February 17 is celebrated as Polish Civil Service Day. It commemorates the adoption in 1922 of Poland’s first law on the state civil service. This legal act unified the administrative solutions of the three former partitions into one coherent state system and granted a special status to Polish civil servants. During the period of the Second Polish Republic, the civil service was considered equal in rank to military service. Its representatives were expected to show dedication, professionalism, and concern for the welfare of the state and its identity.

This year’s celebrations brought a special reason for pride for our academic community. On February 17, 2026, Prof. Jolanta Itrich-Drabarek was awarded the Medal for Merits to the Civil Service, granted by the Prime Minister at the request of the Head of the Civil Service.

For twenty-six years, the Professor has conducted scholarly research devoted to the civil service. She is the author of numerous academic publications in Polish and English, an organizer of international scientific conferences devoted to this subject, and the creator of an original university course for students on the civil service. At the University of Warsaw, she initiated and developed a research community focused on this field, establishing a nationally recognized school of civil service studies.

We warmly congratulate the Professor on this prestigious distinction and wish her continued success!