Arts education in Gzhel started in 1899 and the two outstanding personalities stood at the origins of its establishment: 

Sergei Grigoryevich Stroganov - a Russian statesman, art historian, archaeologist, collector, and philanthropist. Count Stroganov played a large role in the development of the Russian education and culture during the 19th century. In 1825, Stroganov founded the first private academy of art in Russia (in Moscow) using his own money.

Globa Nikolai Vasilievich - Chamberlain at Court of His Emperor Majesty, Full Councillor of State, Member of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Council, Director of the Stroganov Artistic and Industrial College, Director of the Museum of the Emperor Aleksandr III, Member of Moscow City Duma. He opened the drawing class in the school district Rechitsa.

They solved the one problem: to give artistic and technical education to young people.

In Soviet times a system of continuous education and training of young people was founded. Children began learning in kindergarten, continued it in secondary schools and specialized workshops in schools, factories, and got secondary professional education in Gzhel ceramics in college from 1931, then in Gzhel Art and Industry technical school from 1988 and in Gzhel Art and Industry college from 1991.

In 2002 the College was reorganized and became a structural division of the Gzhel State Art Industrial Institute. The first rector of the institute was V.M. Loginov, Ph.D., Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of the State Prize of the USSR. A new stage of the development began.

The first set of students was made at the faculty of decorative and applied arts and crafts in 2003, which today is a leading profile faculty of the university and has a strong position in the market of educational services of the Russian Federation. The faculty has highly qualified teachers with the titles of professor, associate professor, the honorary titles of Honored Artist of Russia, honored worker of arts of the Russian Federation, doctors and candidates of sciences.

The students consolidate their knowledge during educational and industrial practices in factories, enterprises of folk arts and crafts of the Moscow region, the museums of Moscow.

In connection of the development of tourism in Gzhel, Ramenskiy district, Moscow region, in 2005 the management decided to begin training specialists in the field of service and tourism. The faculty of service and tourism began to train students to develop tourist routes in Russia, animation and entertainment programs, to conduct student scientific conferences and seminars. Students attend international and regional tourist exhibitions, meet foreign representatives of education, business, tourism. Compulsory subjects are professional foreign languages: English, German, French or Spanish. Senior students learn second foreign language.

In 2005 it was founded the faculty of management and law for training specialists of state and municipal government. In 2009 it was carried out the first set on a specialty Finance and credit, the faculty was called Economics and Management. During the training the students receive knowledge in economics, management, securities market, banking, economics firm, financial management, economics of state sector, taxation. Students reinforce the knowledge in practice at the leading enterprises of the region, in the bodies of state and municipal government.

In 2008 B.V. Ilkevich, Ph.D., professor, honored worker of VPO, became the rector of the institute.

In 2011 the moving toward a two-tiered system of higher education on separate Bachelors and Masters degrees began.

New areas of training programs of higher education: folk art culture, socio-cultural activities, finances and credit, hospitality, management were opened.

In the field of secondary vocational education they were: law and social security organization, design, painting, sculpture, folk art creativity, social and cultural activities, hotel service and others.

In 2012 - 2013 the institute completely moved toward a three-tiered system of higher education:

• bachelors degree;

• Masters degree;

• preparation of highly qualified personnel (post-graduate).

In May 2015 the institute was renamed in Gzhel State University, the college remained in the structure of the university.

On June 4, 2020, Denis Sergeevich Somov, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, was appointed Acting Rector.

By the order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated September 19, 2022 № 10-02-02 / 138 D.S. Somov was appointed the rector of Gzhel State University for a period of five years.

The University under his leadership continues to develop dynamically and looks confidently into the future: a new modern student hostel has been put into operation, the Center for Professional Competences, Career and Practical Training, the Student Personnel Department, the University Representative Offices in Sochi and Florence, are open and successfully operating, the WorldSkills movement has received further developed, students and undergraduates of the university have become active participants and winners of the All-Russian educational project My country is my Russia, traditions in educational work and student self-government are preserved, new projects are being implemented in international cooperation.

The university is the base of two innovative platforms and implements the program of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science Formation of pedagogical competencies among students of art directions and specialties in the system of continuous education (on the example of Gzhel State University) and the Russian Academy of Education - Development and implementation of innovative professionally motivating educational models at the university located in the region of traditional existence of folk art crafts (on the example of Gzhel State University).

The University continues to fulfill its unique mission of creating conditions to ensure the possibility for each citizen to realize his positive social, cultural, economic potential throughout his life, to preserve and develop art and craft education, original traditions of the cultural heritage of Russia, continuity of generations creating an original artistic style, and shaping a person capable of competent and responsible professional activity.