The University of Silesia is one of the most prestigious universities in the southern part of the country and one of the biggest public universities in Poland. It collaborates with over 300 higher education institutions from all over the world through student and academic staff exchanges and joint educational and research projects. It is a member of numerous international associations and actively participates in European Commission initiatives. The University of Silesia was established on 8 June 1968 as Poland’s ninth university. The university was created through a merger of a branch of the Jagiellonian University existing in Katowice since 1963 with the Higher School of Pedagogy which at that time was the only academic institution in the region, with its roots dating back to 1928. When in 1968 the University of Silesia inaugurated its first academic year, it consisted of four faculties (Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Law and Administration, Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Technical Education), educated 6 thousand students and employed over 2000 academic teachers.