Minister of Science and Higher Education at the Silesian University of Technology
Dr Eng. Marcin Kulasek visited the Silesian University of Technology. The head of the Ministry was acquainted with the research potential of the University, its infrastructure and development plans. The extremely intensive program of the visit included meetings with the University authorities, the academic community, students and doctoral students, a walk around the Gliwice campus as well as visiting laboratories at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the European HealthTech Innovation Centre (EHTIC) in Zabrze. In turn, The Student Creativity Centre hosted a press briefing.
Minister of Science and Higher Education Marcin Kulasek together with Deputy Minister Prof. Marek Gzik met with deans, heads of scientific disciplines and coordinators of priority research areas in the Senate Hall of the Silesian University of Technology. The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the Councils of the Silesian University of Technology - Artur Tomasik, President of the Upper Silesian Aviation Group and Wiktor Pawlik, President of the Regional Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Gliwice.
His Magnificence Rector Prof. Marek Pawełczyk presented the structure of the Silesian University of Technology, the most important research areas, projects, and scientific grants implemented at the University, as well as previous investments and plans for subsequent ones. The Rector drew the Minister’s attention to the rich offer of education of the Silesian University of Technology, planned new fields of study related to artificial intelligence, defence and dual-use technologies. He also discussed flexible learning methods, such as the possibility of choosing subjects or those based on the implementation of the study program within Project Based Learning projects.
– This presentation clearly confirms that the Silesian University of Technology occupies a place among the best universities in Poland, and the recent world rankings reflect this, on which I congratulate you. As the Ministry, we will continue to support your activities, because it is clear that the funds granted are invested in a very thoughtful way. The fact that the University so effectively implements the priority of the ministry, which is close cooperation between science and the business environment, is particularly appreciated – said Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education.
The Rector emphasized, among others, such advantages of the Silesian University of Technology as the convenient location of the campuses, their safety as well as the proximity of industry or aviation infrastructure. Prof. Pawełczyk also presented the achievements of the Excellence Initiative - Research University programme. According to the Ministry’s assurances, the program will continue, and efforts are underway to expand the competition so that of the best 10, two more universities can join the group.
– As a representative of the Ministry’s management, I congratulate the Rector and above all I wish that in the next competition Excellence Initiative - Research University programme, the Silesian University of Technology will confirm its position as one of the best universities in Poland. On the other hand, as a proud representative of the academic community, I think that today’s visit shows that every zloty invested in this environment pays off many times. Thanks to over 80 years of activity of the University, the Silesian Voivodeship and Poland are developing very well – said the Deputy Minister Prof. Marek Gzik thanking the Minister for the support of our University so far.
An important point of the program were meetings with students. The minister met with representatives of student self-government and doctoral students, and during his visit to EHTIC he saw how classes are held. He also found time to visit the student stands of the science clubs that prepared their most interesting projects. Some of them, such as the Elektra electric motor, were not new to him.
– It is very encouraging for us that the minister knows our achievements, he associated us with this year’s participation in the international Formula Student competition in Słomczyn. Our electric motorcycle aroused great interest, this is the second edition of this project, and the minister appreciated the innovative solutions used in it – said Mateusz Smolorz, a student at the Silesian University of Technology, a member of the PolslRacing science club. – The construction of the motorcycle was co-financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education; we are counting on further grants that will allow us to develop our ambitious ideas – added the student.
The issue of funding science was the dominant topic of the press briefing.
– We are fully aware that the current expenditure on higher education is insufficient, which is why, as the ministry, we are making intensive efforts to increase these funds. We work closely with the ministries of: Finance, National Defence and State Assets. I am convinced that with the support of the Prime Minister and the entire government, funding for science will increase. In the current geopolitical situation, the security of Polish women and men is paramount, and there is no safe Poland without strong investments in science. This is a priority of this government, and I guarantee that we will consistently implement it – assured Minister Kulasek.
The Minister noted that in the budget of the Ministry of National Defence, which currently exceeds PLN 200 billion, 1% or PLN 2 billion are dedicated to research and development. The Ministry of Science is making efforts to ensure that a similar model of financing expertise and research projects is also implemented by other ministries.
- In the case of the Ministry of National Defence, this is a significant amount, accounting for more than half of the funds we lack to catch up with the European average of spending on research and development, which amounts to 2.2% of GDP. Currently, in Poland, we oscillate around 1.5% of GDP, so we have a clearly defined goal that we are aiming for. We have already managed to increase the planned financing by almost half a billion PLN, but this is not our last word. We want the research and scientific expertise commissioned by the ministries to be carried out in our universities and scientific institutes, - said Marcin Kulasek.
– As the Conference of Rectors of Academic Polish Schools, we see clear efforts of the Ministry to meet the expectations of universities, so that we can develop, so that we can chase the world and at the same time ensure the development of our scientists, so that they do not go permanently abroad, but here on the spot build their future. It is similar in relation to students and PhD students, there are a whole range of different types of programs and being aware of the financial possibilities, we are trying to expand them - said Prof. Marek Pawełczyk. The Rector of the Silesian University of Technology emphasized that new needs are emerging, and the University is engaged in further challenges, such as defence and dual-use technologies, space technologies, or artificial intelligence.
Summing up his visit, the Minister emphasized that the Silesian University of Technology pursues the goals set by the Ministry of Science, especially in the area of cooperation with business, commercialization of research and focusing on internationalization. The Minister ensured further support of the Ministry to our University.
