T
he higher education reform that we are implementing today, thanks to the efforts of the whole academic community begins a breakthrough chapter in the history of Polish higher education schools. They are opening more than ever to the need for considerable improvement of the quality of Polish diplomas and of the level of education of the young Polish generation, to the need for modern management, effective competition as regards scientific research but also to the need for strengthening the academic ethics and the constant concern about the master-student relationship, which must remain the foundation of education.We have been working on the concept and the detailed provisions of this reform for three years. I would like to sincerely thank all the scientists, doctoral students and students who supported these efforts with their commitment, knowledge and competence.
It is also thanks to you that the new law that we have developed together will come into force at the beginning of the new academic year – on 1 October 2011.
Another academic year is approaching – it the time the new law will be implemented in our daily work. The degree to which Polish students, doctoral students and scientists will take advantage of these opportunities and improvements depends on the commitment of Polish higher education schools. The publication we are handing over to you is a unique vision of a reformed higher education school of the Future – one that reaches out to students and researchers, one that becomes an important partner in the region and a showpiece of Polish science in global academic world.
Science is like rowing against the current. Whenever you stop, you are immediately pushed backwards. Benjamin Britten
dear Sir or madam,
prof. BarBara KudrycKa
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STudEnTS
ScIEnTISTS
HIgHEr
EducATIOn
ScHOOlS
More rights
for students
New
possibilities
Supporting
talents
More
opportunities
Faster career
More funds
Better
management
• legal security for students • Professors for students
• Obligatory evaluation of academic teachers by students
• Work after studies.
graduate rights Ombudsman • Flexible studies
• Introducing electronic student record books
• diamond grant
• grants for 30% of the best doctoral students increased by 50%
• limiting nepotism • dynamic personnel policy
• Better habilitation
• competitions for all the posts • Vacancies advertised on the Internet
• More money for science
• Pln 16 billion for laboratories and academic centres
• Promotion of the specialties most important to the state
• greater funding from outside the budget • Supporting the best
– leading national research centres • curriculum developed together
with employers
• rector elected or chosen via competition • greater authority for the rector
• Incentives to create research spin-offs
Effective
assistance
for students
• More places at free of charge studies • new student loans
• More need-based grants • no charges for exams • cheaper travel tickets
H I g H E r E d u c A T I O n r E F O r M
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ever in the history of man have changes came so fast. The last decades have brought innovations we had never dreamt of before and the last years – changes we had been awaiting for so long. And even though it remains true that "the fate of Poland depends on proper education of its youths," the great changes require constant deliberation on what and how to teach in the dynamically changing times; how to give young Polish Masters of Arts or Science the same opportunities that their European peers get, how to give their careers a boost and how to make education – regardless of life changes – a trustworthy anchorage. This is what the higher education reform is for. It focuses on giving Polish students top quality education, on enabling scientists to participate in the most important international research projects and on providing our higher education schools with the possibility of continuous development.The science and teaching centre of the Microelectronics and nanotechnology centre of the university of rzeszów
visualisation: Microelectronics and nanotechnology centre (author: "Studio El” Pracownia Projektowo-realizacyjna Edward lach) source: university of rzeszów
S t u d e n t S
(...) student is the most important thing in the teaching process.
Itisthestudentthathiresusandjustifiesourexistence
professor radosław pawelec, linguist, university of Warsaw (15.11. 2010, rzeczpospolita)
T
he last 20 years have entirely changed Polish studies. First of all, the number of students increased five times, which was possible due to the development of state higher education schools and foundation of private higher education schools. However, there is still a problem of poor competitiveness against foreign schools, reflected for instance in the extremely low (0.5%) percentage of foreign students studying in Poland. The problems graduates have finding a job are also disconcerting. They are often a consequence of wrong choice of the faculty and the fact that students are poorly prepared to compete on the market.To eliminate these barriers, the reform is introducing many changes that will make studies both more effective and more student-friendly.
effective aSSiStance for StudentS
More places at free of charge studies
Today many students choose to study more than one faculty simultaneously, taking advantage of the fact that full-time courses remain free of charge. However, few of them fully use the possibilities offered by studying a few specialties. To avoid blocking of places for others, the reform is introducing new and fair rules of access to studies. According to them, every student will have the right to begin studies at another specialty. The right to free-of-charge studies at more than one specialty will be granted to students with the best grades at the other specialty (criteria for obtaining the rector's grant), which guarantees that not only will students complete the additional studies commenced at the cost of the state but they will take the full advantage of the knowledge gained. Thus we are introducing a model applied at the stage of recruitment of candidates for studies – only those with the best results of the Matura exam study free of charge (presently it is about 40% of the total of 2 million students). due to the change, a decision to begin studying another specialty will not be rash. At the same time, the best students will retain the possibility of developing their skills free of charge. This way students from environments where it has been so far necessary to choose paid studies or to resign from studying will gain broader access to free-of-charge full-time studies.
The science and teaching centre of the Microelectronics and nanotechnology centre of the university of rzeszów
visualisation: Microelectronics and nanotechnology centre (author: "Studio El” Pracownia Projektowo-realizacyjna Edward lach) source: university of rzeszów
new student loans
Student loans are a time-tested solution that makes studying at higher education schools also possible for those who have a difficult financial situation. To make studying possible for everyone, regardless of their financial situation, a new system of guarantees has been introduced. This way student loans become available also to those who were before unable to provide the bank with the required security for the loan. In the case of students in a particularly difficult family or financial situation the state will guarantee even 100% of the loaned amount. This will help increase the number of people able to get a preferential student loan by five thousand students until 2012.
More need-based grants
need-based grants are one of the best ways of giving students equal opportunities to acquire higher education regardless of the financial or family situation, or the place of residence. So far half of the money given to higher education schools from state budget for material support for students was used for need-based grants and half for scholarships. Such a division did not prove effective and it was criticised by international organisations, such as the World Bank and OEcd. Sometimes scholarships were given to students with average grades. Such a scholarship did not function as an incentive. The changes introduced by the reform will also increase the significance of need-based grants – they will be available to much more people and the monthly amount will be higher. According to the new rules, 60% of the money from the donations will be devoted to need-based grants and 40% – to rector's scholarship for the best students. Additionally, the income thresholds per family member that are considered for need-based grants will be raised by 30% to provide broader access to these grants. Thanks to these changes the support for academic achievements will be indeed given to the most talented students and at the same time those who are poorer will receive more money. A difficult financial situation will not be an obstacle to access to studies and to good studying.
no charges for exams
charges for exams, retakes or evaluation of dissertations often took students by surprise during studies. The higher education reform eliminates these charges in state and private schools, clearly establishing a catalogue of free-of-charge educational services the school must provide. Therefore, all the exams (retakes, exams before a board, graduation exams), entries for another semester and year of studies, supplements to diplomas, submission and evaluation of dissertation, issuing of a job training log – they will all be free of charge. It is another way of relieving the modest student budget.
cheaper travel tickets
In 2011 a 51% discount for train and bus travel was introduced for students and in 2012 it will include doctoral students. The inconvenient and illogical rule based on which a student did not have the right to discounts and other privileges continuously throughout the whole period of first- and second-degree studies was also eliminated. A student was not entitled to them after completing the first-degree (bachelor or engineer) but before formally beginning the second-degree (master) studies. now things will be much simpler – a student will retain all their rights to 31 October of the year of graduation. Throughout this time a student will be entitled to public transport discounts and other privileges, such as access to libraries or membership in student organisations.
PLN
0
free of cHarge
COURSE
OF STUDY
• Exams • retake exams• Exam before a board
• registration for another semester/year of study
GRADUATION
• Submission and evaluation of dissertation
• diploma exam
• Issuing of a job training log
more rigHtS for StudentS
legal security for students
The reform introduces obligatory civil-law contracts entered into, by and between, a student and their school – the contract determines the rights and responsibilities of the parties. They protect a student in all the cases where the school fails to perform its obligations or violates the rules set forth in the contract, especially as regards additional charges. The new regulations will make it easier for a student to seek demand their rights in court.
Professors for students
One of the most important objectives of the new higher education reform is to improve the staff situation at higher education schools. The lecturers' work should be organised in such a way as to make sure they can devote enough time for each student. The reform limits the phenomenon of multi-employment; according to the new rules an academic teacher will be able to have only two permanent jobs. Scientific employees applying for their second job must obtain the consent of the rector, who will make sure that students and the quality of the research in progress will not suffer because of that.
Obligatory evaluation of academic teachers by students
no one know the strengths and weaknesses of a lecturer as well as their students. Which is why new regulations strongly emphasise evaluation of the academic staff by students. Employees will be evaluated at least once every two years and opinions of students and doctoral students (done after a series of classes) will be one of the most important criteria. However, to prevent the results obtained from becoming but a curiosity, the reform specifies that a negative periodic (taking place every two years) evaluation may be a basis for dismissal of a lecturer and two consecutive negative evaluations force the school authorities to terminate the employment relationship with a given person. The evaluation system will help ensure the highest level of classes and research.
neW poSSibilitieS
Work after studies. graduate rights Ombudsman.
The problem has become more serious over the years – many graduates were unable to find a suitable job even for years. Higher education schools are largely responsible for this situation as they inadequately
adapt their curricula to the market situation and they fail to prepare students to compete on the market and to the challenges that await them once they graduate. To prevent this schools will be obligated to monitor the careers of their graduates, e.g. via career Services. To give their students the best chances at a satisfactory job, higher education schools will be obligated to modernise the curricula and to adapt them the the challenges of the labour market. The reform also appoints a graduate rights Ombudsman, whose task will be to identify the barriers hindering professional start.
Flexible studies
Due to rapid economic changes, loss of significance of some professions and emergence of others, and the necessity to act on the border of various fields of knowledge, higher education schools should to be able to promptly adapt their study offer to market needs and civilisation challenges. By introducing the National Qualifications Framework the reform gives higher education schools a lot of freedom in creating new faculties and curricula that integrate knowledge from various fields and give students a more flexible choice of the future career path. The list of central education standards and specialties applied hitherto will be withdrawn. The National Qualifications Framework will make it possible to compare education of graduates of various faculties in various countries.
Introducing electronic student record books
For decades the progress of studies in Poland has been documented in paper form. Every student knows very well how inconvenient it is to move the student record book from place to place, to search for lecturers who have to enter a grade or to wait in lines to the dean's office. Thanks to the already introduced amended regulations, higher education schools may abandon paper documentation and switch to electronic circulation of documents. For students this mostly means a possibility of online documentation of the progress of studies, e.g. in the form of electronic student record books, access to which will be provided to lecturers and teachers delivering classes, to dean's office employees and to the student. It will be a relief for all the people connected with the school, and it will put a stop to queues and pursuits after lecturers.
S c i e n t i S t S
I
t is scientists, their potential and competence that determine the prestige of a higher education school, the quality of its research, appeal of studies and the significance of its diplomas. Therefore, the higher education reform focuses considerably on solving the problems that the Polish scientific workers face today Obstacles hindering daily work, involvement in innovative research and career development have been identified. Thanks to this diagnosis we developed regulations that will ensure greater comfort and prestige of the work of Polish scientists. The government also plans a considerable pay increase for academic lecturers as of 2013. At the same time, the already introduced changes to the rules of financing science currently create good possibilities of competing for additional funds.Supporting talentS
diamond grant
The modern approach to science requires particular care about young talents. This is why the diamond grant is being established; it is a special career path for one hundred of the most talented students in Poland. They will be able to start scientific research leading to a doctoral degree just after getting a bachelor or engineer degree, without the necessity to get the master degree. Young scientists will be supported in this difficult task by receiving special funds for research. This way they will be able to become Phds as early as at the age of 25. It is a special path for the greatest science talents. let us remember that the prominent Polish mathematician Stefan Banach did not have a master degree either!
grants for 30% of the best doctoral students increased by 50%
The higher education reform intends to distinguish the most talented young scientists and to help them in their careers so that they can be a driving force behind Polish science. Hence the special doctoral grants, increased to two thousand zloty, for 30% of the best doctoral students. Thanks to such support the best Polish scientists will be able to focus even more on scientific work, also taking advantage of other, additional forms of the grant system for doctoral students.
more opportunitieS
limiting nepotism
The problems that hinder the development of Polish science certainly include frequent cases of employing relatives, which may block access to scientific and academic career for other scientists and lead to a conflict of interest. The reform introduces a statutory prohibition on employing relatives in a direct superior-subordinate relationship – such a provision will make it possible to build careers only based on clear, merit-related criteria and prevent possible irregularities.
dynamic personnel policy
Presently, unfavourable age structure prevails at higher education schools. Since older scientists are in a great majority, young ones, even though highly qualified, are prevented from climbing the academic career ladder. This results in an outflow of young scientists from higher education schools and makes it hard for Polish science to compete with the best global centres. One of the changes introduced is the a regulation that causes the contract of a nominated academic teacher to expire at the end of the year in which they turn 65 and in the case of a professor – 70. At the same time, regulations that permit keeping the most important and the most valuable scientists of the older generation in a higher education school without a competition procedure have been established.
faSter career
(...) a scientist's life is not a 100 metre sprint. It is a long marathon and while taking part in it you must constantly learn if you do not want to bore yourself to death. andriej Gejm, noble Price Winner (2010) (28.12.2010, Przekrój)
Better habilitation
When compared to that of other European Union countries, Polish scientific career path is very long, complicated and full of formalised procedures. As a result, scientists achieve scientific independence to lead research teams too late. As a consequence, scientific work burdened with additional promotion conditions does not translate into measurable results in the form of international publications or patents. Which is why the procedure has been simplified, accelerated and made more objective. It has been shortened from 11 to 5 months and the habilitation proceedings consider mostly the candidate's actual scientific achievements, which are evaluated according to strict and transparent rules. We are abandoning the habilitation examination and lecture in favour of evaluation of scientific achievements.
competitions for all the posts
To facilitate careers for a bigger group of scientists and to give the best of them a chance at quick development a rule has been introduced stating that all the scientific posts in higher education schools will be filled via competitions. At the same time young scientists will have a better access to grants since research is already financed by external institutions that grant funds through open competitions – the national Science centre (ncn) and the national centre for research and development (ncBir). Broadly applied rules of competing for posts and grants stimulate one to continuous improvement of the quality of their knowledge and research works. This is the only way a scientist may become competition to their colleagues in global scientific rivalry.
Vacancies advertised on the Internet
An online advertising column with information on vacancies at Polish higher education schools will be created. Schools will be forced to present information on all the competitions. This way experts from the country and from foreign science centres will be able to join the competitions.
H i g H e r e d u c a t i o n S c H o o l S
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he most important task facing Polish science today is reaching a level that would meet the standards accepted in the best global centres. In their top quality teaching and research, higher education schools must be closer to the students, closer to economy and closer to the world. changes thanks to which the best centres will emerge from the considerable number of Polish higher education schools are of key significance. Additional pro-quality financing for higher education schools must depend on their actual level and measurable achievements. The reform introduces many pro-development and pro-quality mechanisms. However, it is mostly up to the schools and the personnel to what extent the new possibilities will be used and will help modernise our higher education.construction of the Faculty of Physics and the Institute of chemistry, university of Bialystok visualisation: entrance to the the Institute of Chemistry (author: professor Marek Budzyński) source: university of Bialystok
more fundS
More money for science
Proper financing of science and higher education is of key importance for a country whose aim is rapid and effective development. Which is why in the last four years (from 2007 to 2011) this value increased considerably. It is important that the money is spent as effectively as possible and in a manner corresponding to the actual needs of the community, as facilitated by the science reform of 2010. At the same time further constant increase in outlays on science and higher education between 2012 and 2015 has been guaranteed.
In the budget of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education outlays on science in 2012 will reach over Pln 6.3 billion, i.e. 18.36% more than in 2011, which gives an increase of almost Pln 1 billion. In comparison to 2007 (budget of Pln 3.7 billion) this means a 70% increase. Additionally, in 2012 an amount of Pln 1.33 billion has been planned to be used to subsidise and finance projects from EU science funds due to the leading position of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in spending Eu funds. The total funds available for science in 2012 reach over Pln 7.5 billion. An 8% increase in budgetary outlays on science has been ensured for every upcoming year until 2015. In 2012 more funds will go to the national research and development centre and to the national Science centre – the total growth in comparison to 2011 is over Pln 1 billion. The actual expenses on research and development within the budgets of other ministires have also been identified and in 2011 they will reach approximately PLN 2 billion, which is an additional stream of science financing in Poland.
A new pro-quality subsidy of PLN 230 million is planned be introduced in 2012 and it will benefit mostly the Leading national research centres (KnOWs) selected via competition. Moreover, almost Pln 600 million have been planned to be used in 2012 to subsidise and finance projects using EU higher education funds. The State's Long-Term Financial Plan accepted by the government for 2011-2014 provides for 30% salary raises for higher education employees over three years, starting from 2013.
OuTlAyS On ScIEncE
0 7 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 6.37 3.43 1 3 4 6 2 3.75 3.93 5.14 5.38 5 4.62da
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ExPEndITurE On ScIEnTIFIc rESEArcH And InFrASTrucTurE
2007 2008 2009 2010 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000
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Pln 16 billion for laboratories and academic centres
By joining the European union we got a chance of gaining access to huge amounts of money the purpose of which was to make sure Polish infrastructure could meet the standards of the most developed European countries. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is the leader in spending structural funds. By 2013 a total of Pln 16 billion will have been allocated for research and infrastructural projects. At present, the money is used to fund 300 large investments, each worth from a few to a few hundred million Pln. In the whole Poland laboratories and education centres are founded for scientific employees and students. Such great outlays along with new education rules ought to quickly improve the situation in Polish science.
Science and Teaching centre of new Technologies, Silesian university of Technology visualisation: of the Building of the Scientific and Didactic Centre of New Technologies (author: professor Jerzy Witeczek, Phd, engineer, architect)
Promotion of the specialties most important to the state
Rapid development of some faculties for whose graduates there is no demand must be stopped. professor ryszard cichocKi, sociologist, Adam Mickiewicz University (18.01.2011, Gazeta Wyborcza, Poznań)
In the recent years we could clearly observe an unfavourable proportion of graduates of liberal arts to graduates of technical faculties and mathematical and life science studies. Which is why in 2008 a programme of ordered specialties has been introduced. It is a list of study specialties that are strategic for the state, established by the Ministry based on expert opinions. They include IT studies, biotechnology, environmental protection or mathematics. The best students of these specialties may count on an additional grant of Pln 1000 per month and the higher education schools that offer such specialties will receive additional money for modernisation of the curriculum, for creation of jobs and collaboration with representatives of the economy sector. By 2013 the government will have devoted over Pln 1 billion for the ordered specialty programme.
yEArS
ExPEndITurES On ScIEncE And rESEArcH InFrASTrucTurE 2007-2010
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 2007 2008 2009 2010
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greater funding from outside the budget
For science to serve its function in civilisation development, two of its branches must be developed simultaneously – basic research and translational research. The latter requires special care and close cooperation with industry and the companies operating on the market. To enable them to have an impact on the research and thus make them more attractive, incentives to co-finance the science sector from non-budgetary funds have been introduced. In further years the level of this financing may double – from today's 30% to 60% – to reach the level represented in countries with the highest economic development level.
better management
There is a dangerous view that everyone deserves money equally, regardlessofwhethertheyareconductingresearchorfakingit.Equalityisbutharmfulfiction. dominik antonowicz, phd, sociologist, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (11.01.2011, News)
Supporting the best – leading national research centres
A serious problem in Polish science is the fragmented nature of science centres, caused by historical reasons. Prominent scientists and the best laboratories are dispersed all over the country. Meanwhile, we need centres where the most knowledge, energy and money will be gathered to radically improve the level of science. Such roles are to be played by KnOWs, i.e. leading national research centres. They will be selected through competition in eight knowledge and education areas: liberal arts, social studies, science, technical studies, medical and health-related studies, life sciences, agriculture and forestry, art. Each of these areas is to be represented in a given year by at least three KnOWs, which will gather the best scientists, students and doctoral students. Selected centres will receive five-year subsidies and they will be able to decide how to spend the money – they may e.g. raise salaries or establish special doctoral grants. As a result of this, the research and teaching potential of these centres will take them to a level that will enable them to compete with the best higher education schools in the world.
THE nuMBEr OF POlISH HIgHEr EducATIOn ScHOOlS In A rAnKIng OF THE TIMES
(rAnKIng OF PlAcES 1-400) – FOrEcAST
SHArE OF EMPlOyEd PEOPlE WITH HIgHEr EducATIOn
In THE TOTAl nuMBEr OF EMPlOyEd PEOPlE – FOrEcAST
2010 2013 2015
2
3
5
24.50% 25.00% 25.50% 26.00% 26.50% 27.00% 2009 2013 25.51% 27.00%yEArS
yEArS
curriculum developed together with employers
Even though science has international significance and it is governed by universal rules, higher education schools also exist in a specific local environment and they maintain contacts with local companies. To strengthen and emphasise the practical side to higher education, the new legal act makes it possible to include practitioners from particular fields in the process of preparing and implementing a curriculum and evaluating the results. representatives of business and industry may join conventions of higher education schools. This will facilitate the cooperation and it will help adapt the curriculum to actual needs of the market. It will be beneficial both for higher education schools and for students, who will find it easier to find the right job after graduation. Another way to improve the appeal of vocational and technical studies is to let practitioners working in the industry deliver classes. This way not only will students gain extensive theoretical knowledge but they will also learn the realities of work in the profession they have chosen by beginning particular studies. This will partially solve the problem of lack of professional experience and employers be more favourably disposed towards such graduates.
rector elected or chosen via competition
A rector who is to implement reforms that are necessary but painful for their own circle should not come from this circle. professor Jerzy skubis, rector of Opole university of Technology (21.01.2011, gazeta Wyborcza, Opole) The new higher education law is introducing a series of changes as regards the system of state higher education schools. One of the most important ones involves establishment of alternative methods of appointing the rector. These may be either an election, as practiced hitherto, or the new form – a competition. The latter will make it easier to find a person from an external sector, with considerable experience in management, which is, after all, one of the basic tasks of a rector of a higher education school. According to new regulations, it will be also possible to hire a rector coming from foreign centres or institutions. This makes it possible for a school to open to more up-to-date global trends.
greater authority for the rector
In the new law the rector is given greater possibilities of managing the personnel of the higher education school. It will be easier for the rector to discipline an employee that fails to comply with formal and merit-related requirements, which ought to be a motivation to continuously improve the quality of one's scientific and teaching work. The Rector has also a much greater impact on the curriculum, the school's administrative structure and the management of its property.
Incentives to create research spin-offs
Many research results obtained at higher education schools have a considerable commercial potential. To encourage people to take such challenges, the higher education reform is largely concerned with formation of research spin-offs. They are usually based on an innovative technology or an invention developed at the higher education school. Shareholders of such a spin-off may be scientists, as well as the school itself via a special purpose vehicle. The higher education school must also ensure proper protection of intellectual property and provide rules for managing copyright and related rights, as well as industrial property rights. All this will make work on the most innovative areas of science more cost-effective.
commercialisation of research results
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has also developed "A guide. r&d commercialisation for Practitioners," which provides considerable assistance in the the procedure of commercialising research results (available at www.nauka.gov.pl).
In 2011 the Top 500 Innovators Science – Management – commercialization programme was launched; within the programme the participants (500 scientists and innovators from the whole Poland) will take part in training sessions and internships as regards commercialisation of research results at the best universities in the uSA. More information at: www.nauka.gov.pl.
