Gowin: Changes in higher education will be profound but gradually introduced

Minister of Science and Higher Education, Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin presented scholarships to particularly talented students of Lodz University of Technology. During the ceremony he outlined the most important assumptions of the draft Law on Higher Education and Science prepared by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and adopted by the Council of Ministers.

"We are on the eve of the reform that will give Polish universities a strong push forward. We are facing the stage of parliamentary work and I believe that on October 1 we will wake up in a new reality. I should say that the changes that have been thoroughly and honestly discussed with the academic community will be profound, but they will be introduced gradually. We have scheduled these reforms for seven years. The state should be reformed profoundly, but in an evolutionary way and in dialogue between the government and society" - emphasised Deputy Prime Minister Gowin.

He noted that the so-called Constitution for Science was not created on the desks of officials, but in a continuous dialogue between the ministry and the academic community. "I would like to thank the entire academic Łódź, especially the Lodz University of Technology and rector Prof. Sławomir Wiak, who - like the representatives of other universities in Łódź - left a very strong mark on the final shape of this reform" - said the Minister of Science.

Gowin reminded that the new law would replace four current laws. Therefore - he said - the total number of regulations would decrease by half. He stressed that it would give universities significantly more autonomy. As he said, "Polish high schools today are not as pluralistic, as diverse as the world`s best universities".

"It was very important for me to give Polish universities more autonomy, so that they would not be restrained by a corset of detailed regulations, so that they would enjoy freedom, because the academic environment is worthy of trust and belief in its wisdom. This autonomy will allow each university to go its own way, choose the statute and structure that will suit it" - he explained.

He added that university management would change. Rectors would have more power - because, he said, he believed in the power of leadership. "The countries, institutions and universities that are developing well are the ones that have strong leaders. But today in many situation the rectors` hands are tied" - he argued.

He emphasised that universities should be more open to cooperation with their socio-economic environment. That is why - the minister pointed out - a new body will be created to serve as a bridge between these worlds - a university council, the members of which will be selected by the academic community. Gowin assured that this would not threaten the autonomy of higher education institutions in any way.

Addressing students, he said that they should expect higher requirements. "We will stop turning a blind eye during exams, passing people who do not want to apply themselves to their studies. Previous regulations promoted mass education, and the current ones will set high demands. This is the best news for you. You are in college to work hard, because then it will pay off throughout your life" - emphasised the minister.

He announced that one of the important changes in the so-called Constitution for Science would be a different education model for doctoral students, who would become the youngest scientists. In connection with this, interdisciplinary doctoral colleges would be created. "We are also raising the requirements for universities, because fewer of them will be allowed to offer doctoral studies and award postdoctoral degrees. There will also be fewer doctoral students, because the level of effectiveness of their education should be greater. All doctoral students will receive decent government scholarships" - he assured.

Deputy prime minister also spoke about difficult negotiations with the Minister of Finance Teresa Czerwińska and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki regarding the increase in spending on science and higher education. "The result is a compromise of a satisfactory starting point, according to which next year`s spending on science will increase by PLN 700 million and the government will issue Treasury bonds worth 3 billion zlotys for all public universities" - he announced.

He informed that salaries at universities would increase next year. Details are to be prepared by government in the second half of this year.

Rector of Lodz University of Technology Prof. Wiak said that as a result of many scientific initiatives his university was prepared for new challenges related to the new law and intended to obtain the status of a research university.

Minister Gowin presented scholarships to 11 students from various faculties of Lodz University of Technology. The university awarded them for the sixth time. The amount of one-time financial support is 5,000 PLN, to be spent on further scientific development of the scholarship holder.

Deputy prime minister congratulated the distinguished students and thanked the scholarship sponsors. "This is the moment in their lives when they have succeeded, they are entrepreneurs, they lead important institutions, and now they share the fruit of this success with those who are at the beginning of their professional career" - he emphasised.

370 students took part in all previous editions of the competition and 58 one-off scholarships were awarded. In this year`s edition, 53 students applied for the scholarship. Winners were selected by the jury, which took into account activity in science clubs, participation in scientific and research projects, publishing achievements, participation in conferences, internships and placements, international cooperation. The sponsors of the scholarships are the Łódź Special Economic Zone, the Łódź Regional Development Agency, ICT Central Poland Cluster.

PAP - Science in Poland

author: Bartłomiej Pawlak

bap/ agt/ kap/

tr. RL