Stalinism and Revolution in Universities. Democratization of Higher Education from Above, 1947–1956
Stalinism and Revolution in Universities. Democratization of Higher Education from Above, 1947–1956
Author(s): Agata ZysiakContributor(s): Maria Fengler (Translator)
Subject(s): Political history, Higher Education , History of Education, State/Government and Education, WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Post-War period (1950 - 1989)
Published by: Instytut Slawistyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Stalinism; modernization; reform of higher education; universities;
Summary/Abstract: The first postwar decade in Poland saw a rebuilding of the whole country, including the school system and higher education. Higher education institutions were to mold a new intelligentsia, coming from a wider social background. Initial grassroots efforts to change the elite character of universities were eclipsed from 1947 by a reform introduced from above. On the one hand, the reform curtailed the autonomy of universities and increased censorship and political control; on the other hand, however, its aim was to make university education available on an unprecedented scale to people from the working and peasant classes. This article offers a survey of tools through which this “democratization” of access to higher education was implemented, such as a new admissions process, the induction year and preparatory courses. It also shows how these tools changed the students’ social backgrounds, albeit without permanently altering the general picture of higher education in Poland.
Journal: Studia Litteraria et Historica
- Issue Year: 2019
- Issue No: 8
- Page Range: 1-17
- Page Count: 17
- Language: English
