To Reform? Or Not to Reform? A Wider Context of Changes in Higher Education

The paper presents a comprehensive reform agenda for Polish universities in the years to come. It discusses major problems of higher education funding, governance and organization and suggests a set of possible interrelated steps. The reform agenda is based on several underlying principles, including competition and quasi-market, internationalization, scientific excellence, vertical stratification of the system (into three major institutional types – with a focus on the emergence of internationally visible national flagship universities), and the concentration of research funding in research-active universities. The paper refers also to the national parameterization exercise (as performed by the KEJN), major national funding bodies, national quality assurance and accreditation systems, as well as academic careers.