KRASP's appeal regarding the economic situation of Polish universities
The Conference of Rectors of Polish Academic Schools appealed to the authorities of the Republic of Poland for decisive measures to be taken as soon as possible to protect Polish universities from the threatening financial and personnel crisis.
In their appeal, members of the KRASP presidium emphasize that the rapidly growing inflation and the drastic - as we read - increases in electricity prices, sometimes reaching several hundred percent, with a few percent increase in subsidies, will shake the financial situation of entities in the Polish higher education and science system, "putting them at risk. only for the loss of financial liquidity, but also forcing them to radically limit their activities and invest in the development of research infrastructure”. “All the consequences of these phenomena are difficult to predict; they may also turn out to be potentially irreversible” - we read.
The following paragraphs mention, among others, the issue of raising fees during the education cycle and the amount of subsidies.
“Maintaining the increase in the amount of subsidies at the current level as early as next year will lead to the inevitable aggravation of the difficult financial situation of entities in the higher education and science system, contributing at the same time to a further dramatic increase in the wage gap between wages in higher education and science and in other sectors of the economy and loss of the most valuable university employees "- wrote the KRASP authorities.
“The decision to grant Polish universities additional funds in order to increase the gross salaries of employees by 4.4% appears to be grossly inadequate in relation to the current inflation rate of 17.2%, as well as to postulates that have been submitted for a long time by representatives of the Polish academic community "- we read.
KRASP representatives also point out that the recent regulations concerning, among others, basic salaries, took place in 2018, and the lack of them in recent years is one of the reasons for the loss of employees who leave domestic universities.
Finally, representatives of KRASP emphasize that they are aware of the seriousness and complexity of the current economic and economic situation in our country, as well as the need to take savings measures. “Under these conditions, however, it is absolutely necessary to apply systemic, coordinated protective and support measures for higher education, undertaken by the central authorities in the name of caring for the education of our future elite" - it was concluded.
The document - on behalf of the Presidium of KRASP - was signed by the chairman of KRASP and the rector of the Silesian University of Technology, prof. dr hab. Eng. Arkadiusz Mężyk.
Full text can be found here: dok31_js.jpg (1024×710) (krasp.org.pl)
