History

The history of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) begins in 1906 with the foundation of the Private Courses of Commerce for Men.

In the XX century the School underwent numerous changes in its structure and teaching programme. It changed its name a few times, too. The School’s present name (Szkoła Główna Handlowa, literally meaning Main School of Commerce) emerged for the first time in 1933. The outbreak of World War II did not stop the School’s activity, which, under conspiracy, continued with its pre-war programme.

After World War II, under the pressure of the new political system the School Senate approved its nationalisation, trying, however, to maintain the independent teaching programme. In 1949 Polish authorities changed the name into Central School of Planning and Statistics and announced it the first socialist university in Poland, with centrally established programme and organisational principles.

It was not until the political change in 1989 that the School was in a position to officially carry out new programme and organisational reforms in order to comply with market economy requirements. The milestone of this process was the return to the traditional name of the School – Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) in 1991 and a reform of the education system, so that all our students can now pursue individual courses of study.

In 2006 we introduced the new Statue, which declares that our educational system is based on the Bologna Declaration.

Graduates

Among the famous pre-war alumni was Stefan Starzyński, an economist and politician, a mayor of Warsaw from 1934 till World War II. One of the most renowned SGH graduates is professor Leszek Balcerowicz – Deputy Prime Minister in the first non-communist government and the president of the National Bank of Poland. The long list of graduates includes member of the European Commission professor Danuta Hübner, former speaker of the Sejm cabinet of the Polish Parliament Marek Borowski, president of Business Center Club Marek Goliszewski, former Minister of Finance Grzegorz Kołodko, former Prime Minister Józef Oleksy, former Ministers of Foreign Affairs Dariusz Rosati and Andrzej Olechowski, diplomat Jan Truszczyński, Wiesław Rozłucki. Artists: Sława Przybylska, Jeremi Przybora, Stanisław Dygat, Maciej Niesiołowski, Athletes: Teresa Sukniewicz, Ewa Kłobukowska, Grażyna Rabsztyn.