1995

The Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok (Niepaństwowa Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna -NWSP) is a non-public higher education institution established upon the decision of the Ministry of National Education (MEN) 17 October 1995 by Leontyna Jakoniuk.

 

• The Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok operates upon the current law on higher education and its Statute and is a legal personality.
• The basic organisational unit the scope of didactic and scientific activity is the Faculty of Education Sciences.
• The University was granted permission to run three-year higher vocational studies in the field of pedagogy.
• The first premises of NWSP were located at ul. Waszyngtona 29 in Białystok.

1996

On 14 May 1996 NWSP in Bialystok was entered in the Register of Non-Public Higher Education Institutions under the entry 83/96.

Two new specializations were created on the faculty of pedagogy: early childhood pedagogy with artistic education (PW) and pedagogy of social work with re-socialisation (PSR).

The first students start in the academic year 1996/1997

1998

The school expands its educational activities with the addition of a specialization in civil defence training which enjoys a high level of popularity

The School has signed a cooperation agreement with the Teacher Education Centre in Białystok. Under the agreement, NWSP students can use the resources of the Centre’s Pedagogical Library free of charge.

 

1999

The University enriches its offer with postgraduate studies for teachers. In 1999-2001, postgraduate studies were completed in the following areas: humanities education, block teaching – the ‘Nature’ and ‘Art’ blocks, information technology and computer science, civil defence training and crime prevention.

As part of scientific research, the university begins to organise regular conferences on educational reform in Poland. The first academic conference on ‘educational reform’ was held on 15 May with the participation of Anna Radziwiłł, advisor to the Minister of National Education, and representatives of the Board of Education, the Podlaskie Voivode, and the Marshal of the Podlaskie Regional Assembly. The scientific discourse on the assumptions of the educational reform was honoured by an artistic presentations and self-defence demonstrations by students of NWSP in Białystok.

2000

On 25 March NWSP organised a Scientific Conference ‘Implementation of Education Reform – Education and Society in the 21st Century’ with the participation of a representative of the Ministry of National Education, Ms Jolanta Dobrzyńska, Director of the Strategy and Education Reform Department, School Superintendent, headmasters of schools in Podlaskie Voivodeship, heads of communes.

On 20-21 May 2000, the Polish Higher School Taekwondo WTF Championships were held in Olsztyn, where NWSP students won 3 medals. Two gold medals were brought by Urszula Knyżewska (the only double champion in the competition) in combat and in poomse (layouts) at 57 kg. The bronze medal was won by Andrzej Wardzyński in 87 kg. The medallists were supervised by the taekwondo coach Stanisław Zduniak, M.Sc.

On 18 November, a Scientific Conference ‘Defence Education – Dilemmas and Prospects’ was held. The conference was attended by AWS deputies, majors of JW 1451, the commander of JW 1451, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Białystok, the Commissioner and the Superintendent of the Białystok Regional Police Headquarters, representatives of the Board of the Marshal’s Office, the editor of the newspaper ‘Polska Zbrojna’ in Warsaw.

2001

In the academic year 2001/2001 the School expanded its educational offer with another specialisation: Social and Educational Pedagogy with Health Education.

In the academic year 2001/2002 NWSP, together with the Provincial Police Headquarters in Białystok and young people from secondary schools in Białystok, co-produced programmes on important educational issues broadcast on Regional Television Białystok. The subject matter of the programmes reffered to , among other things, the problem of addiction among young people, crime in the Podlaskie Voivodship, tolerance, love, the world of values

2002

In 2002, the NWSP Library was established

On February 25, 2002 NWSP organised the 4th Academic Conference ‘Educational Reforms and the Challenges of European Integration’. – with the participation of school principals, representatives of local authorities and the Podlaskie Voivodship Board of Education.

2003

NWSP becomes the owner of a new building and moves its activities to 91 Jana Pawła II Avenue in Białystok.

On 27 April, the School organised a free concert for children from Białystok entitled ‘Let’s give children joy’. The event was held in the Aleksander Węgierka Drama Theatre. Guests at the concert included Majka Jeżowska, Jacek Wójcicki, Michał Olszański, Magda Gołaszewska, the dance groups ‘Szał’, ‘Rytm’ and the student choir of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok. Children from the Children’s Home No. 2 in Białystok performed on the theatre stage in a star-studded show. The University also provided financial support for the institution.

2004

In the academic year 2004/2005 another specialisation ‘Media Education with Graphic Design’ (EM) was created

2005

Due to changes in educational law, NWSP operates on the basis of the Act of 27 July 2005 ‘Law on Higher Education’.

A research study on educational reform in Poland has been completed. The result of five years of intensive work is the first book published by the Publishing House of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy – a monograph ‘Dilemmas of the Reformed School in the 21st Century’ edited by Dr Agata Popławska

On 10-11 March, the First International Scientific Conference ‘Intercultural Education as a Challenge of the 21st Century’ was held. Participants included academic teachers from all over Poland and representatives of the Provincial Office, the Podlaskie Voivodeship Marshal’s Office in Białystok and the Białystok School Board. The conference was honoured by the Tatar-Ukrainian poetic dialogue Piewcy stepowej Hellady – an author’s evening by Selim Khazbijewicz and Tadeusz Karabowicz, with musical arrangement by Zofia Marszałek, and a performance by the ‘Gaudium’ vocal octet.

On 10 May, an All-Poland Scientific Conference on ‘The Welfare of the Child in the Family’ was held. Representatives of various academic centres from across Poland and representatives of the Białystok School Board, the Podlaskie Voivodship Marshal’s Office in Białystok, and the Municipal Family Welfare Centre in Białystok took part in this scientific seminar.

2006

On 25-26 October 2006 NWSP, as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy, held the National Scientific Conference ‘Modern pedagogical trends and progress in education’.

By the decision of the Minister of Education and Science of 28 April 2006, NWSP is authorised to run second-cycle (master’s) studies in the field of pedagogy. The establishment of master’s studies is a great opportunity to deepen theoretical knowledge in basic humanistic disciplines, to gain professional preparation in pedagogy, psychology and subject matter. The University, by conducting second-cycle studies, will enable students to receive reliable theoretical preparation of an interdisciplinary nature oriented towards a specific pedagogical specialisation.

Białystok Television broadcasts NWSP’s original programmes (as part of the university’s scientific research with secondary school students) on the following issues: ‘Young people are looking for answers to the question: what is school like?’, “School and what’s next – what is a career, how to achieve it and in what field?”, “Fashion and beauty”, “What is sport?”, “Drug abuse and addiction”, “Safe holidays”.

On 11 October 2006, NWSP organised the National Scientific Conference ‘Defence Education of Society’. The conference was attended by scientists conducting research in the field of defence education, teachers of defence preparation, members of non-governmental organisations that operate in the sphere of national security and defence, soldiers of the Polish Army and officers of the Police, Border Guard, State Fire Service, employees responsible for the implementation of defence tasks in offices serving governmental and local administration bodies.

On 27 November 2006, an Academic Sports Association was established at NWSP. It is active in: Basketball Section, Volleyball Section, Combat Sports Section. The NWSP team participates in the Third League of the Podlasie Basketball Association.

2008

The NWSP Chamber Orchestra is established.

In July the first defences of Master’s theses took place.

The School enriches its offer with postgraduate studies for teachers: Education for Safety.

On 7 June 2008, under the honorary patronage of the Mayor of Białystok, Tadeusz Truskolaski, Ph.D., a ‘Conference for Teachers and Headmasters of Schools and Kindergartens on Prevention of Learning Difficulties’ took place.

On 5-6 June 2008, the International Scientific Conference ‘Subjectivity in Education. An interdisciplinary approach. Categories – realities – tendencies’. The scientific meeting was attended by professors, doctoral and master’s students from many research centres all over Poland, as well as invited guests from foreign universities in Italy, Slovakia and Belarus.

2009

On 4 March 2009, the second concert in the ‘Musical Islands’ series was held, performed by the NWSP Chamber Orchestra in the Magna Hall of the Branicki Palace in Białystok.

The University enriched its offer with Postgraduate Pedagogical Studies and Postgraduate Studies: Pre-school pedagogy, Early childhood pedagogy, Pedagogical diagnosis and therapy, Psychopedagogical early support of child development.

On 25 March 2009, the third concert in the series ‘Musical Islands’ took place, performed by the Chamber Orchestra of NWSP in Aula Magna of the Branicki Palace. During the concert, a fundraiser was held for the hospice for terminally ill children in Otwock. Thanks to the generosity of donors, almost PLN 10,000 was collected for the foundation.

The University took an active part in the 7th Podlasie Festival of Science and Arts. As part of the Festival, on 23 April 2009, a meeting was held under the motto ‘With Forensic Science at Your Fingertips’. The aim of the workshop was to familiarise the participants with the tasks of forensic science, as well as its use in the criminal process. The workshop presented means of revealing and securing fingerprint traces, mechanoscopic traces, as well as methods of revealing security features (latent marks) on valuable documents. On 24 April 2009, a meeting entitled ‘Psychology of gender’ was held. The lecture presented the psychosexual differences between men and women in different developmental periods.

On 28 April 2009, first-year students of NWSP organised a Student Research Conference under the motto ‘Transformations of Contemporary Education’. The conference was opened by Dean Dr Agata Popławska. Students raised educational issues in the following areas: education in times of change, the role of the teacher in education, education and culture, selected cultural problems, youth and culture. An additional attraction was a dance show prepared by the ‘Wider Action Crew’ dance group.

On 1-3 June 2009, the International Scientific Conference ‘Ways and Roads of Modern Education. Realities, priorities and educational forecasts at the turn of the century 1989-2009’. The meeting was attended by academics, representing 26 universities.

2010

The University enriched its offer with a postgraduate pedagogical course for teachers of vocational subjects financed by the European Union.

Mariusz Wiszniewski, a graduate of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok, was awarded 3rd prize in the 4th Competition for popular science and research papers on the history of firefighting.

On 25 February 2010, NWSP hosted in Bielsk Podlaski (Gimnazjum nr 1 im. Niepodległości Polski) within the framework of the VIII Educational and Consultancy Presentations under the banner of ‘Universities in the County 2010’.

On 3 March 2010, the Third High School in Łomża hosted the ‘X University Fair. Exchange of Ideas for Life’. Among the colleges presented, one could see the offer of NWSP.

On 18 March NWSP participated in the 4th Youth Education and Employment Fair in Ostrołęka.

On 14 April 2010, the School participated in the Open Days at the 11th High School for Higher Education and Labour Market Institutions under the banner of ‘Education and Career Days’.

A new first degree (bachelor’s) course is created at NWSP: ‘Internal Security’. The authorisation was granted by a decision of the Minister of Science and Higher Education on 15 April.

NWSP took an active part in the 8th Podlasie Festival of Science and Arts. The university organised the following festival meetings on 22 May: ‘Typical psychological problems of patients now and in the past on the basis of contemporary psychotherapeutic schools’ led by Dr Marek Jasiński, “Professional self-presentation” led by Dr Katarzyna Klimkowska, “Armed forces – the time of professionals” led by Stanisław Wandałowicz, MA, and “With forensic science to YOU” led by Eugeniusz Ostaszewski, MA.

On 26-28 May 2010, the International Scientific Conference ‘Psychosocial determinants, quality of life. Family – school – work. Threats – prevention – therapy’.

The University enriched its offer with a postgraduate pedagogical course for teachers of vocational subjects financed by the European Union.

A new course of unified master’s studies is created at NWSP: ‘Psychology’. The authorisations were granted by the decision of 5 August 2010 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education.

On 29 August 2010, the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok took part in the promotional campaign of the Podlaskie Voivodeship ‘It’s worth living here, it’s always worth coming back here’.

NWSP, as one of the co-organisers, participated on 5-8 August 2010 in Ełk in the largest balloon competition in Eastern Europe – the 3rd Mazurian International Balloon Competition for the Cup of the President of Ełk.

On 22 October 2010 in Warsaw a promotion of the book of the author Revd Dr Kazimierz Pierzchała ‘Lost Gift of Freedom’, published by NWSP Publishing House, took place.

2011

A new first-cycle course is being created at NWSP: ‘Social Work’ by a decision of 20 July 2011 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education.

From 15 February to 31 December 2011, NWSP runs a project entitled ‘Psycho-pedagogical education for the community of the City of Białystok’, which received the honorary patronage of the Mayor of the City of Białystok in December 2010. These are free lectures for secondary school pupils, students, teachers and school principals conducted by NWSP lecturers.

On 1 March 2011 the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok became a member of the EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION for SECURITY – a scientific society which conducts research and popularises security sciences, whose aim is to educate for the security of people and companies in a common Europe.

On 30 March 2011 His Excellency Archbishop Professor Edward Ozorowski, PhD., gave a commemorative lecture at NWSP on the theme ‘Nature – Culture – Grace’.

On 7 April 2011, NWSP hosted Adem Şahin, PhD, a professor at Selçuk University in Konya (Turkey). He gave a lecture entitled ‘Religiosity and the concept of Self among maturing adolescents’.

The University took an active part in the 9th Podlasie Festival of Science and Arts. As part of the Festival, on 11 May 2011, three meetings were held by NWSP lecturers: ‘Effective communication workshop’, ‘Games for the sake of a good group climate’, ‘Court hearing’, and ‘The workshop for the sake of a good group climate’. , ‘Court hearing’.

On 17 May 2011 NWSP was visited by Ms Sinem Dogruer, coordinator of the ERASMUS programme from the partner university Trakya University in Edirne (Turkey). The visit resulted from the signed bilateral agreement between the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok and Trakya University concerning cooperation and implementation of tasks of the ERASMUS programme in the years 2011 -2013.

On 20 May 2011, a Scientific Seminar on ‘Education – teacher – student in a changing society’ organised by NWSP was held.

In the academic year 2011/2012, the University expanded its educational offer with the following postgraduate courses: Psychology of Business and Management, Crisis Management, Negotiation and Mediation, Personal Counselling, Resocialisation, Education for Family Life, Oligofrenopedagogy.

A new first-cycle programme is launched at NWSP: ‘Social Work’. The authorisations were granted by the decision of the Minister of Science and Higher Education on 20 July 2011

On 21 November 2011, a lecture ‘Psychopedagogical education for the community of the city of Białystok’ was held as part of an original project of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok . The lecture ‘What do our achievements depend on? On factors we rarely think about…’ was conducted by Prof. Ewa Drozda-Senkowska, PhD, professor at the Paris Sorbonne and lecturer at NWSP in Białystok.

On 17 December 2011, NWSP students from the Faculty of Pedagogy and Internal Security participated in the Podlasie Universiade in shooting sports reaching the second position and winning the cup.

2012

The NWSP Chamber Orchestra was established.

In February 2012 representatives of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok represented the School at the 10th Educational and Advisory Presentation ‘Universities in the District’. The Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok received a diploma and a statuette for the most interesting educational offer.

March 2012 saw the completion of the project ‘Postgraduate studies to prepare for the teaching vocational subjects’. As part of the project, the University conducted a three-semester postgraduate course for one hundred people.

On 29 March 2012, an Interdepartmental Scientific Seminar ‘In care of the modern family’ was held at the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok. The seminar was organised by the Interdepartmental Department of Catholic Theology of the University of Bialystok and the Department of Pedagogy of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy. The Seminar was attended by Archbishop Prof. Edward Ozorowski, academics from Slovakia, Belarus and a large number of academics from the University of Bialystok and the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok.

In June 2012, the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok participated in the X. Festival of Science and Arts by organising three festival events. From 18 April to 31 December 2012, the National Competition ‘How to love a child’ organised by the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok.

On 23-24 April 2012, the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok hosted two professors from Trakya University in Edirne, Turkey. Prof. Kemalettin Kuzucui and prof. Veysi Akin came as part of the LLP Erasmus programme to give lectures for students of pedagogy and internal security. On 21 May 2012, a meeting of students with experts from the Forensic Laboratory of the Provincial Police Headquarters was held in the Auditorium of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok.

On 17 June 2012, the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok participated in the Academic Day, which summed up the 10th Festival of Science and Arts. From 1 to 4 July 2012, during the international conference on social psychology ‘Colloque International de Psychologie Sociale in Porto’ (Portugal),  Joanna Nawrocka, PhD and Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD  presented the results of the first stage of their research. The research team, established in November 2011, was led by NWSP employee prof. Ewa Drozda-Senkowska.

14 May 2012 saw the inauguration of the National Competition ‘How to love a child’ organised as part of the Korczak Year celebrations. The award ceremony was attended by the President Karolina Kaczorowska, who held honorary patronage of the competition.

On 1 October 2012, the University Senate established the Faculty of Social Sciences.

In the 2012/2013 academic year, the University expanded its educational offer with another postgraduate course: Occupational Health and Safety.

On 23 November 2012, the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok participated in the Erasmus Gala, which took place at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw.

2013

On 5 March 2013 representatives of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok received an award for the richest educational offer at the educational and advisory fair ‘Universities in the district’.

On 13 May 2013, the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok hosted events as part of the XI. Podlasie Festival of Science and Arts.

On 24 May 2013, the Department of Pedagogy and the Department of Psychology of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok organised a scientific conference on ‘Faces of Social Bonding – an Interdisciplinary Approach’.

On 16 December 2013, at the premises of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok, an agreement on cooperation between the Provincial Police Headquarters in Bialystok and the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy and the Podlasie Scientific and Research Centre was signed.

On 5 December 2014, a social debate took place at the Provincial Office in Białystok, as part of the ‘(in)Tolerance’ project. The activities are undertaken in cooperation between the Provincial Police Headquarters in Białystok and the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok. The debate was chaired by Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD, together with Izabela Kaczyńska, MA, and Deputy Superintendent Bogusława Łuksza.

On 23 May 2014, the Department of Pedagogy, the Department of Psychology and the Department of Internal Security of the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok organised a Scientific Conference entitled ‘The changing Life Space of Modern Man – Opportunities, Threats, Challenges’. The aim of the conference was to present the results of ongoing research, analysis, studies on the life space of modern man in the context of its multidimensionality, variability, new opportunities, possibilities.

On 13 December 2014, a ceremony took place at the Non-State Pedagogical University in Białystok in connection with the awarding of the Order of the Legion of Honour to Our Lecturer – prof. Ewa Drozda-Senkowska, for special scientific achievements, awarded by the President of the Republic of France François Hollande.

2015

On 29 May 2015, the Department of Pedagogy of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Bialystok organised a Pedagogical Seminar entitled ‘Education – teacher – pupil/child in the changing social space’.

2016

On 17 December 2016, celebrations related to the 20th anniversary of the NWSP were held, attended by a large number of lecturers, administrative staff, students and guests.

2017

On 11 December 2016, the 1st Student Scientific Seminar titled ‘Social Pathologies as a Threat to Homeland Security’ was held at the University. The organisers of the seminar were students of the 3rd year of Pedagogy. The event was supervised by Grażyna Kędzierska, PhD.

2018

1-2 February 2018 Agata Jacewicz, PhD (Dean of NWSP in Bialystok) actively participated in the International Symposium ODKAZ PEDAGOGICKÝCH MYŠLIENOK MARIE MONTESSORI PRE SÚČASNÉ VZDELÁVANIE, organised by Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (Slovakia). During the symposium, she presented a lecture in the plenary session entitled Znalosť pedagogiky Marie Montessori a možnosť jeho využitia v poľských materských školách v názoroch študentov Predškolskej pedagogiky a Učiteľstva primárného vzdelávania v NWSP v Bialymstoku.

20-22 April 2018 Ryszard Makarowski, PhD participated in the 14th International Conference on Knowledge, Istanbul. The theme of the conference: Economy and Management.

23-27 April 2018 Ewa Romanowska, PhD participated in a trip within the Erasmus plus programme. At Konstantin Preslavsky Episcopal University of Shumen in Bulgaria, she gave, among other things, lectures to students and staff of the Faculty of Education. Participation in the programme enabled the exchange of research and teaching experiences.

On 27 April 2018, Agata Jacewicz, PhD (Dean of the NWSP in Białystok) participated in the 6th International Scientific Conference in Ostrava in the series TEACHER AND PUPIL IN PEDAGOGICAL THEORY AND PRACTICE – CONTEXTS OF CHANGE. Topics included teachers and pupils in postmodernity – values, goals and pedagogical strategies. The conference was organised by the University of Ostrava, Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of Preschool and Early Childhood Pedagogy in the Czech Republic, and co-organised by the Academy of Technology and Humanities, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Pedagogy in Bielsko-Biala.

30 April – 4 May 2018 Małgorzata Jagodzińska, PhD participated in a trip within the Erasmus plus programme. At the Konstantin Preslavsky Episcopal University of Shumen in Bulgaria, she conducted, among other things, didactic classes for pedagogy students on education for sustainable development in early childhood education, the use of non-formal education in environmental education of pre-school children and in grades I-III, as well as on the methodology of conducting natural science classes.

On 10-11 May 2018, the 1st Congress of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok titled ‘Man in the Era of Contemporary Challenges and Threats’, organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the NWSP, was held at the Howieny Estate. The aim of the congress was to assess the threats and challenges of modern times determining the quality of life and safety of man, to exchange scientific achievements, experiences and views, and to discuss and present the scientific achievements of researchers and theoreticians from universities and non-academic units from Poland and abroad. A total of 32 papers were heard during the plenary sessions. Issues were presented in many different aspects – pedagogical, psychological, legal, philosophical, as well as from the perspective of defence and security sciences.

On 17-20 May 2018, Marek Jasinski, PhD participated in the 13th International Scientific and Training Conference Life-Giving Death, in Memory of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, organised by the Medical University of Białystok. He delivered a lecture entitled ‘Eros and Tanatos’, the constant struggle between two drives. Psychological implications of the victory of the death drive.

On 6 June 2018, the Non-Public Higher School of Pedagogy and Kurier Poranny Białystok were the organisers of the gala on the occasion of the summary of the PRZEDSZKOLE NA MEDAL competition. Teachers from the Podlaskie Voivodeship were awarded for their commitment, dedication and work with preschoolers. The most valued and popular teachers and child-friendly establishments were honoured. The ceremony closed with a speech by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at NWSP in Białystok, Agata Jacewicz, PhD, titled ‘Pre-school Education in Times of Challenges and Threats.’

30-31 August 2018, Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD participated in the International Conference on Business, Economics, Law, Language & Psychology (ICBELLP) organised by the Social Scence & Humanities Research Association (SSHRA) in Barcelona.

On 18-19 October 2018, at the 2nd National Conference on Psychology of Femininity and Masculinity and Close Interpersonal Relationships, Marek Jasinski, PhD presented a paper entitled ‘Success Anxiety as a Significant Psychological Barrier in Personal Development and Interpersonal Relationship Quality’. He acted as Chair of the Session Close Relationships – Facing the Challenges of Gender Roles.

On 15-16 November 2018, the 1st Scientific Conference: Creative re-socialisation as a possibility of empowerment was held in Skarżysko-Kamienna. It was organised by the Zespół Placówek Resocjalizacyjno-Wychowawczych in Skarżysko-Kamienna. The aim of the conference was to exchange knowledge and experience between academics from various academic centres and practitioners involved in prevention and re-socialisation activities. Among the invited guests were representatives of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok, who gave lectures. Małgorzata Jagodzińska, PhD discussed the issues connected with prevention of risky behaviours, Zbigniew Siemak, PhD and Wiesław Smolski, PhD presented a lecture on ‘Threats of Internet Crime’, Grażyna Kędzierska, PhD considered issues of ‘Biometric Identification in Crime Prevention’, and Anna Strumińska-Doktór, PhD addressed the issue of ‘Value-Normative Orientations of Persons in Rehabilitation Institutions.

On 21 November 2018 in Warsaw, Hanna Hamer, PhD participated in the conference of the TWOJA  SPRAWA association entitled ‘Mass Consumption of Pornography by Children as a Significant Social Problem’. The event was held under the patronage of the Ombudsman Adam Bodnar, PhD and the Justice Institute.

On 24 November 2018, NWSP signed an agreement with the Provincial Police Headquarters and the Municipal Guard in Białystok to implement the project ‘Joint Idea of Improving Skills in Action for Safety in Podlasie’.

In 2018, the Publishing House of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy published a book by Dr Andrzej J. Puliński Konspiracyjne organizacje młodzieżowe w województwie białostockim na tle prawno-instytucjonalnej rzeczywistości Polski Ludowej w latach 1947-1956, two issues 1(9)2018 and 2(10)2018 of the journal Zagadnienia Społeczne, (which received a score of 79.52 points in the Index Copernicus International Journal Master List).

2019

11 January 2019 Hanna Hamer, PhD participated in a conference ‘Fear of and Hostility Towards ‘Strangers’’ organised by the University of Warsaw, the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP) and the Institute for Problems of Contemporary Civilisation (IPWC).

3-7 February 2019 Agnieszka Iłendo- Milewska, PhD participated in the International Conference on Research in Education and Social Sciences (ICRESS), Lisbon. Presentation entitled: ‘Three Ways to Improve the Self-Regulation Among Middle School Students.

In February and March, NWSP took part in a series of meetings as part of the 17th Educational Presentations ‘Universities in the County’ organised by the local biweekly ‘Wieści Podlaskie’, together with the Starosts of 8 county towns (Sokółka, Biała Podlaska, Siemiatycze, Hajnówka, Zambrów, Wysokie Mazowieckie, Grajewo, Ełk).

On 13 March 2019, NWSP participated in the 19th Life Ideas Exchange organised by the Żołnierze Obwodu Łomżyńskiego Armii Krajowej High School in Łomża.

31 March – 5 April 2019 Agata Jacewicz, PhD (Dean of the NWSP in Białystok) and Agnieszka Iłendo- Milewska, PhD (Head of the Department of Psychology) participated in a trip within the Erasmus plus programme. At the Pan-European University in Bratislava, they gave lectures in pedagogy and psychology with Slovakian students. Their stay at the university enabled them, among other things, to learn about the history of the university, its infrastructure. Meetings and discussions with the university’s authorities, academic and teaching staff fostered the exchange of information on teacher education and psychology, but above all initiated the establishment of inter-university cooperation.

On 3 April 2019, the University participated in the 10th Kolno Education and Labour Fair organised by the Youth Career Centre of the OHP in Kolno, the Adam Mickiewicz High School in Kolno and the Kolno County Labour Office.

On 5 April 2019, the School participated in the Education and Employment Fair under the motto ‘Career planning – it’s time’ organised by the Voluntary Labour Corps Youth Education and Employment Centre in Białystok and the M. Kopernik Commercial and Economic School Complex in Białystok.

On 12 April 2019, NWSP participated in the 21st Higher Education Fair – Regional Career and Job Fair 2019 organised by the Augustów Education Centre.

6-10 May 2019 Ewa Romanowska, PhD participated in a trip within the LLP-Erasmus plus programme. At Kilis 7 Aralik University, she gave lectures with Turkish students and staff of the Faculty of Education. In addition, during her stay in Kilis, a number of meetings were held with the staff of the international relations office, university authorities and academics. An important part of the ongoing programme was meetings at educational centres run in the Kilis area by various social organisations in order to provide vocational qualifications to Syrian refugees and the local Turkish community facing unemployment and poverty.

On 8-10 May 2019, the Second Scientific Congress of the Non-State Pedagogical University Humanity in the Era of Contemporary Challenges and Threats was held in Rajgard at the Training and Recreation Centre ‘Knieja’. The first plenary session was held under the slogan Centenary of the Establishment and Functioning of the Police in Poland, accompanied by an exhibition source materials on the functioning and activities of the State Police prepared by Zbigniew Siemak, PhD. During the congress, issues of psychology, pedagogical work and problems of security science were discussed.

23-26 May 2019 Marek Jasiński, PhD participated in the 14th International Scientific and Training Conference, Life-Giving Death, in Memory of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, organised by the Medical University of Białystok. He gave lectures entitled ‘Writers and Poets in the Clutches of Suicide and Principles of Communication with the Addicted Patient and his Family.

On Saturday 25 May 2019, NWSP Bialystok took part in the 17th Podlasie Festival of Science and Arts in Bialystok at the Municipal Stadium in Bialystok.

26-28 June 2019 Grażyna Kędzierska, PhD took part in the 10th Jubilee Meeting of the Departments, Departments and Laboratories of Forensic Science, which was organised on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Department of Forensic Science of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.

29-30 August 2019 Agnieszka Iłendo- Milewska, PhD participated in the XVIth International Conference on Business, Economics, Law, Language & Psychology (ICBELLP) at the University of Washington – Rome Center (UWRC), Italy. The conference theme: Three Ways to Improve the Self-Regulation.

8-11 September 2019 The staff of the Faculty of Pedagogy took an active part in the 10th August scientific meeting EDUCATION IN DIALOGUE AND PERSPECTIVE (presentations – polemics – proposals). Nearly 100 scientists from scientific centres from all over Poland discussed transformations and challenges in contemporary education.

The 10th, jubilee conference was organised by the Department of General Didactics of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology (Faculty of Education since 1 October 2019) of the University of Bialystok. The conference programme also included a ceremonial plenary session dedicated to the 90th birthday of Professor Jerzy Niemiec – the initiator, creator and honorary guest of Augustowskie Spotkania Naukowe, but also an unforgettable, long-standing professor of our University.

On 1 October 2019, a group of more than 40 students started a long-cycle studies in the newly opened field of Preschool and Early School Education.
In October 2019, Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD received an award from the Minister of National Education for outstanding achievements in teaching and education.
On 6 December 2019, a charity auction of paintings called Podlaskie Inspirations took place in the Spodki Arena in Białystok. Our university actively participated in providing financial support to the ‘Pomóż Im’ Foundation, which works for children with cancer and the Children’s Hospice.

On 10-11 December 2019, Dr Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska took part in the 24th International Conference on Business, Economics, Law, Language & Psychology (ICBELLP) in Dubai. The topic of the conference was ‘What is necessary to effectively teach self-regulation to students? Defining the self-regulation in cultural context’.

In December 2019, the 5-year academic collaboration between the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok (PL) and the A.S. Pushkin Brest State University (RB) came to an end. The cooperation between 2015 and 2019 included research, participation in conferences and symposia by researchers from the departments of pedagogy and psychology at both universities, as well as webinars with the participation of students. The cooperation resulted in numerous publications in scientific journals (Zagadnienia Społeczne, Веснік Брэсцкагo ўніверсітэта) and monographs.
In 2019, the Publishing House of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy published two issues of the journal Zagadnienia Społeczne (Social Issues), 1(11)2019 and 2(12)2019, for which it received a rating of 77.14 points in the Index Copernicus International Jurnal Master List.

2020

Od 24 lutego do 5 marca Uczelnia brała czynny udział w XVIII Prezentacji Edukacyjnych „Uczelnie w Powiecie” organizowanych przez dwutygodnik lokalny „Wieści Podlaskie”, wspólnie ze Starostami 8 miast powiatowych (24.02- Siemiatycze, 25.02- Sokółka, 26.02- Hajnówka, 27.02- Bielsk Podlaski, 02.03- Wysokie Mazowieckie, 03.03- Zambrów, 04.03- Grajewo, 05.03- Ełk).

2-6 marca 2020 roku dr Agata Jacewicz (Kierownik Katedry Pedagogiki) i dr Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska (Kierownik Katedry Psychologii) uczestniczyły w wyjeździe w ramach programu LLP-Erasmus plus. Na Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences prowadziły wykłady z litewskimi studentami, w których także uczestniczyli pracownicy naukowi i dydaktyczni. Szczególnie cenna była wymiana doświadczeń dotycząca kształcenia nauczycieli wczesnej edukacji i zaprezentowanie pracowni znajdujących się na terenie uczelni. Realizacja programu przyczyniła się do zapoczątkowania naukowej współpracy.

On 13 March 2020, a state of the epidemic was introduced in Poland. Educational activities were suspended throughout the country. Administrative matters related to the functioning of the university had to be dealt with via e-mail. The administration staff switched to remote working. Duty hours were conducted at the university.
The 3rd Scientific Congress of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok, entitled ‘Man in the Age of Modern Challenges and Threats’, was scheduled to take place in Augustów from 13 to 15 May 2020. It was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 10-11 June 2020, Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska,PhD took part in the 11th International Conference on Research in Life-Sciences & Healthcare (ICRLSH) in Paris. The topic of the conference was Neuroscientific evidence regarding self-regulation and its failures.

On 3 July 2020, the students of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok began defending their diploma theses. The exams were held in the traditional way, with sanitary measures in place. Students entered the room one at a time and their body temperature was measured before entering. They also filled in a questionnaire about COVID-19.

On 10-11 September 2020, Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD took part in the 17th International Conference on Business, Economics, Law, Language & Psychology (ICBELLP) in Athens. The theme of the conference was What is Necessary to Effectively Teach Self-Regulation to Students? The conference was organised by the Social Science & Humanities Research Association.

On 10 October 2020, classes for undergraduate and master’s students began. The inauguration ceremony was cancelled due to the epidemic situation in the country.

On 17 October 2020, the University switched to distance learning. Lectures were posted on the NWSP educational platform, and exercises were conducted on the Microsoft Teams platform, in real time according to the timetable. Wiesław Smolski, PhD was appointed as the supervisor for distance learning.

From 16 to 29 November 2020, in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 16 October 2020 on the temporary restriction of the operation of certain entities of the Higher Education and Science system in connection with the prevention, counteraction and combating of COVID-19 and the Regulation of the Council of Ministers, Journal of Laws of 6 November 2020, item 1972, Order No. 12/2020 of 9 November 2020 was issued, in which the Rector of the University informed about temporary restrictions in operation. 1972, Order No. 12/2020 of 9 November 2020 was issued, in which the Rector of the University announced temporary restrictions on the functioning of the University in the period from 16 to 29 November 2020. Some of the administration and library staff were instructed to work from home. Students were supported from Monday to Friday via email or telephone.

From 9 to 29 November 2020, in accordance with the regulation of the Council of Ministers of 6 November 2020, item 1972, which states: ‘until 29 November 2020, a restriction is imposed on the operation of public and academic libraries, […] consisting of a ban on making collections available’, restrictions were introduced on the functioning of the Non-State Library of the Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok. Orders could only be placed by email or telephone. The library was open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

In 2020, the Publishing House of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy published:

The book Człowiek w dobie współczesnych wyzwań i zagrożeń (Man in the Age of Contemporary Challenges and Threats).

Materials from the 1st Scientific Congress of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok, edited by Małgorzata Jagodzińska,PhD.

Two issues 1(13)2020 and 2(14)2020 of the journal Zagadnienia Społeczne, for which it received a score of 72.99 points in the Index Copernicus International Jurnal Master List.

On 19 March 2021, Andrzej J. Puliński, PhD gave an interview for the history portal Histmag.org. The interview was conducted by the editor-in-chief, M. Mikrut-Majeranek, PhD. The interview on the post-war underground activities of Polish youth as a social phenomenon is available at https://histmag.org/Powojenna-dzialalnosc-konspiracyjna-polskiej-mlodziezy-to-fenomen-spoleczny-22132.

In April, members of the Department of Psychology, under the supervision of Prof. Ewa Drozda-Senkowska, began work on a research project entitled The Regulatory Role of Autobiographical Memories of the COVID-19 Pandemic. They developed a questionnaire to be used in conducting research on personal experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The questionnaire consists of five parts:

Part I contains questions and a request to describe the most significant personal experience, Part II contains a series of questions about reactions, thoughts and feelings from the perspective of the so-called real self, Part III contains questions about the various functions of this most significant experience, Part IV consists of questions about the overall affective evaluation and the overall evaluation of the vividness of this experience, and Part V contains questions about the overall affective evaluation and the overall evaluation of the vividness of this experience. self, part III contains questions about the different functions of this most significant experience, part IV consists of questions concerning the overall affective evaluation and the overall evaluation of the vividness of this experience, and part V contains classic questions about the demographic, social and economic characteristics of the respondents.

On 4th and 5th June 2021, Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD took part in the 9th International Conference on Research in Life-Sciences & Healthcare (ICRLSH) in Paris. The conference topic was Neuroscience evidence regarding self-regulation and its failures. The conference was organised by Eurasia Research and Healthcare & Biological Sciences Research Association.

On 30 June 2021, the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok (Department of Pedagogy) together with the OKNO NA WSCHÓD Foundation completed two projects: Z nauką na TY and TAK dla edukacji. The projects (01.07.2019 – 30.06.2021) were co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund under the Regional Operational Programme of the Podlaskie Voivodeship for 2014-2020.

On 21 September 2021, Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD took part in the conference entitled Studies-Business-Society: Present and Future Insight, which was organised by the Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences Business Faculty.

On 27 September 2021, the Ministry of Education and Science, by decision DSW-WNN.8014.179.2021.4.MG.2021, granted permission to the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy to establish second-cycle studies in the field of Administration.

In September 2021, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the University, an anniversary book was published: 25 years of the Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok, edited by Grażyna Kędzierska, PhD. The first part describes the rich history of the University, which has been illustrated with numerous photographs. The second part consists of articles on the subject of security in the broadest sense.

On 11 October 2021, the inauguration of the 2021/2022 academic year took place. It was attended by representatives of the academic community and first-year students of full-time studies in the field of Psychology. The speeches were given by the Rector, Marek Jasiński, PhD and the Vice-Rector, Łukasz Twarowski, PhD under whose leadership the student representatives took their solemn oath. The chairperson of the Student Council also took the floor. Due to the ongoing epidemic situation, the inauguration was held with all precautions taken.

Two student research groups started their activities in autumn. The Young Volunteers Research Group is supervised by Ewa Romanowska, PhD and Beata Krzesińska-Żach, PhDwhile the Student Research Group of Early Education Enthusiasts is led by Wiesława Chrabąszcz, MA, and Marta Mazur, MA.

On 18 October 2021, Magdalena Najda, PhD gave a lecture entitled Emotions in the courtroom at the National Conference on Children Victims of Crime.

On 23-24 November 2021, Grażyna Kędzierska, PhD and Zbigniew Siemak, PhD took part in the 6th National Scientific Conference entitled ‘Contemporary man facing threats in cyberspace’, organised online by the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk.

On 25 November 2021,Grażyna Kędzierska, PhD and Zbigniew Siemak, PhD took part in an expert lecture by Prof. Dr Hab. Dr h. c. Emil W. Pływaczewski entitled Organised crime in the 80s and early 90s from the perspective of criminological science, organised online by the Criminal Law and Criminology Research Group at the University of Białystok.

In 2021, the library of the private teacher training college was expanded by 219 items in the fields of administration, marketing, forensics and psychology. Two new journals were subscribed to: Samorząd Terytorialny and Przegląd Prawa Publicznego.

On 24 June 2022, Marta Mazur, MA, gave an interview for Polish Radio Białystok entitled Working with a foreign student.

https://www.radio.bialystok.pl/wiadomosci/index/id/215509.

Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD took part as a keynote speaker in international conferences organised by Eurasia Research and Healthcare & Biological Sciences Research Association (HBSRA)

25-26 November 2022 International Conference on Research in Life – Sciences & Healthcare (ICRLSH), 25-26 November, Kuala Lumpur. Lecture topic: Why autobiographical memories is crucial to recognise personal experience related to the Covid 19 pandemic?

28-29 November 2022 15th International Conference on Psychology & Psychiatry (ICPP) 28-29 November, Paris. Lecture topic: Why autobiographical memories is crucial to recognise personal experience related to the pandemic Covid 19?

1-2 December 2022 Magdalena Najda, PhD participated in an international conference in Krakow entitled: ‘Emotions and motivations in law’. Title of the presentation: Emotions in the service of therapeutic jurisprudence.

In the academic year 2022/2023, the staff of the Department of Pedagogy at the University of Humanities and Sciences in Białystok participated in 14 certified training courses. As part of these training courses, our University, together with the Podlasie Council of Persons with Disabilities, organised 5 training courses:

27.01.2023 ‘Conducting academic classes with the participation of people in a mental crisis’,

28.01.2023 ‘Coping in difficult situations when working with students with disabilities and mental health problems’,

25.02.2023 ‘The functioning of people with the autism spectrum in an academic environment’,

05.03.2023 “Digital accessibility at the university. Creating accessible content and documents”,

02.06.2023 “Conducting remote classes and adapting teaching methods to people with disabilities”.

In the academic year 2022/2023, Ewa Romanowska, PhD organised and conducted workshops for children and young people in the field of prevention, mediation, personal development, methods activating development and the learning process, as well as a series of lectures for parents on prevention, social competence and conflict resolution. The training courses for teaching staff were very popular. Teachers from towns in the Podlasie region participated in the training.

Wiesława Chrabąszcz, MA, conducted training in the field of pre-school education, including professional advancement of teachers, procedures, documentation, organisation of corrective and compensatory activities for children with microdevelopmental deficits.

Marta Mazur, MA, led a training council for teachers of grades 1-3. The topic was forest education based on the example of the ‘Puszczyk’ kindergarten and school. The participants were mainly teachers from Białystok.

Magdalena Najda, PhD prepared chapters in collective books:
– Emotions and therapeutic jurisprudence in: ‘Emotions. Reflections on the interface between the law and psychology’,
– Mediation as a process of interpersonal communication in: ‘E-mediation in resolving labour and economic disputes’.

Ewa Rzechowska, PhD prepared four chapters of the book ‘Social and personality development in childhood’.
Anna Kienig, PhD became a member of the University senate, chair of the Internal Quality Assurance and Improvement of the Education Process Team in Białystok, and editorial secretary of the university’s journal ‘Zagadnienia Społeczne’.

In the academic year 2022/2023, as part of the implementation of the ‘Crime Prevention and Protection of Public Safety and Public Order Programme of the City of Białystok’, the University ran courses related to prevention and the safety of Białystok residents. This activity was reflected in the scientific research conducted by the University and in the implementation of the study programme in all fields of study. Scientific activity was carried out in the following departments: Internal Security and Administration, Pedagogy and Psychology. The Department of Internal Security and Administration conducted research on the ‘The sense of security of the inhabitants of the Podlaskie Voivodeship’. Research was carried out on foreigners in Poland and in the field of Police Law. The Department of Psychology conducted research related to the behaviour of state officials from the perspective of psychological and behavioural consequences during the performance of professional tasks.

On 17 June 2023, Paulina Pałosz-Dickaty, PhD participated in the 19th Scientific Conference of the Rasztów Institute of Group Analysis entitled: ‘Contemporary unrest and the conscious and unconscious life of an analytical group’ in Warsaw.

Artur Grabek-Łukaszewicz, MA, took part in the 3rd National Conference on Education and Local Government: What to do when you don’t know what to do?

24-25 July 2023 Agnieszka Iłendo-Milewska, PhD took part in an international conference organised by Eurasia Research and Healthcare & Biological Sciences Research Association (HBSRA): BuPol Prague 2023 – International Conference on Business, Economics & Policy 24-25 June. Lecture topic: ‘Why autobiographical memories are crucial to recognise personal experience related to the Covid 19 pandemic?

31 October 2023 The Non-State Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok, in partnership with the Podlaskie Regional Council of Persons with Disabilities, completed the project ‘NWSP Accessible University’, implemented as part of:

Measure 3.5 Comprehensive programmes for higher education institutions,

Priority III Higher education for the economy and development,

Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development 2014-2020

co-financed by the European Social Fund.

As part of the completed project, the university’s Accessibility Committee, in cooperation with the university authorities, developed a series of recommendations regarding support for people with disabilities at the university. A series of training sessions were held for the university staff, thanks to which both academic teachers and administrative staff gained knowledge on how to cooperate with students with disabilities during their didactic process. As part of the project, a passenger lift was installed, the library and computer room were retrofitted, the website and distance learning platform were adapted to the latest WCAD standards, and additional markings were made to make it easier for people with disabilities to move around the university building.

Non-state Higher School of Pedagogy in Białystok, by decision of the Ministry of Education of 14 November 2023 DSW – WNN.8014.327.2023.3. RJ changed its name to the Podlasie Academy of Applied Sciences in Białystok (PAAS). This was clear proof of the Ministry of Education and Science’s trust in the quality of education.

From 19-22 February 2024 and 27 February-1 March 2024, the Podlasie Academy  in Białystok participated in the 20th Educational and Advisory Presentations ‘Universities in the District’ organised by the biweekly magazine ‘Wieści Podlaskie’. The meetings took place in 8 district towns in the Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeships. The fair was a perfect place for secondary school students and high school graduates to learn about our university’s educational offer, the admission process, fields of study and student life. During the fair, the Academy  was honoured with the Mayor’s Cup for the most interesting educational offer.

On 2 March 2024, the Academic Psychological Support Centre in Białystok starts operating at the University’s headquarters. Agata Głogowska, MA, becomes the manager of the Centre. The main objective of the Centre is to provide psychological support to students of the Podlasie Academy of Applied Sciences in Białystok.

On 20-21 March 2024, the Academy participated in two educational events: The ‘13th Youth Education and Job Fair’ in Ostrołęka, organised by the Regional Labour Office in Warsaw, and the ‘23rd Exchange of Ideas for Life’, which took place at the 3rd Secondary School in Łomża.

On 19 April 2024, the Academy participated in the ‘23rd Higher Education Fair’ organised by the Augustów Education Centre. During the fair, the university presented its educational offer to future students.

From 10 to 19 May 2024, the Academy took part in the 20th Podlasie Festival of Science and Art. It was the largest cyclical event in north-eastern Poland, popularising science and art.

On 16 May 2024, as part of the 20th Podlasie Festival of Science and Art, a workshop entitled ‘First Step into Psychology’ was held at our university, attended by a group of 40 young people from Secondary School No. 10 in Białystok, together with the school management and a teacher. The lectures were given by a psychologist Bogusława Bargłowska,MA and aroused great interest in  among the participants. There were also workshops entitled ‘Official documents – procedures for their preparation and circulation’ and a lecture ‘Security in the era of modern challenges and threats’ given by Wiesław Smolski, PhD. The following workshops were prepared for the youngest festival participants: ‘Starting a vegetable garden’, ‘Communication without barriers’ and ‘Conscious use of modern technologies – application of Photon – an educational robot and 3D pen in early school education’.

On 17 May 2024, Ewa Romanowska,PhD a lecturer at the Academy, conducted a workshop ‘Communication without barriers’ as part of the 20th Podlasie Festival of Science and Art. The participants of the meeting were students of the Non-State Primary School in Białystok ‘Świat Ucznia’.