The guests of Lewiatan were Prof. Maria Mrówczyńska – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of discipline and Higher Education, Dr. Agnieszka Dardzińska-Głębocka – Prof. Politechnika Białostocka and president of the squad for the improvement of Higher Education strategy and Dr. Janusz Uriasz, prof. of Maritime University in Szczecin and president of the Polish Accreditation Commission.
President Marek Górski opened the meeting. The course of the gathering was moderated by Dr. Sławomir Szymczak from the Department of Labour, with the participation of Małgorzata Lelińska from the Department of EU Funds and Digital Education.
Non-public sector among teaching innovation leaders
During the discussion, representatives of the Confederate Leviathan stressed the importance of The engagement of the private sector in the modernisation of higher education. The SWOT survey prepared by the squad for the improvement of a draft strategy for the improvement of higher education in Poland (MNiSW) reveals that 1 of the main challenges remains to make a more effective model of cooperation between universities and the socio-economic environment. The organization, which brings together entrepreneurs creating jobs as well as dynamic universities educating staff for the economy, presented a unique position combining business needs and the academic community. It has been pointed out that the private sector is present 1 of the leaders of teaching innovation and responds rapidly to technological change and should so become a full associate in reforms.
The key challenges facing the higher education strategy have been discussed:
- dynamic demographic change,
- high percent of student resignation after the first year,
- the request to modernise the approach to internationalisation; and
- the request to reconstruct public assurance in academic institutions.
What changes are essential in higher education
Participants besides pointed to barriers to the commercialisation of investigation results, limited backing mechanisms or inconsistencies between education and higher education. An crucial subject was besides the request to standardise directions, improve accreditation processes and grow the anticipation of issuing micro-tests in higher education.
The Leviathan Confederation stressed that its nonsubjective was to co-create a strategy in which universities — public and private — are assessed primarily by the destiny of graduates and their suitability on the labour market, not solely on the basis of technological indicators. The willingness to share developed models of cooperation between education and business has been indicated, which can already be scaled to national level. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence and the creation of codes of good practice are besides an crucial area of possible for cooperation, in which Leviathan declared active participation.
Ministry of discipline announces changes
During the discussion, representatives of the Ministry announced work on the organisation of the accreditation system, the introduction of fresh solutions in the field of digital diplomas (e-diplomas), the improvement of internationalisation processes and the improvement of a legal framework for micro-tests. Leviathan was besides invited to co-create digitalisation policies and make the competences of the future in the programming of EU funds for the period 2028–2034.
The gathering was held in an atmosphere of openness and constructive exchange of views, and representatives of the Ministry of discipline encouraged further submission of proposals and comments. The Confederation of Leviathan announced active participation in the subsequent stages of the consultation, stressing the importance of cooperation between the academic, business and public administration for the construction of a modern, flexible and market-friendly higher education system.
The talks were held on 19 February at the seat of the Confederate Leviathan.
