Introducing obligatory vocational trainings aims to strengthen the cooperation between the Polish universities and businessmen. Higher education is divided into two types: academic universities and vocational schools. The former ones are to prepare students to academic and scientific work; the latter give the graduates the possibility to enter the job market. Now vocational schools will be obliged to organize vocational trainings.
The reform is introduced to eliminate cheating and deluding that if you graduate from social sciences you will be a renowned political sciences professor because you can achieve it only if you put maximum effort into it and if you graduate from a university which teaches it right. You can also graduate from social sciences in a vocational school but then you will learn how to interview, survey, contact other people, study social phenomena. You will acquire different skills – says Prof. Daria Nałęcz, Deputy Minister for Science and Higher Education.
According to the Ministry it is important to make business contacts, and to let employers influence the curricula. The Ministry plans also to enable employers to teach classes at universities. We have already agreed to this, we also prepared legal solutions within the 2011 reforms. New conventions and university management structures are being created and representatives of employers are invited to cooperate. We have good examples such as for example the State School of Higher Professional Education in Elbląg which ensures 6 month long trainings for its students. Which means it is possible – says Prof. Nałęcz.
The effects of the introduced changes will be noticeable in a couple of years as the first year of students began studies according to the new system just a year ago.
The Ministry will promote faculties which are adjusted to the needs of the job market. The prime aim is to help graduated to find a job. Competitions for the best curricula are available for all faculties, excluding the ones which are under standard regulations, including social sciences, humanities, technology, exact sciences, nature and agricultural studies – as it is important for us that the public funds should be available for universities which develop the best curricula with no specified profile – says Prof. Nałęcz – We care primarily about the quality. It is the most important message because we think that we are still looking for good quality, good educational ideas, creating good tools and good partnership with the surroundings.