The Stefczyk Institute was established within the scope of activities of the Foundation for Polish Credit Union. Academically, it acts on two fronts – firstly, conducting research on the development of the cooperative movement, with a special focus on financial cooperative movements and secondly, educational activity to develop the principles behind ethical business, and, in particular, socially-responsible investing.

Both areas covered by the Institute serve to develop the cooperative movement and the ethical principles of enterprise based on the social teachings of the Church.

The Stefczyk Institute began on December 2nd, 2008, on the 147 anniversary of Franciszek Stefczyk’s birth. In this way we wanted to commemorate this exceptional figure in Polish history and also express our desire to conduct our activity according to the values, by which Franciszek Stefczyk led his life – the values of national and Christian solidarity.

The scope of academic/research interests of the Stefczyk Institute:
Cooperative movement – history and development
Law – cooperative, financial, banking
Business ethics – ethics of business activity, socially responsible investing
Social economics

We are proud to welcome you to our Internet page, where we will publish our stand on vital economic and legal issues. We also encourage you to become acquainted with the publications in the Institute’s library, which will develop according to our work. On our Internet page you will also find essential information about conferences and seminars organized by us, to which you are cordially invited to attend.
All parties interested in academic cooperation with us are welcome.

You are invited to download the file with a commentary of the Stefczyk Institute on the draft Act on SKOK. Prof. zw. dr hab. Henryk Cioch PhD is the author of this publication.

At the beginning of the 1970’s, there appeared the idea of so-called “ethical investment”, which is based on positive criteria focusing mainly on a company’ social policies. For further information, please read the presentation: Socially responsible investment – a challenge of our times.