Polish University Confronted With Economic Transformation: Two Strategies Of Survival

The process of economic transformation in Poland is briefly characterized, as well as the situation of Polish academic institutions after 1989. Two basic strategies of their adaptation to this situation are outline d.. the strategy of status quo preservation and the strategy of accelerated development. An example is given to demonstrate the efficiency of the latter strategy, viz. the program of reforms carried out at the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology, Warsaw University of Technology. Finally, conclusions are drawn from the presented analysis of the situation of the Polish academia and recommendations are formulated concerning both individual universities and the whole system of higher education in Poland.