The Institute of Public Affairs of the Jagiellonian University was established by decision of the Senate of the Jagiellonian University at the Faculty of Management and Social Communication on 25/06/1997. Its principal mission is to conduct scientific research on the functioning of the public sphere and educate managers for the public and non-governmental sectors in Poland.

The Institute is housed in a building located on the Jagiellonian University Campus 600th  anniversary of the Renewal.

The research team of the Institute of Public Affairs of the Jagiellonian University conducts research in the field of public management, the functioning of the public sphere in Poland and the European Union, as well as public policies - their creation, implementation, and influence  on the shape of the public sphere and social life in Poland. In particular, we conduct research in the following fields: educational and territorial management, civil society and NGOs, management control and corruption prevention, public sector projectisation, and higher education institutions.

The IPA of the Jagiellonian University conducts research projects of the National Science Centre, projects under the Erasmus + programme, as well as implementation grants. Moreover, it conducts didactic and scientific projects in which research is carried out by students and PhD students, in collaboration with the Institute's partners.

The Institute’s team of scientists is composed of both scientists in the field of social sciences, in the disciplines of: management and quality sciences, political and administration sciences, legal sciences, economics and finance, but also long-term practitioners implementing individual consulting projects, working as experts in domestic and European institutions as well as those employed in managerial positions.

In the preparation and implementation of teaching and research programmes, the Institute of Public Affairs of the Jagiellonian University cooperates with municipal, regional, and departmental authorities as well as civic organisations which support the public sector’s modernisation.

The Institute of Public Affairs of the Jagiellonian University carries out studies in the following fields:

•     social policy management (full-time first-cycle studies)
•     public management (full-time first and second cycle studies)
•     social change management (full-time second-cycle studies)

In 2022, the Institute of Public Affairs of the Jagiellonian University is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its activity.