Universities: Crossing a verge of changes

Abstract

A number of personal views on several aspects of the polish science and higher education system is presented, in the context of the current discussions concerning the forthcoming change of the basic law in that area. The leading issue underlying the whole system should be an increase of institutional autonomy of the universities, by delegating most of the relevant regulations from the high-level acts to the individually adopted statutes, including specific features of every institution. Elements of the university structure are outlined together with the hierarchy of the governing bodies, with a special emphasis on strengthening the role of rector as a manager and leader. Management conducted by university legislatorial, executorial and support bodies must be inspired by a fundamental guideline of university as a harmonious, although complex, entity. Considered are aspects of quality evaluation of research institutions, assignment of high schools to various classes, as well as some ideas on selection criteria for the top-ranked research universities. Already implemented modifications in the funding algorithms are used as a basis to point towards directions and assumptions for further changes in that sector.