The Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is an organizational unit of the Institute of Economics within the College of Economics and Finance at the Cracow University of Economics. It was established in 1992. Founded on the initiative of Prof. Jan Targalski, DSc, UEK Professor, the Department was the first unit of its kind in Poland and the second formalized organizational unit devoted to entrepreneurship nationwide (following the Department of Entrepreneurship and Industrial Policy, established in 1991 in Łódź by Prof. Bogdan Piasecki, DSc). From the very beginning of its existence, the Department has focused on entrepreneurship, economic development, and the broadly understood activities of the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. Initially, the Department consisted of three sections:
- Section of Entrepreneurship,
- Section of Organizational Foundations and Management
- Section of Firm Competitiveness
In 1997, a new organizational unit emerged from our Department—the Department of Organizational Foundations and Management (transformed from the section bearing the same name), followed in 2003 by another unit—the Department of Management of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (transformed from the Section of Firm Competitiveness).
In 2010, the then Head of the Department retired, and the university authorities entrusted the leadership of the Department to Prof. Kazimierz Zieliński, DSc. Prior to the retirement of Prof. Jan Targalski, in the years 2008–2010, the duties of Head of the Department were performed by Prof. Anna Francik, DSc, UEK Professor. Since October 2020, the position of Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation has been held by Prof. Maria Urbaniec, DSc, UEK Professor.
Department Activities
The research specialization of the Department focuses on the following key areas:
Entrepreneurship: theory and practice of entrepreneurship; forms, methods, and techniques for supporting entrepreneurship; development of entrepreneurial attitudes and the image of the entrepreneur; corporate entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture; family businesses; academic entrepreneurship and relations between academia and business; social entrepreneurship; ecological (green) entrepreneurship; virtual entrepreneurship and e-business.
Organization management: organizational models, management processes, organizational structures, leadership styles, management tools, and business negotiations.
Innovation and creativity: innovation management; creativity of individuals and organizations.
SME sector: factors, conditions, and patterns of development of the SME sector; principles governing the operation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Management of small and medium-sized enterprises: development strategies of small and medium-sized firms; challenges related to enhancing enterprise competitiveness; knowledge management for entrepreneurship; business models.
International entrepreneurship: internationalization of enterprises, particularly SMEs; international business.
Entrepreneurship in economic theory: theories of the firm and the entrepreneur; theories of entrepreneurship within economic schools of thought; economic psychology; the Austrian School of Economics.
Business environment: systems supporting entrepreneurship and innovation; business incubators and entrepreneurship clusters; venture capital funds and business angels; the stock exchange; the NewConnect alternative market.
Specializations Offered in the Degree Programmes
- Entrepreneurship and New Technologies
(first-cycle studies, Bachelor’s degree, in Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Economy, 3 semesters) - Entrepreneurship and Business Financing
(second-cycle studies, Master’s degree, in Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Economy, 2 semesters)
The activities of the Department are oriented towards the following tasks:
- creating a forum for discussion and for the presentation of research, scholarly achievements, and knowledge related to entrepreneurship in economics and management;
- supporting the development of entrepreneurship research in an international context and identifying modern methods and directions of development linking entrepreneurship with socio-economic development;
- striving to develop cooperation and exchange scholarly experience with stakeholders both in Poland and abroad;
- enhancing students’ entrepreneurial competences and attitudes, and motivating them to engage in scholarly activities or other initiatives supporting entrepreneurial professional activity in the labor market;
- creating and promoting a positive image of Polish academia in support of entrepreneurship, not only among Polish higher education institutions but also among international partners.
The following individuals are currently or have previously been affiliated with the Department:
- prof. dr hab. Małgorzata Bednarczyk
- dr Ewa Belniak
- dr Magdalena Belniak
- dr Izabela Czaja
- mgr Krystyn Flis (sekretariat)
- prof. WSB dr hab. Anna Francik
- mgr Grzegorz Hayder
- prof. UEK dr hab. Ewa Kozień
- dr Małgorzata Kosała
- mgr Zdzisław Krawiec
- prof. dr hab. Józef Machaczka
- mgr Andrzej Masny
- dr Zbigniew Michalik
- mgr Agata Miętus
- dr Krzysztof Misiołek
- prof. UEK dr hab. Rafał Morawczyński
- Barbara Morawska (sekretariat)
- prof. UJ dr hab. Marta Najda-Janoszka
- mgr Iwona Ożóg (sekretariat)
- mgr inż. Jarosław Pawlik
- dr hab. inż. Adam Peszko
- dr Agnieszka Pichur
- prof. dr hab. Irena Pietrzyk
- dr Marcin J. Piątkowski
- Izabela Radomska (sekretariat)
- dr Bogdan Rogoda
- mgr Katarzyna Stich
- prof. UEK dr hab. Jan Targalski
- mgr Justyna Tomala
- prof. UEK dr hab. Maria Urbaniec
- prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Wach
- Ewa Wolska (sekretariat)
- prof. dr hab. Kazimierz Zieliński
- dr Agnieszka Żur
Currently, the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation employs nine academic staff members