Poland
Recent developments:
- Introduction of the National Qualification Framework
- Possibility to undergo faculty-level accreditation instead of programme accreditation
- Lifting of restrictions on degree programme provision
- Abolition of salary bands and removal of upper limit on salaries
Organisational autonomy: medium high
Universities appoint their executive heads independently; however, selection criteria, term of office and dismissal procedure are all stated in law. The university senate may not include external members. Universities may determine their internal academic structures. The activities of any legal entities established by universities must be linked to the mission of the university.
Financial autonomy: medium low
Although universities are free to allocate internally the funds received through the annual block grant, they do not control research funding distribution as it is directly allocated to faculties. The use of any surplus generated is subject to constraints imposed by an external authority. Borrowing is possible with some restrictions. Property transactions require external authorisation depending on the origins of the buildings involved. Universities may not charge tuition fees to full-time national/EU students. Fees for non-EU students are set through co-operation between universities and an external authority.
Academic autonomy: medium high
Universities decide on student numbers and set admission criteria at all levels. Universities may introduce new Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes freely, with exceptions. There are some restrictions on the ability of universities to introduce new doctoral degree programmes. Polish universities cannot choose either quality assurance mechanisms (mandatory programme or faculty-level accreditation) or providers.
Staffing autonomy: high
There are some restrictions regarding the ability of universities to recruit senior academic staff but universities recruit senior administrative freely. Minimum salary levels are set by an external authority. Dismissals for senior academic staff are subject to regulations specific to the sector, while this is not the case for senior administrative staff. Senior academic staff have a special status in law with rights that provide a high level of protection against dismissal.
Organisational weighted 67% unweighted 64%
100% Selection procedure for the executive head
The selection of the executive head is not validated by an external authority
50% Selection criteria for the executive head
The law states that the executive head must hold an academic position
This applies to 13 other countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden
The law states that the executive head must come from within the university
60% Dismissal of the executive head
Other restrictions
0% Term of office of the executive head
The exact length is stated in the law
57% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they cannot include external members
This applies to 2 other countries: Brandenburg, Latvia,
100% Capacity to decide on academic structures
Universities can decide on their academic structures without constraints
This applies to 19 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
80% Capacity to create legal entities
Financial weighted 54% unweighted 47%
60% Length of public funding cycle
One year
60% Type of public funding
Block grant with other restrictions
80% Ability to borrow money
Universities can borrow money with other types of restrictions
This applies to 3 other countries: Iceland, Lithuania, United Kingdom
80% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept but its allocation is pre-determined by an external authority
This applies to 3 other countries: Brandenburg, Wallonia, Sweden
60% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings with other types of restrictions
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level
There are no tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level
There are no tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level
There are no tuition fees
This applies to 10 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 4 other countries: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Switzerland
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 4 other countries: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Switzerland
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 3 other countries: Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland
Staffing weighted 84% unweighted 84%
67% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Appointments need to be confirmed by an external authority for some staff
Other restrictions
100% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
92% Salaries for senior academic staff
92% Salaries for senior administrative staff
20% Dismissal of senior academic staff
Dismissals are subject to other regulations specific to the sector
This applies to 8 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Flanders, Ireland, The Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland
100% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)
This applies to 11 other countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Wallonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 11 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Iceland, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 13 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Academic weighted 68% unweighted 78%
60% Overall student numbers
Universities negotiate with an external authority
This applies to 10 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
100% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 8 other countries: Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovakia, United Kingdom
100% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 18 other countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
100% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
80% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
Other restrictions
100% Termination of degree programmes
Universities can terminate degree programmes independently
This applies to 25 other countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Language of instruction at Bachelor level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 19 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Language of instruction at Master's level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
0% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms
Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms
0% Selection of quality assurance providers
Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency
100% Capacity to design content of degree programmes
Universities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)
This applies to 25 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom