School of Education is a joint undertaking of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the University of Warsaw, designed in close cooperation with Columbia University Teachers College in New York. This is the only non-remote, full-time post-graduate course in Poland granting teaching certificates.
At present, the course is provided free of charge, and School of Education students may apply for a scholarship to help cover the costs of living and for a place in a UW dormitory.
The sixth round (the 2021/22 academic year) was attended by 30 students following one of the four education paths: Polish studies, mathematics, history and civic education, as well as biology and natural studies. Additionally, 12 students were on the psychological and pedagogical education path carried out in cooperation with the UW Faculty of Biology.
Daily school teaching practice is an integral part of teacher training. Students spend time in both academic classes and a school classroom. They observe lessons, co-teach, and teach, take part in meetings of teacher boards and parent-teacher conferences. The experience accrued at schools are then regularly discussed during academic classes. The School of Education takes responsibility for the quality of in-school apprenticeships by closely cooperating with carefully selected schools in Warsaw and vicinity. Some 200 teachers from the cooperating schools participate in workshops and consultation meetings held for SE students.
Each student has her/his own individual tutor from the School of Education. Academic classes are held in small groups. The focus is set on discussion and systematic analysis of student progress. SE faculty is made up of people with school experience, actively involved in the area of education, and having different perspectives: in-service teachers, academics, and other people with a passion for education. The School of Education employs lecturers from several academic centers, trained by renowned American and European specialists in teacher education.
The PAFF and UW School of Education has its own Alumni Office which offers long-term support for 150 former SE students, also helping them find an appropriate teaching job. The alumni cooperate with SE lecturers on an ongoing basis, regularly refining their methods and sharing teaching experiences. Education facilities that hire the alumni may take part in the rich training offer of the School of Education.
Since 2017 the School has added to its offer professional development for in-service teachers in teaching literature and Polish, mathematics, biology, history, as well as didactic and communication competencies. In the 2020/21 academic year the courses were attended by some 100 people.
A novelty of the School is the research component under which 8 projects on scientific verification of methods and tools used at the School of Education are conducted. The project was launched in 2021.
Good practices developed in the School of Education are popularized not only in schools but also in institutions for teacher education and professional development. In 2021 alone, with the pandemic restricting available options, various SE conferences, training sessions, and workshops attracted more than 4,000 people.
In 2020 most university programs, in-school internships, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, and educational events shifted to online. The SE faculty modified its curriculum to adjust to the extraordinary situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Foundation for Quality Education, established by PAFF in 2014, is responsible for the management and development of the School of Education. SE is situated in the UW Center of New Technologies (CENT) in Warsaw.