Gowin: PLN 25 million for the Warsaw School of Economics

Wednesday\'s formal session of the SGH Senate on the occasion of the SGH Day was the highlight of the celebration of 110 anniversary of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH).

"As Minister of Science and Higher Education I particularly value the scientific achievements, which place the university among the leading business schools in this region of Europe. I believe that in the coming decades SGH will become one of the leading universities in Europe" - Minister of Science Jarosław Gowin said during the ceremony.

He also admitted that he highly valued the contribution of SGH and its staff to the economic and civilization breakthrough after 1989. "Without the achievements and practical involvement of SGH representatives and alumni we would not have been able to build the foundations of a free, market economy. The economy that is not only the foundation of the wealth of nations, but also a precondition for human dignity, individual freedom" - he said.

The Minister also appreciated the SGH authorities and academic community efforts to restructure the university.

"I want my appreciation to also have a practical expression. That is why I made the decision to grant the SGH 25 million zlotys for investments in the coming years. These investments will be very much needed for the university" - he said.

As PAP learned from spokeswoman for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Katarzyna Zawada, the funds will be awarded in the years 2016-2019. The university can spend the money on activities related to strengthening its international position and modernization of university teaching facilities. Zawada noted that the university applied for the money. "In view of the fact that the SGH efficiently executed the remedial program, the ministry approved this request and the funds have been granted" - said the spokeswoman.

Gowin also announced during the ceremony that he submitted a request to the president Andrzej Duda for awarding distinctions to the academic staff of the university. They are to be granted in the coming days. During the ceremony, the university also received - at the hands of the Mazowieckie Marshal Adam Struzik - the Masovia Pro medal for its contribution to the development of the region.

Rector of the Warsaw School of Economics Prof. Tomasz Szapiro in his speech mentioned the most important trends evident in recent years that affect the functioning of the university. "Bureaucratic Bologna system, hull regulations, breakthrough technologies and commercialisation of education - new instruments and new pricing - create a scenery in which education in Poland blooms - but does it really? In this scenery takes place our history of the last decade" - he said.

Rector also addressed the rectors present in the hall - especially rectors of Warsaw universities: "We are bound not only by peer collaboration, we also have common goals (...) We want academic Warsaw to be attractive enough to attract a larger groups of students from all over the world".

He said that due to working towards common goals, "destructive divisions do not apply to our universities". "We join in activities that allow our universities to collaborate and build Polish position on the global education scene" - he noted.

Warsaw School of Economics, founded in 1906 as August Zieliński’s Private Courses of Commerce for Men, is the oldest economic university in Poland, and one of the leading economic universities in Europe. Every year, over 2 thousand new graduates leave the walls of the university. According to the university representatives, statistically every third economist in Poland in the twentieth century was a graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics.

In the academic year 2015/2016 undergraduate students can choose from 9 majors in Polish and 4 in English. Masters students can choose from 15 majors in Polish and 5 in English. The university also offers 130 postgraduate courses.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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