Minister of Culture of Poland gives lecture at Ukrainian Catholic University

Europe is faced today with a problem of university consolidation. The consolidation, however, is not about subordination or takeover of some universities by other ones. It is rather the opposite: Each university contributes its strongest programs to the academic environment, Jerzy Langer, Minister of Science and Technology of the Information Society of Poland and advisor of the Mayor of Wroclaw on matters of the research policy, said at an open lecture at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv on February 2.

According to the Information Department of UCU, the minister noted that Poland's integration into the EU did not change its system of education. Instead, it facilitated the rise of new possibilities in financing and increased the number of private universities in the country.

“Today European education is faced with a challenge regarding its academic objective. However, this does not mean that everyone should aim to reach the level of the Universities of Cambridge or Harvard. Higher education institutions should do and develop what they can do the best. Therefore, the modern university environment often is concerned with various university missions,” noted Langer.

The minister mentioned the example of the University of Wroclaw, which comprises many academies. “Wroclaw, where focus is on academic and intellectual development, is one of the most successful cities of Poland.  There are almost no unemployed people here, salaries are actually at the same level as in Warsaw. In general, in the last 15 years, the number of students in Poland has increased fivefold,” stated the professor.

According to the minister, the problem of outflow of cadres exists not only in Ukraine but also in the countries of Western Europe. “Scientists mostly move to the USA in view of great academic possibilities which they cannot find in the European countries. Therefore, one of the steps is the educational strategy of the EU which envisages developing academic research and education and introducing innovations,” said Langer.