ЯКІСТЬ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ ПОЛЬЩІ У ПРОЦЕСІ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ ОСВІТНЬОЇ ПОЛІТИКИ

Abstract

The systematic changes in higher education institutions in Poland over the past two decades are analyzed. The classical idea of spontaneous social development and the hypothesis of interaction between formal and informal institutions, developed on the basis of a new institutional educational policy, was adopted as a methodological basis for analyzing and evaluating the transformation of Polish higher education. Transformations in Polish higher education are part of a more general shift in the role of universities - changes that can limit the independence of research and make it an instrument of dominant social, political and economic forces. The article states that the process of improving the quality of education cannot be detached from the system of financing education. The quality of education depends on the funding system not only because it is a source of resources, but also because it creates incentives for both students and teachers. The problems in the field of financing higher education in Poland are special because the rapid quantitative development of higher education occurred during a period of deep political transformation in Poland. The activities of the State Accreditation Commission of Poland are analyzed, its main competences are highlighted. The Polish Accreditation Commission (Polska Komisja Akredytacyjna) is an independent collegiate body of higher education management aimed at improving the quality of education. It is formed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education from among the candidates proposed by the Council of the Conference of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Poland, the Conference of Rectors of Polish Professional Educational Institutions of Poland, the Parliament of Students of the Republic of Poland, the Senates of universities and national scientific societies and the organization of employers. The powers of the Commission include providing the Minister of Science and Higher Education with opinions, feedback and conclusions regarding the establishment of the HEI or its organizational unit, permits to study studies in a particular direction at one or another level of education; program and institutional assessment, including pedagogical education. The impact of financing higher education institutions to ensure the quality of higher education is partly considered in the article.