Meeting on the Excellence Initiative – Research University Programme
On 22 March, a meeting with the Silesian University of Technology community was held, devoted to the presentation of progress in the implementation of development plan the under Excellence Initiative - Research University programme. The presentation, followed by a discussion, was attended by the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk, the Vice Rector for Collaboration with Civic and Economic Environment, Professor Janusz Kotowicz, and the Vice Rector for Science and Development, Professor Marek Pawełczyk, who presented the tasks implemented as part of the Excellence Initiative - Research University programme.
Conducting world-class scientific research, supporting the scientific development of employees and doctoral candidates, developing their careers, increasing the internationalisation of science and education, offering teaching of the highest quality, as well as increasing the university's recognition - these are the main objectives set by the Silesian University of Technology in connection with the implementation of the Excellence Initiative - Research University programme.
The Silesian University of Technology (SUT) was awarded the status of a Research University on 30 October 2019. The aim of the competition announced by the Ministry of Education and Science (formerly the Ministry of Science and Higher Education) was to identify and support universities that will be able to compete effectively with the best academic centres in Europe and the world. From among the 20 best universities in Poland eligible to take part in the competition, an international team of experts selected 10, which in 2020-2026 will receive a subsidy increased by 10%. The SUT was among this group, and it will receive a total of nearly PLN 245,000,000 over 7 years.
- We are among that group because we presented the university's development strategy, which was accepted by an international team of experts. This team assessed that the strategy is realistic and will lead the university to success - said the Rector of the SUT, Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk.
- During today's meeting we demonstrated what has been achieved after two years of project implementation, what are the further perspectives. Moreover, we have not concealed those elements which require improvement - added the Rector.
Thanks to the participation of the SUT in the programme, the internationalisation of the university has increased, as well as the number of high-scoring publications and publications with foreign authors. - Generally, in terms of the effects of research activity, we notice a clear increase in all indicators - emphasised Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk.
The university's participation in the programme is not only an opportunity for development, but also tremendous work. - First of all, we need to change the attitude at the university, but this is already happening. We want to use good practices to encourage and prove that by participating in the programme scientists can improve their research skills, status and finances at the same time - said the Vice Rector for Science and Development, Professor Marek Pawełczyk, who at the meeting presented in detail the tasks completed in the last two years within the Excellence Initiative - Research University programme.
- When entering the IDUB competition, we had significantly lower ratios than other leading universities. Now they have increased significantly. This concerns internationalisation, in terms of the presence of foreign students, doctoral students and staff, and also the number of publications with the participation of foreign authors. Another very important indicator, in which we also have very large increases, is the journals in which we publish and how valuable these publications are. The number of scientific articles in journals from the TOP 10 and TOP 1 lists has increased significantly - added Professor Marek Pawełczyk.
Another indicator that has increased significantly is the Field-Weighted Citation Impact or the so-called normalised citation index. - Here we are ahead of the leading universities in the country. However, we need to work on the number of monographs from the so-called second list of the Ministry of Education and Science, increase the number of international projects, especially those in which we are the leaders - emphasised the Vice Rector Professor Pawełczyk.
The Excellence Initiative - Research University programme, within the first edition of the Ministry of Education and Science competition, will be implemented at the Silesian University of Technology until 2026.
