School of Political Sciences by the Institute of Eastern Europe in Vilnius (1930-1939)

The School of Political Sciences was established by the Scientific Research Institute of Eastern Europe in 1930. It was located in the former Tyszkiewicz palace in Vilnius. The Director of the School in 1930–1931 was Janusz Jędrzejewicz, and in 1931–1939 Władysław Wielhorski. It offered a 3 years programme made upof lectures, practical training and seminars. The school year was made up of 30 weeks of lessons divided in two semesters. As for the pedagogical staff, it included between 29 and 33 individuals (professors, lecturers, and assistants). In its first year the school had 122 students; later on the numbers increased gradually, reaching 236 in 1933/1934. Most of them were Polish, but there were also Russians, Jews, Byelorussians, Lithuanians and Ukrainians. Those attending the school were pupils leaving secondary schools and working persons who had completed or uncompleted higher education: teachers, military officers, functionaries, bankers and others. The school remained open until the Second World War. During its relatively short period of activity, it prepared many high calibre professionals for various positions in government administration, administration, treasury positions, and diplomatic service in the Baltic States and Soviet Union. Scientific workers and graduates of this school also made important contributions to research in a variety of fields, including history, culture and political studies of neighboring countries and national minorities living in Northeast Poland