Authorities of public higher technical schools at the Silesian University of Technology
On 13-15 March at the Silesian University of Technology, a Conference of the College of Vice-Rectors for General, Organization and Relations with the Socio-Economic Environment and the College of Vice-Rectors for Science and Development of Public Technical Universities was held. Representatives of the University and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education authorities exchanged experiences and discussed plans and challenges in the field of science.
The Conference was attended by 37 vice-rectors representing technical universities, who came at the invitation of prof. Janusz Kotowicz, President of the College of Vice-Rectors for General, Organization and Relations with the Socio-Economic Environment. The Silesian University of Technology also hosted dr hab. Maria Mrówczyńska, prof. of the University of Zielona Góra, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. In the Ministry, prof Mrówczyńska is responsible for matters related to innovation and development. Participants of the conference heard what the priorities of the ministry in the coming months are - among them the amendment of the Law on Higher Education and Science after consultation and coordination with the academic community.
“We collect proposals for changes from all units that operate within the higher education system and will proceed further on the basis of the collected information. In the next six months, we plan to make small changes, the larger ones, mainly related to the evaluation of scientific units, will probably be postponed until the end of this year and the beginning of next” – said Minister Mrówczyńska.
The scientific community is already actively involved in shaping the law - so far, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education has received more than 700 proposals for amendments. Further proposals can be submitted by the end of March, after which date the Main Council of Higher Education will begin to analyse them. Prof. Mrówczyńska, among the current priority activities of the Ministry, also mentioned the debate on the change concerning the Polish Academy of Sciences, which has been expected for a long time by the scientific community. The Minister also stressed efforts to increase spending on science, which currently amounts to just over 1% of GDP.
“We will try to reach 3%, but it will not be easy. It is good that from 7th of March the National Centre for Research and Development is again under the responsibility of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, we will make sure that the academic community and universities have their share as the beneficiary of the funds” – added prof. Mrówczyńska.
Many participants of the conference took part in the discussion, making comments to the Minister and Mr. Marcin Czaja, the director of the Department of University Organization, Education and Student Affairs, present at the conference.
– This is a very important initiative, the participants of the conference are those Vice-Rectors who are responsible for the operational activities of the university in these extremely important areas, such as cooperation with the socio-economic environment, university management or development strategies – said prof. Arkadiusz Mężyk, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology. – It is also an opportunity to present our University, our achievements, solutions that we have already implemented and those that we intend to implement.
The Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, who also serves as the chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Public Schools, discussed the role of CRASP in the development of the education system in Poland.
Dr hab. Renata Frączek, director of the Silesian University of Technology Library, which will soon open after a thorough reconstruction, presented the participants of the meeting with information on how the unit supports the scientific, research and didactic activities of the University. In turn, prof. Sebastian Werle from The Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, coordinator of the 6th POB (Priority Research Area) Climate and Environmental Protection, Modern Energy, gave the guests an insight into how the Silesian University of Technology implements the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We meet with people who understand the changes that are taking place at the university, can appreciate them, but can also suggest, share their thoughts, good practices from their universities,” said prof. Marek Pawełczyk – Vice-Rector for Science and Development of the Silesian University of Technology. – “We host an excellent group of vice-rectors of technical universities in the walls of the Silesian University of Technology, we are pleased with their words that we can be a model for them in many cases. This day today is full of discussions, especially since we are hosting two deputy ministers of science and higher education.” – added the Vice-Rector.
The participants of the conference visited the Guido mine, and then also met with prof. Marek Gzik, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education, who is responsible for investments in the Ministry.
“We can work out a common front, exchange experiences, which is very important at the moment when so much is happening in higher education,” said prof. Artur Bejger, Chairman of the College of Vice-Rectors for Science and Development and at the same time Vice-Rector for Science of the Maritime University of Szczecin. – “It seems that the deputy ministers of science and higher education will create the policy of the ministry, probably there are no people who understand universities more, who know what needs to be corrected, which direction to go, who come from within our ranks, and, I hope, a lot of good things can happen in higher education in the near future”.
– “The participation of two deputy ministers in our conference is extremely important for us” – said prof Janusz Kotowicz - Vice-Rector for Cooperation with the Civic and Economic Environment of SUT. – “We discussed the university’s problems and issues that need to be resolved urgently, this discussion also runs toward a change of the law. However, there are issues that require wider consultation with the academic community before introducing changes to the law” – concluded Vice-Rector Kotowicz.
Participants of the conference were hosted in a historic palace in Koszęcin.
