1. Polish Higher Education
HEURO Conference, Birmingham, 26/27 Feb. 2009

2. Polish Higher Education – basic facts
population = 38.2 million HEIs = 445 (105 university-level HEIs, incl. 7 private) students = 1.95 million teaching staff =
public sector
130 HEIs
private sector
315 HEIs
students
(68.2%)
stud.
(31.8%)
source: Central Statistical Office, 2006

3. The growth has reached its limits!
Students
Change in the number of students in tertiary education between 1995 and 2004
students = 1.94 million
participation = 51.1%(39.7%)
source: Central Statistical Office, Warsaw 2008
The growth has reached its limits!
In 2006/07, for the first time since 1990, the number of students
has decreased

4. ESIB EUA CRASP higher education institutions
Bologna Process in Poland – major actors
Conferences of Ministers
(Bologna, Praha, ...)
BOLOGNA FOLLOW-UP GROUP
ESIB
EUA
Students
Parliament
Ministry of Science
& Higher Education
CRASP
Bologna Process
Council
Bologna Contact Person
higher
education
institutions
Bureau for
Academic Recognition
& International Exchange
Socrates-Erasmus
National Agency
Team of
Bologna
Promoters
State Accreditation
Committee
Council for
Higher Education

5. Law on Higher Education (1)
adopted 27 July 2005
STUDIES
basic form of studies: 2-cycle system (from 2007)
long Master programmes – only in a few selected fields
PhD-level education – 3rd cycle
fewer restrictions in introducing interdisciplinary degree programmes and programmes in new fields
more flexibility in defining curricula
more „output-oriented” and less restrictive „standards”
credit transfer and accumulation – obligatory part of academic regulations at HEIs
obligatory Diploma Supplement

6. Law on Higher Education (2)
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
degree programmes or individual courses can „normally” be taught in foreign languages
degree programmes can be offered jointly by two or more HEIs, including foreign HEIs
joint diplomas – left for regulation by Minister
Polish HEIs can establish their units abroad & foreign HEIs can establish their units in Poland
subject to approval by Minister
simplified procedures for hiring academic staff from abroad

7. Student mobility limited participation < 1% of students
outgoing
students
6000
5000
limited participation
< 1% of students
4000
large differences
between
individual HEIs
3000
incoming
students
2000
unbalance in number
of incoming and
outgoing students
1000
98/99
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
source: Socrates-Erasmus National Agency, 2004

8. Means to enhance mobility
providing adequate financial support for outgoing students
1998/99: 375 euro/month
2003/04: 148 euro/month (from Erasmus) + support from HEIs
source: Socrates-Erasmus National Agency, 2005
programmes and courses taught in foreign languages at Polish HEIs
programmes and courses (curricula) developed jointly with foreign HEIs
81 European projects with participation
of Polish HEIs in 2003/04
source: Socrates-Erasmus National Agency, 2004
overcoming legal obstacles in the development of joint degree programmes

9. Study in Poland
Idea - promotion of the Polish system of HE and Polish HEIs
CRASP
Educational Foundation Perspektywy
with support of
Ministry of Science & H. Education
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
...
information service on programmes and courses taught in English (and other languages)
coordinated participation of Polish HEI in international education fairs, exhibitions, ...
overcoming obstacles associated with mobility of students (recognition, stipends, visas, ...)
...

10. information service on programmes and courses taught in English
direct link from
CRASP web site or
db.krasp.org.pl
51 institutions
160 programmes
2700 courses

11. Funding Other burning issues Tuition fees for all?
Model of academic career (incl. model of doctoral studies, issue of habilitation, etc.)
Diversification and merging of HEIs

12. Case study: Wrocław University of Technology
Erasmus Mundus EUBRANEX WUT – partnership with Brasilian Universities
Erasmus Mundus ECW WUT – partnership with Russian Universities
EU-Canada project (with the CU London)
Socrates Erasmus: cooperation with 184 universities;
budget:  EUR
Leonardo da Vinci: 134 internships; budget: EUR
T.I.M.E.
Double Diploma projects
Joint PhD projects

13. What is Wrocław Academic Hub?
Wrocław Academic Hub (WAH) is Municipality of Wrocław’s new venture and the first initiative of this kind in Poland.
WAH is the cooperation platform for local government and academic environment in Wrocław.
The main goal is to support activity which fosters development of science and university education in the city.

14. Thank you for your attention