ALMAMER University of Applied Sciences in Warsaw

ALMAMER University of Warsaw, founded on September 30, 1994, as the Higher School of Economics, developed dynamically, enrolling 467 students and employing 41 academic staff in its first year. In the 1990s and 2000s, the university gained the right to offer master's degree programs and implemented the DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 quality system. In 2006, it changed its name to ALMAMER, referencing the Latin expression "Alma Mater," and in 2011, it was renamed ALMAMER University of Warsaw. Faced with a decline in student numbers exceeding one-quarter, the university began to experience serious financial difficulties, leading to the closure of some of its buildings from 2012 onward. In 2014, debts exceeding 20 million złoty were revealed, prompting the university to notify the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of its dire situation. The university de facto ceased operations in 2016 and was formally dissolved in 2017. The abandoned buildings were not properly secured, and the equipment and student records left inside became targets for vandals and thieves, leading to an investigation into breaches of personal data protection. As a result of this investigation, the former rector of the university was charged; however, after amendments to the law, the proceedings against him were discontinued in 2018. The university offered a wide range of study programs, primarily in economics, tourism, healthcare, administration, and political science, including postgraduate studies in fields such as public administration and quality management. An interesting aspect is the historical significance of the university building, which, after its closure, became the site of an entirely new narrative related to the abandonment of decaying educational spaces and social issues, such as the presence of homeless individuals. The historically significant building could serve as a place for reflection on contemporary demographic and economic challenges in Poland.