Every second Pole aged between 19 and 24 is a student, and the total number of students has increased in Poland fivefold over approximately a dozen years. In order to meet the new challenges, the government is implementing a reform of science and has come up with modifications to the higher education sector. The reform will allow Polish higher education institutions to compete with the world’s best educational centers, and Polish scientists will be given an opportunity to conduct the most advanced research. The reform is followed by increased spending: the funds earmarked for science have increased from PLN 3.9 billion in 2008 to PLN 6.7 billion in 2011. In February 2011, the Sejm adopted a draft amendment of the Higher Education Act, by means of which a new operational model of the Polish institutions of higher education has been established. January 2011 saw the re-introduction of higher train fare discounts that students are eligible for.
Science reform
The reform introduces a new model of financing the science sector, based on the principles of competitiveness, quality and transparency of procedures. A new system for evaluating the quality of work of individual scientific entities is being implemented as well. Operation of the National Centre for Science has been launched – an external agency tasked with distributing funding for the so-called basic research. 20 per cent of all its grants will be earmarked for research conducted by beginner-scientists. The previously existing research and development entities will be transformed into research institutes subject to strict quality evaluation and systematic audits. Their primary objective will be to conduct research and development work for the needs of the economy, and to transfer state-of-the-art technologies to the industry. A package of six legal acts forming the foundation stone of the science sector reform entered into force on 1 October 2010. It comprises the following: the Science Financing Act, the Act on the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Research Institutes Act, the Act on the National Center of Research and Development, and the Act on the National Centre for Science.
New model of higher education
The reform of higher education which the Parliament adopted in February will increase the programme autonomy of academic institutions. Rigid, central education standards will disappear and academic institutions will be free to create new, unique fields of study. The programmes will be created with the support of scientific authority figures, employers and experts in the field of economy. The new mechanisms are being launched on the basis of the European Qualification Frameworks. Thanks to the National Qualification Frameworks (NQFs) it will be possible to compare diplomas issued by Polish academic institutions with the diplomas of other European countries.
National Leading Scientific Centres
The reform also stipulates establishment of National Leading Scientific Centres (KNOWs), i.e. best public and non-public academic institutions. The KNOWs will be selected by way of competitions in various knowledge areas. The selection will be carried out by independent committees of international experts. The KNOWs will be financed for five years, with a possibility to extend that period for another five years.
Transparent rules of scientific careers
The higher education reform will simplify the scientific career path. Starting in October 2011 the time within which the doctor habilitated degree may be obtained will be shortened from 11 to 4 months. There will be no colloquium and no habilitation lecture, instead more emphasis will be put on real scientific achievements of the habilitated doctor degree holder. An obligation to conduct a competition for Ph.D. studies will also be introduced. The criterion for entering into the Ph.D. programme will be at least one publication in a national scientific magazine or in a reviewed report from an international scientific conference. Holders of the Ph.D. degree will receive financial support, and the best ones will receive an extra scholarship.
Changes in the law also mean introduction of competition procedures for all job posts in all academic institutions and increased acceptance of foreign scientists. A distinguished scientist with a Ph.D. degree and with relevant scientific achievements abroad will be able to get a doctor habilitated degree in Poland. Multi-employment will also be reduced. It will be possible to be multi-employed only after obtaining a consent from the Chancellor. Academic teachers will also have to undergo assessment of their scientific, didactic and organizational activities. The assessment will be performed not less frequently than every 2 years, and for professors – once every 4 years. Second negative score will oblige the Chancellor to terminate the employment relationship with the teacher being assessed.
Combining academic institutions with the economy
The changes will lead to increased integration of academic institutions with the social and economic circles. Academic institutions will be obliged to develop and implement intellectual property regulations and to adopt the principles of commercializing the results of scientific research. Schools will be able to educate students in co-operation with employers or at their request. Persons representing social, economic and public organizations are supposed to participate in the creation of practical study programmes.
Abandonment of extra tuition fees
The educational reform will lead to the abandonment of extra tuition fees charged by state-run and non-public academic institutions and to the creation of a catalogue of tuition-free, guaranteed services for students. There will be no fees charged for exams (including make-up exams and exams before the examination board), the diploma exam, as well as for the submission and evaluation of the thesis or issuance of a supplement to the diploma.
De-centralization of higher education
The amendments also include measures de-regulating and de-centralizing the higher education system. The requirement to have the Minister of Education approve the study regulations and statutes of academic institutions will be abandoned. The Chancellors will have greater powers to create, transform and close down organizational units of academic institutions and to create branches.
Easier to get a student loan
Starting in 2010 it is easier to get a student loan. All you need to prove that you are a student is a student card. The State Treasury fully guarantees the loans granted to the poorest students. It will not only be easier to get a loan but also to pay it back as the instalments do not exceed 20% of the graduate's income. In the event of a loss of job or a difficult life situation repayment of the loan may be suspended for a year.
Science reform
The reform introduces a new model of financing the science sector, based on the principles of competitiveness, quality and transparency of procedures. A new system for evaluating the quality of work of individual scientific entities is being implemented as well. Operation of the National Centre for Science has been launched – an external agency tasked with distributing funding for the so-called basic research. 20 per cent of all its grants will be earmarked for research conducted by beginner-scientists. The previously existing research and development entities will be transformed into research institutes subject to strict quality evaluation and systematic audits. Their primary objective will be to conduct research and development work for the needs of the economy, and to transfer state-of-the-art technologies to the industry. A package of six legal acts forming the foundation stone of the science sector reform entered into force on 1 October 2010. It comprises the following: the Science Financing Act, the Act on the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Research Institutes Act, the Act on the National Center of Research and Development, and the Act on the National Centre for Science.
New model of higher education
The reform of higher education which the Parliament adopted in February will increase the programme autonomy of academic institutions. Rigid, central education standards will disappear and academic institutions will be free to create new, unique fields of study. The programmes will be created with the support of scientific authority figures, employers and experts in the field of economy. The new mechanisms are being launched on the basis of the European Qualification Frameworks. Thanks to the National Qualification Frameworks (NQFs) it will be possible to compare diplomas issued by Polish academic institutions with the diplomas of other European countries.
National Leading Scientific Centres
The reform also stipulates establishment of National Leading Scientific Centres (KNOWs), i.e. best public and non-public academic institutions. The KNOWs will be selected by way of competitions in various knowledge areas. The selection will be carried out by independent committees of international experts. The KNOWs will be financed for five years, with a possibility to extend that period for another five years.
Transparent rules of scientific careers
The higher education reform will simplify the scientific career path. Starting in October 2011 the time within which the doctor habilitated degree may be obtained will be shortened from 11 to 4 months. There will be no colloquium and no habilitation lecture, instead more emphasis will be put on real scientific achievements of the habilitated doctor degree holder. An obligation to conduct a competition for Ph.D. studies will also be introduced. The criterion for entering into the Ph.D. programme will be at least one publication in a national scientific magazine or in a reviewed report from an international scientific conference. Holders of the Ph.D. degree will receive financial support, and the best ones will receive an extra scholarship.
Changes in the law also mean introduction of competition procedures for all job posts in all academic institutions and increased acceptance of foreign scientists. A distinguished scientist with a Ph.D. degree and with relevant scientific achievements abroad will be able to get a doctor habilitated degree in Poland. Multi-employment will also be reduced. It will be possible to be multi-employed only after obtaining a consent from the Chancellor. Academic teachers will also have to undergo assessment of their scientific, didactic and organizational activities. The assessment will be performed not less frequently than every 2 years, and for professors – once every 4 years. Second negative score will oblige the Chancellor to terminate the employment relationship with the teacher being assessed.
Combining academic institutions with the economy
The changes will lead to increased integration of academic institutions with the social and economic circles. Academic institutions will be obliged to develop and implement intellectual property regulations and to adopt the principles of commercializing the results of scientific research. Schools will be able to educate students in co-operation with employers or at their request. Persons representing social, economic and public organizations are supposed to participate in the creation of practical study programmes.
Abandonment of extra tuition fees
The educational reform will lead to the abandonment of extra tuition fees charged by state-run and non-public academic institutions and to the creation of a catalogue of tuition-free, guaranteed services for students. There will be no fees charged for exams (including make-up exams and exams before the examination board), the diploma exam, as well as for the submission and evaluation of the thesis or issuance of a supplement to the diploma.
De-centralization of higher education
The amendments also include measures de-regulating and de-centralizing the higher education system. The requirement to have the Minister of Education approve the study regulations and statutes of academic institutions will be abandoned. The Chancellors will have greater powers to create, transform and close down organizational units of academic institutions and to create branches.
Easier to get a student loan
Starting in 2010 it is easier to get a student loan. All you need to prove that you are a student is a student card. The State Treasury fully guarantees the loans granted to the poorest students. It will not only be easier to get a loan but also to pay it back as the instalments do not exceed 20% of the graduate's income. In the event of a loss of job or a difficult life situation repayment of the loan may be suspended for a year.