On 28 May 2026, during the celebrations marking the 101st anniversary of the Krakow University of Economics, Professor Jacek Purchla was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the Krakow University of Economics (UEK) – one of the highest distinctions conferred by the University. The award recognizes his outstanding academic achievements, public service, and long-standing commitment to the protection and management of cultural heritage.
Professor Purchla has been associated with the Krakow University of Economics for several decades, first as a student and later as a lecturer and researcher. Between 2008 and 2024, he headed the Department of Economic and Social History, advancing research on the economics of culture, cultural heritage, and urban studies while strengthening the University’s international academic cooperation. Of particular importance to the academic community was his role as the long-serving head of the UNESCO Chair on Heritage and Urban Studies, where he fostered interdisciplinary research combining economic, social, cultural, and urban perspectives.
The laudations delivered during the ceremony highlighted Professor Purchla’s international standing, his significant contribution to the development of heritage studies, and his role in building bridges between academia, culture, and public life.
More information about the ceremony is available at:
https://uek.krakow.pl/artykuly/wydarzenia/nadanie-godnosci-profesora-honorowego-uek-prof-dr-hab-jackowi-purchli
