The Poznań University of Economics is one of the business schools in Poland. The Poznań University of Economics (PUE) is an academic institution in the western part of the country attracting students from many parts of Poland. It is the biggest and oldest business university in the region of Wielkopolska. The main campus of the university is located in Poznań, but the University offers its courses also in seven other locations (colleges of higher education) situated within a distance of 30–100 km from Poznań (Bydgoszcz, Kalisz, Konin, Piła, Leszno, Zielona Góra, Szamotuły). The university's origin goes back to 1926, when the Foundation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry founded the College of Commerce. As a private school, it had no authority to grant degrees. The school was given the authority in 1938 and, in the same year, was named the Academy of Commerce.In 1950, there were 2026 students attending the Academy. In that year, the Academy was taken over by the state and renamed the Higher School of Economics, initially with two faculties, then three. In 1954, the University ran uniform five-year courses leading to a Master’s degree.In 1974, the school was named the Academy of Economics and was granted the authority to award the degrees of doctor and habilitated doctor (both of economic sciences).