PUNO – An independent polish university abroad

The article presents the beginning of the Polish University Abroad establishing in Paris during the Second World War and later on in London (where we were found by the Polish authorities in exile as the private university with full public rights in 1952). Another part of the article shows PUNO activities in 21st century. e current structure of the university has been introduced, which comprises: Faculty of Humanities and three Institutes: Social Sciences, European Culture and Technical Sciences, together which 11 didactic and research units. The following categories apply: Didactics – with postgraduate studies, PhD seminars, seminars and workshops, including „Polish Culture Course” (run non-stop since 1953), „Twentieth Century Polish History Seminar” (a seminar in English with participation of leading British historians dealing with the Polish history of the 20th century). ScientiWc research – currently there are over 30 individual and group research projects at PUNO with broad scope of topics. Among them is the project funded by the European Union called TICASS and carried out by PUNO together with universities from Poland, Italy, Czech Republic and Kenya. International academic conferences – with the majority devoted to emigration issues. It includes the annual PUNO April Conference, organized on the anniversary days of the Smolensk catastrophe and commemorating the last President of the Republic of Poland in Exile – Mr. Ryszard Kaczorowski. Publishing – newly founded university publishing house PUNO Press, which issued eight books between 2016 and 2018, including „Zeszyty Naukowe PUNO”. e article also presents University plans for the closest future, including two bachelordegree studies for Polish migrants living abroad and further development of the PUNO Research Centre for young academics from Poland as well as for Polish-speaking diaspora living outside Poland