Prof. Michał Daszykowski, Vice-Rector for Research and Finance at the University of Silesia in Katowice | photo by Julia Agnieszka Szymala
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The University of Silesia in Katowice has begun the implementation of „Research Excellence Initiative” (IDB) programme, which is closely in line with the strategic actions of our Alma Mater, oriented towards transforming the University into a research university.
Improvement of the quality of scientific research and education, to match the best Polish universities and very good European universities, requires taking specific actions in order to strengthen the research potential of the whole academic community.
For this reason, we have developed assumptions of the programme, whose beneficiaries include those of you who want to undertake new challenges and contribute to building research excellence of the University through their activity.
You can address any questions and suggestions about the programme to Science Department – the general administration unit which coordinates the initiative. Please also follow information about the programme available on the University’s website: www.us.edu.pl/inicjatywadoskonalosci.
We are convinced that thanks to the activities taken within the framework of the programme, our community will systematically increase the research position of the University on international arena, as well as mark its presence wherever the interdisciplinary scientific potential of the University is needed.
Research Excellence Initiative is not the only project that we are implementing with a view to strengthening the research potential of our Alma Mater. We are currently running many complementary structural and project-based operations. The first group includes in particular:
- releasing research potential by creating conditions for the free association of scientists in research group,
- establishing research centres in order to concentrate unique research potential that enables undertaking research challenges,
- improving and harmonising the process of managing and funding research,
- changing the method of administering and financing large research infrastructure and changing the structure of science department and education department,
- running fully open recruitment of employees, taking into consideration the rules resulting from the European policy for increasing the attractiveness of working conditions and career development for scientists in Europe (HRS4R),
- ensuring a transparent system for the evaluation of academics.
Moreover, project activities are oriented towards the development of key staff competencies, internationalisation of education and research through cooperation with universities associated in the „Transform 4 Europe” network, and increase of mobility within the framework of Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange programmes.
An additional tool for strengthening research excellence is subsidies for quality-focused operations. Apart from the Research Excellence Initiative, a quality-focused programme has also been established to consolidate and promote high-quality research conducted by the employees of our community.
We would like to invite you to take up the challenge specified at the beginning of this letter, and therefore, to take active part in the activities carried out to the benefit of the development of your research potential, and transform the University of Silesia into a research university of international importance and prestige.
Kind regards,
Michał Daszykowski
with Research Excellence Initiative team
Good to know
The University of Silesia in Katowice has the status of a European University. Together with six other universities, the University carries out the project called „Transform4Europe – T4E: The European University for Knowledge Entrepreneurs” (T4E).
The goal of the consortium is to develop cooperation, thanks to which the associated universities will educate young people who are not afraid to face the most important challenges of civilisation. For this purpose, the common European campus will be established. It will allow to create interdisciplinary study programmes and international research teams, as well as to support the mobility and multilinguality of employees, doctoral students and students.
You can read about the initiative in the interview with T4E project manager, Assoc. Prof. Małgorzata Myśliwiec, Professor of the University of Silesia, entitled „Get to like and understand different work cultures”.
Apart from the University of Silesia in Katowice, T4E is formed by:
Saarland University from Saarbrücken (Germany, leader of the project)
go to university website (in English)
HR Excellence in Research – is a distinction awarded by the European Commission, which the University of Silesia in Katowice received in 2017. In this way, the University entered the elite group of institutions which provide researchers with the best conditions for work and development, including: transparent recruitment process, employment stability and professional development opportunities at all career stages.
The Silesian Alma Mater undertakes specific actions intended to contribute to the increase of quality of scientific research and education, as well as to strengthen the research potential of the academic community. These actions result, among other things, from the recommendations of the European Researchers Charter and Code within the framework of HR Strategy for Researchers (EN). On the one hand, they contribute to the improvement of working conditions, which help involve the scientists already employed at the university in research, and on the other hand, they strengthen the attractiveness of the University as a future employer for potential new researchers.
Related websites:
European Researchers Charter and Code at the University of Silesia in Katowice