Higher Education Courses for Women – beginnings of the university education for women in Poland

Abstract

University education was unavailable for Polish women until 1897 when the universities decided, for the first time, to open their gates for women who wanted to study. By that time, the most persistent ones could study abroad. Whereas, these who due to economic reasons could not afford studying abroad were not able to improve their qualifications and learn profession. Higher education courses for women addressed these needs beginning informal university education for women in Poland at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. The pioneering institutions in terms of university education for women were the Adrian Baraniecki Higher Education Courses for Women in Krakow and the secret Flying University in Warsaw. Their activity was an answer to positivist ideas of women’s emancipation and contributed to noticeable increase in educational aspirations of women and their urge to gain education at the university level. It also contributed to formal opening of the gates of Polish universities for female students.