Lena Kolarska-Bobińska will remain head of the Ministry of Science in the new government
The head of the Ministry of Science Lena Kolarska-Bobińska was among the ministers of the government of Donald Tusk, who will continue to work in Ewa Kopacz’s cabinet. Despite holding the position less than a year, she has considerably intensified the work of the Ministry.
Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska is a sociologist of politics and economy. In 1991-1997 she was director of the Public Opinion Research Center, and in 1997-2009 director of the Institute of Public Affairs. In 2009 she became a Member of the European Parliament, where she sat in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, the Committee on Regional Development, and the Committee on Petitions. At the end of 2013 came back from Brussels to take the appointment of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, replacing Prof. Barbara Kudrycka.
Since the appointment, she has expedited the work on the amendments to two laws, prepared by her predecessor. The amendment of the Law on Public Procurement has allowed scientists, universities and cultural institutions to organize tenders for purchases above 130 thousand and 200 thousand euros. In turn, the amendment of the Law on Higher Education abolished the charges for the second course of study, challenged by the Constitutional Court. It also facilitated access to study to mature people, allowing universities to accept a person’s knowledge and skills acquired at work or in training in the course of studies.
Ministry led by Kolarska-Bobińska also prepared a package of solutions for the humanities to help solve problems in this field. More than 300 research institutions have signed the "Pact for Horizon 2020", prepared by the Ministry of Science. It aims to mobilize Polish researchers to more effectively use the funds from the EU\'s Horizon 2020. Kolarska-Bobińska has also announced the introduction of a revolutionary change in the financing of research units. As of 2015, the money awarded to them from the state budget will depend mainly on the quality of research and assigned scientific category.
In June, Kolarska-Bobińska presented the Competency Development Programme, which aims to increase the chances of graduates in the labor market, with an emphasis on practical training. At the end of July two new programs prepared by the Ministry were launched: University of Young Inventors and the Academic Creativity Centre. The first will support middle and secondary school students in developing their scientific activity. The second - develop competencies and skills of future teachers. Both programs were consulted with the Ministry of National Education.
On September 19, during the presentation of the new government, PM designate Ewa Kopacz emphasized that although Kolarska-Bobińska appointment in the Ministry of Science was recent, "her plans and vision are worth the full realization". "With strong merits, Professor Kolarska-Bobińska with her knowledge, experience and view of the world will serve the Polish science well" - Kopacz emphasized.
Kolarska-Bobińska was employed at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology PAS for many years. She is a member of the Committee of Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, author of over 300 scientific publications: books, articles and research papers, comments in the Polish and foreign press.
In 1992-1995 she advised President Lech Wałęsa in the Economic Committee, in 2001-2005 she was a member of President Aleksander Kwaśniewski\'s Reflection Group, and in 1998–2001 an adviser of the Chief Negotiator for Poland\'s accession to the EU.
In 2009, Kolarska-Bobińska was elected to the European Parliament from the first position on the Civic Platform list in the Lublin region. After the election she joined the Civic Platform.
Lena Kolarska-Bobińska was born in 1947. She graduated from the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Warsaw. She then obtained the following degrees: doctor, habilitated doctor in sociology, and the title of Professor of humanities in 1993. Awarded Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University and the Business School of Carnegie Mellon University.
She was awarded the Officer\'s Cross of the Order of Poland Reborn by the Polish President, as well as the "Ordre National du Mérite" by the President of France. In 2011 she was nominated for MEP Awards in Energy for the most industrious members of the European Parliament.
She is married to journalist Krzysztof Bobiński, president of the Foundation "Unia&Polska", she has two children.
PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland
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