On March 26 and 27, 2023, another meeting of the Science Committee of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Medical Universities (KN KRAUM) was held in Katowice, Poland. During the two-day meeting, the vice-rectors for science of public medical universities from all over the country discussed, among other things, scientific development activities, the role of medical universities in the current reality, as well as the realized and future evaluation of scientific activities.
The meeting was hosted by the Silesian Medical University in Katowice.
The invitation to participate in the meeting was accepted, among others, by Malgorzata Zadorozna, director of the Department of Medical Personnel Development at the Ministry of Health, who spoke during the meeting, among other things, about solutions to increase the number of academic teachers, as well as retaining existing researchers within the walls of universities. Together with other participants, the meeting discussed, among other things, scholarship programs for teachers and the establishment of a team by the Ministry of Health to identify the key factors that lead to an exodus of qualified scientific staff. Prof. Tomasz Szczepanski, MD, rector of SUM, also spoke at the discussion: - We have many young people who take up jobs as research and teaching assistants or didactic assistants, but unfortunately they very quickly give up this work. So we are anxious to create a mechanism that will encourage young medical graduates to continue working. Of course, we have doctoral schools or other opportunities for development, but we also know that with good salary conditions in the health service for specialists, many young doctors do not want to continue their scientific work or teaching work. All of us here would like to change this," said Prof. Szczepanski.
Among the most important topics discussed was the aspect of evaluation of scientific activity. - We have completed one evaluation period, but the next one has already begun. However, the evaluation rules to which we will be subject are still unknown. The documents that will define them are not yet available. We, as the body most interested in the subject of the university's scientific development, but also as an advisory board, would like to have an influence on the rules that will apply in the next evaluation period. Especially since we are aware of the limitations of the evaluation that has just ended," explained Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Mizia-Stec, Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at SUM. - The evaluation of scientific activity is needed, but it should take into account the specifics of medical schools performing scientific, teaching and service tasks simultaneously, Prof. Mizia-Stec added.
The guest of the meeting was Prof. Błażej Skoczeń, PhD, chairman of the Commission for the Evaluation of Science for the 2019-2022 term. During his speech, the professor spoke, among other things, about the current process of evaluation of science in Poland, and also presented the changes in the system proposed by the NEC.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Anna Budzanowska - Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Katowice for the European Capital of Science Katowice 2024, presenting the idea of Katowice - City of Science and the phenomenon of cooperation between seven public Universities from the Silesian area.
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Dominika Kardynał
