Zdzisław Chmielewski is the author of over 100 essays, monographs and articles about archival science, modern history and European integration. Initially he worked for the municipal archive in Szczecin. Since 1985 he has worked in Szczecin University, and has been university rector since 1999. During his term the number of students has doubled to 35,000, and in 2001 the university received full academic autonomy. The rector managed to erect a large Congess Centre (Centrum Kongresowe) and the Szczecin University European Centre (Centrum Europejskie US). He acquired from Szczecin city a big hotel in the city centre and turned it into a students hostel.