The "Excellence Initiative - Research University" program is halfway through
On March 30, an open meeting of the University authorities with the academic community was held, summarizing the implementation of the "Excellence Initiative - Research University" program so far. The most important results of the ambitious development plan towards scientific excellence, modern education and increasing international recognition were presented, as well as key indicators and statistics on the grants awarded in about 30 pro-quality programmes.
The Silesian University of Technology became a laureate in the Excellence Initiative - Research University program on October 30, 2019. The aim of the competition announced by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was to select and support universities that will be able to successfully compete with the best academic centres in Europe and in the world. From among the 20 best universities in Poland entitled to participate in the competition, an international team of experts selected 10, which in the years 2020-2026 will receive a subsidy increased by 10%. This group includes the Silesian University of Technology, which has developed an action plan worth nearly PLN 245,000,000 over 7 years.
The main objectives of the "Excellence Initiative - Research University" (IDUB) program are: increasing the impact of the scientific activity of the Silesian University of Technology on the development of world science, strengthening research cooperation with research centres of high international repute, improving the quality of education for students and doctoral students through the development of modern methods and double degree programmes, as well as supporting the scientific development of employees, inter alia, through implemented pro-quality programs that enable obtaining funds for initiated research projects, as well as rewarding the obtained results.
Detailed progress in the implementation of the IDUB program was presented during the meeting by Professor Marek Pawełczyk - Vice-Rector for Science and Development. The key achievements achieved in 2020-2022 include, among others:
- development and popularization of scientific activities coordinated in six priority research areas - over 200 different activities were carried out in total - seminars, conferences, expert lectures, project meetings, events with the participation of representatives of the business environment. Interdisciplinary International Advisory Teams were also officially established for each of the six priority research areas (POBs),
- Investment in human capital through the implementation of over 30 pro-quality programs addressed to employees at all career levels, doctoral students and students - in 2022 alone, over 2,700 pro-quality subsidies, grants and scholarships were awarded to over 1,800 winners,
- significant increase in key publication indicators of the University and in priority research areas, including the percentage of articles in journals from the Top 10% list according toScopus , the FWCI standardized citationindex,
- development of international scientific cooperation, which translates into a significant increase in the number of articles written with the participation of authors from abroad, including those from leading centres,
- dynamic growth of internationalization indicators, in some cases exceeding the value forecast for 2025,
- modernization of education based on research and innovation - in 2022, the Rector granted funding to 232 PBL projects, in which participation was declared by over 1,000 students and 369 supervisors, and 97 projects of student research clubs implemented by 255 students and 50 supervisors,
- conducting and adjudicating five editions of the competition for the employment of outstanding young and outstanding experienced scientists from Poland and abroad conducting scientific activity as part of priority research area (POB) - employment of 12 people,
- significant increase in the number of international patent applications - obtaining 2nd place among all institutions in Poland in the EPO Patent Index 2022 ranking in the number of applications registered in the European Patent Office,
- submitting an application and carrying out the procedure of obtaining the prestigious ABET accreditation for theInterdisciplinary major studies: Control,Electronicand Information Engineering - the commission's decision is expected in August 2023,
- establishing strategic partnerships with representatives of the socio-economic environment and other universities,
- development of cooperation within the European University EURECA-PRO - extension of the consortium to include two prestigious research universities from Europe - Hasselt University and Lorraine University,
- tightening the cooperation of 7 public universities from the area of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis under the consortium agreement of the European City of Science Katowice 2024, i.a. acquiring and implementing a joint project financed from POW-ER funds "Supporting the university consolidation process"
Progress in implementing the assumptions of the IDUB program is subject to cyclical advisory monitoring, the last summary of which took place on September 15 and 16, 2022 at the Gdańsk University of Technology during the 3rd IDUB Reporting Conference. This year, all universities that are winners of the program, including the Silesian University of Technology, will undergo the so-called mid-term evaluation combined with visits of expert teams in individual units.
- Already at the halfway point of implementation, we notice a significant increase in the quality of research conducted, which is reflected in the growing key publication indicators, especially in the case of articles published in the best journals from the Top 10%, Top 5% and Top 1% lists, and those created in international cooperation . We have moved up in them by up to a dozen positions since the beginning of the program implementation and we are currently among the leaders among the 20 evaluated universities. We also reach for more and more ambitious research projects, including, above all, those financed from the Horizon program - emphasized Vice-Rector Prof. Pawełczyk, encouraging at the same time to try to publish in the most prestigious titles, such as "Nature" and "Science".
- These are difficult publications, requiring not only ground-breaking research, but also an appropriate way of presentation, we are able to support scientists who will have such ambitions - he added.
The upward trend is also maintained by all internationalization indicators, with the internationalization indicator of the Joint Doctoral School already reaching the value forecasted to be achieved at the end of 2025.
- I would like to thank all those who implement this extensive program, it is certainly not easy to coordinate all activities - said prof. dr hab. Eng. Arkadiusz Mężyk, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology. - We started from a low level, and it is clear that all indicators are growing significantly and I hope that the goals set in the IDUB program will be achieved - added the Rector.
The meeting gathered many academics, faculty authorities, doctoral students and administrative staff who had a chance to ask questions. The University authorities were also represented by: prof. dr hab. Eng. Bogusław Łazarz, Vice-Rector for General Affairs, prof. dr hab. Eng. Wojciech Szkliniarz , Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education, and dr hab. Eng. Tomasz Trawiński, prof. SUT Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Promotion.
The "Excellence Initiative - Research University" program in its current edition will be implemented until 2026.
