants hailing from 15 countries; among them were 38 academics and only one student. Yet it was the year 1931 that saw the first 20th-century course of the Polish language and culture to be organised in Poland – a month-long summer course for foreigners, of which the ceremonial opening and the first part took place at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, and the later two weeks at the University of Warsaw. Thus it is for over seventy years now that the internationally renowned Institute has continued its work. The name “Polonicum” dates from 1960; initially it operated as the School of Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners, then from 1976 as an Institute within the Department of Polish Studies; its current organisational shape “Polonicum” received in 2005.
