About the Institute

The Institute of Pedagogy is an organizational unit of the College of Social Sciences of the University of Rzeszow functioning since October 1, 2019, based on the Statute of the University of Rzeszow dated April 4, 2019 (§ 38 paragraph 3 of Resolution No. 424/04/2019 of the UR Senate). The beginnings of the Institute's activities date back to 1969 when the first research center for educational sciences and academic training of educators was established in Rzeszow. Within the structures of the Higher School of Pedagogy in Rzeszow, the Department of Pedagogy was established on October 1, 1969, which later underwent intensive development and changes in its name. For a long time, it operated under the name: Faculty of Pedagogy. The organizational structure of the Faculty of Pedagogy consisted of six institutes: the Institute of Pedagogy, the Institute of Music, the Institute of Arts, the Institute of Physical Education, the Institute of Physiotherapy, and the Institute of Nursing and Midwifery. It was a very diverse structure in terms of content, with more than 400 academics employed at its peak. Between 2003 and 2004, the Council of the Faculty of Pedagogy took action to change this state of affairs. As a result of these efforts, by the decision of the Senate of the University of Rzeszow, two new organizational units were established in 2005, separate from the Faculty of Pedagogy: the Faculty of Health Sciences, which was based on the Institute of Physiotherapy and the Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, and the Faculty of Physical Education, which was based on the Institute of Physical Education. At the same time, the UR Senate transformed the former Faculty of Pedagogy into the Faculty of Pedagogy and Arts, which included the Institute of Pedagogy, the Institute of Music, and the Institute of Fine Arts.

The next stage of reorganization occurred in 2007, when the Faculty of Arts was separated from the Faculty of Pedagogy and Arts, with the Institute of Fine Arts as its base. Since 2008, the organizational structure of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Arts consisted of two institutes: the Institute of Pedagogy and the Institute of Music. On October 1, 2018, the Act of July 20, 2018, entitled Law on Higher Education and Science, which became the basis for developing a strategy for the development of the Faculty of Pedagogy of the UR improving the quality of education and ensuring the development of science. This strategy provided for the introduction of the institute as an organizational unit of the faculty. Consequently, two institutes were established: the Institute of Pedagogy and the Institute of Practical Pedagogical Education. From October 1, 2019, along with the new structure of the University of Rzeszow, the Faculty of Pedagogy was incorporated into the College of Social Sciences and was transformed into the Institute of Pedagogy. The vision and mission of the Institute of Pedagogy developing the discipline of pedagogy are closely related to and directly result from the vision and mission of the University of Rzeszow (DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF RZESZOW FOR 2021 – 2030,  Appendix No. 1 to Resolution No. 59/03/2021 of the UR Senate of March 25, 2021). The Institute reflects the constitutive elements of the UR Development Strategy, such as creating intellectual capital for the region based on highly qualified in-house staff, a modern scientific and research base, and high-quality scientific research.

The main tasks of the Institute of Pedagogy are to strive to strengthen its position among the best centers for developing the scientific discipline of pedagogy, furthermore, conducting high-quality scientific research recognized both nationally and internationally, as well as increasing the pursuit of interdisciplinary and international research. An important task is to commercialize knowledge and strengthen the importance of the Institute in the socio-economic environment. The tasks of the Institute are clearly related to the functions performed by the University: cultural – dissemination and transmission of cultural content; educational – training of professionals; research – development and expansion of knowledge.

The goals of the Institute of Pedagogy include the systematic and dynamic development of the discipline of pedagogy, which can and should be a domain of key importance for the society of the future. It also means intensifying the research activities of the Institute's staff and their greater recognition in the national and international arena, as well as the implementation of the results of research into educational and educational practice.

The Institute of Pedagogy comprises two Chairs and nine Departments.

As part of its educational activities, the Institute runs the following fields of study:

– Pedagogy, undergraduate studies (BA) and graduate studies (MA) studies, general academic profile, this field of study covers the following specialties: media pedagogy with culture animation, education and care pedagogy, resocialization pedagogy, social prevention with resocialization;

– Preschool and Elementary School Pedagogy, uniform Master's studies, practical profile

– Special Needs Education  – uniform Master's studies, practical profile

           – Family Studies, undergraduate studies  (BA) studies, practical profile.