Centres and Laboratories

In 2013 the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw (UKSW) saw the completion of their new Laboratory Centre for Natural Sciences. Constructed at ul. Wójcickiego, the Laboratory Centre for Natural Sciences, is a modern, fully air-conditioned four-storey building offering science laboratories, workshop (workroom ) spaces and a lecture hall.

45 specialist laboratories cater for students in the disciplines of: chemistry, physics, biology, environmental conservation studies, environmental engineering, computer science, mathematics and economics. With modern, professional equipment and multimedia devices in each laboratory, it is estimated that these facilities will be used by an estimated 1.5 thousand students every year.

The centre also houses numerous workshop spaces for modern and nuclear physics, engineering, organic chemistry, RTG, behavioural biology and evolution, as well as fully equipped computer rooms. On the ground floor there is a modern lecture theatre and demonstration room. This space is equipped with digital recording and multimedia devices, and enables online sharing of lectures and other resources. The whole building also has Wi-Fi technology.

The new centre has excellent disabled access, with automatic doors and equipment/furniture arranged to allow ease of use and access for wheelchair users. The entire building is also free from barriers such as thresholds or steps. For those with visual impairment each storey has been designed according to the same topographic plan and voice guides and Braille are applied in the lifts and in the corridors.

The newly constructed Laboratory Centre for Natural Sciences forms part of the Centre for Education and Interdisciplinary Research (CEiBI). CEiBi has several centres or units within it including the ‘Auditorium Maximum’ Lecture theatre (opened in 2008) and the faculty centres for History and Social Sciences, Christian Philosophy and Biology and Environmental Sciences (operating since 2009). The construction of the Auditorium Maximum was supported by the Integrated Operating Programme for Regional Development. The EU subsidies at that time amounted to PLN 18.7 million, and the total value of the lecture theatre renovation was approximately PLN 40 million.

Other recent investments and partnerships at the University include the construction of a radio and TV studio and workshop in September 2013, in cooperation with BZ WBK bank. This new workshop and media space was made available to post-graduate researchers and students of the Faculty of Journalism.

Within television and radio programme production and distribution, and with the rapid growth of other online media services, there has been continual development in the types and level of technology used. To reflect these developments, Media and journalism studies at the university aim to provide a syllabus that departs from the theoretical, lecture-orientated formula of study, instead offering students the opportunity to gain experience in ‘real studio’ techniques and a thorough grounding in appropriate technologies, digital media and professional practice as well as dealing with stress and pressures related to live broadcasting. The new television and radio studio will enable this development in Media and Journalism education, whilst also ensuring:

• Relevant and reactive Journalism and Media syllabuses and continued developments in media education theories.
• Improved facilities and the expansion of services and offers to fee-paying domestic and foreign students.
• Increased promotion of the University and tasks of a commercial nature.