The source of origin of our academy is deeply rooted in the culture of Upper Silesia. Beyond doubt, these sources can be found in industrialist and autonomous traditions of the region. Currently, the origin of the school can be found in processes of regional economy restructurization and establishing teritorial self-governments. USAE was founded, in certain measure, as the answer to challenges which Silesian enterprises and local communities should meet. Building the identity of Upper Silesian Academy of Entrepreneurship we would like to refer to Personage who, in the first part of XIX century, contibuted to the unique in European scale: Upper Silesian Industrial Mining Region (Górnośląskie Zagłębie Przemysłowe). This personage is Karol Godula.

Karol Godula worked in industry for nearly 40 years. At first he got a nickname of the king of zinc and then the king of coal. In 1848 Karol Godula possessed partly or fully 19 mines of calamine and 4 zinc plants. In the forties of XIX century Karol Godula completed building two basic industrial complexes located in Ruda Śląska and in Bytom. These mining and smelting oriented complexes supplied Upper Silesia with 10% of zinc production in 1847. The wealth left by Karol Godula comprised estate too: Orzegów, Bujaków, Szombierki, Chudów, Paniówki and Bobrek, 1700 hectares altogether, which, in total, exceeded the area of Zamoyski's Entail.

Karol Godula managed to take advantage of favourable political and economic circumstances within the confines of which, not birth or background determined a career, but, first of all, his personal abilities and skills. He was able to notice and make use of new achievements of the time of the first industrial revolution such as: new method of zinc production or the steam machine, a new work organization by replacing compulsory work with hired labour and also financing industrial enterprises by creating various types of companies. He was also able to use talents of other people, e.g.: Engineer Wedding, foreman Winckler, who later became a founder of Thiele-Winkler concern.

Karol Godula as the greatest industrialist in Silesia in the first half of XIX century and despite his harshness towards people, was a sensitive person to social matters. He built houses for manual workers and provided them with a free medical care and in his will he donated 50 thousand thalers to his workers. As a man from social and ethical marches he created his own rules. Judging his activities one cannot apply the standards of conemporary business ethics. One can admire, however, his creativity, ingeniousness, perceptiveness, determination and obstinacy with which he made his way to realizing his visions, which were often more important than money itself.

It is time to restore whorendered great service to Silesia to the regional historical tradition and Karol Godula deserves to have pride of place in this tradition. Our academy has been named after Karol Godula - an outstanding entrepreneur acting on the Silesian land and for our academic community it is honour to have his name.