Some 570,000 people live in Poznań. The number of college students reaches 130,000 and is growing due to a demographic boom. The city has nine prestigious state colleges, along with some 20 private schools specializing in diverse fields. In private colleges, the most popular majors include marketing, banking, management, journalism and political science.

In terms of number of inhabitants, Poznań is the fifth largest city in Poland, but only the larger cities of Warsaw and Cracow can boast a higher number of students. Poznań is a typical academic city, and that is particularly noticeable in the summer when the pace of life in the city, with fewer young people, visibly slows. Not only areas near colleges are empty, but also pubs in the oldest part of the city, cinemas and parks.

The local government's documents on strategy call for further development of the city primarily as an academic center. This will produce twofold benefits. Colleges will provide a high number of jobs; the university is among the biggest employers in the city. The economy will also benefit since colleges ensure innovation and provide companies with personnel.

The Adam Mickiewicz University is the biggest school in Poznań. Its predecessor, the Lubrański Academy-though without university status-was established in the 16th century and was famous all over Poland for its academic achievements. In 1611, the Jesuit College was established, becoming the starting point for a university. It granted academic titles of master and doctor. Poznań University was founded in 1919 after Poland regained independence. At that time, the school was called Piast University, to be renamed Poznań University in 1955.

Today the university employs 2,700 teachers, including 700 professors and doctors. More than 100 teachers hail from abroad. The university has granted more than 100 honorary doctorates to personalities such as Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Wisława Szymborska, Javier Solana and John Paul II. The number of students currently exceeds 50,000. For years the most popular majors have included psychology and political science, but the popularity of biotechnology has grown recently, with more than a dozen candidates per place.

The college launches new majors every year. Together with other Poznań colleges, it works on the latest technologies and conducts large research projects-also on an international scale-that are linked with European Union programs. It also opens branches in other cities. The Poznań Science and Technology Park has become a symbol of cooperation with the economy.

Every year 7,000 students graduate from the university. They come to study from different cities and towns, mainly from western and northern Poland. Poznań authorities want to keep them in the city because educated people are most valuable in society, guaranteeing the city's development. The local government runs a promotional campaign in many small cities, inviting graduates of local high schools to study in Poznań.

Young people completing their university education can be encouraged to stay in the city by attractive job offers. Poznań has the lowest unemployment rate in Poland, next to Warsaw. People with college education can find employment in industries using the latest technology, in services and the media.

The Poznań University of Technology enjoys prestige all over Poland, educating 19,000 students and employing 1,000 teachers. The Medical Academy has 6,000 students, including 600 foreigners. Art colleges are much smaller but enjoy an excellent reputation. This particularly applies to the Academy of Fine Arts, which offers high-quality studies in graphic arts, sculpture, paintings and modern majors such as multimedia communications. The Music Academy, located in the very heart of the city, will gain a new wing with a modern concert hall this year.

Polish colleges will face problems in a few years when the demographic boom ends and the number of students drops. Competition will increase, but renowned Poznań colleges do not have to fear this. When demand for teaching decreases, they will earmark more of their potential funds for scientific research. Private colleges in the city may find themselves in a more difficult position. They are rather young and currently they are doing well since not all the high school graduates have a chance of being admitted to attractive studies at state colleges offering education for free.

Poznań's local government helps colleges in development, donating land on which they can build new facilities. In return, scientists help the local government prepare city development strategies and urban development plans, and provide advice to city officials. The biggest colleges in the city run big investment projects financed with their own money and from the national budget. This especially applies to the university, which is building a large campus in the Poznań suburbs.