This Festschrift is dedicated to Ulrich Teichler who is celebrating his sixtieth birth­ day in 2002. Ulrich Teichler has been a central actor in the development of the field of research on higher education in Germany, Europe and beyond. Not only has he dedicated his professional career to studying a large number of higher education topics through national and international research projects. He was also in the fore­ front of the efforts to strengthen the structure and profile of higher education re­ search, for example, through his involvement in the establishment of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER). In addition, he has contributed to many important scholarly works reflecting on the state of the art and the nature of the field. The conventional wisdom is that working in a university or college makes you an expert on higher education. Consequently, while academics like to do research on every possible topic, they are in general reluctant to examine their own social insti­ tution. Within the European context Ulrich Teichler is one of the main exceptions to this rule. Already in his student days he has recognised the unique characteristics of higher education institutions and systems, and he understood that special efforts are needed to improve our knowledge on higher education.

This Festschrift is dedicated to Ulrich Teichler who is celebrating his sixtieth birth­ day in 2002. Ulrich Teichler has been a central actor in the development of the field of research on higher education in Germany, Europe and beyond. Not only has he dedicated his professional career to studying a large number of higher education topics through national and international research projects. He was also in the fore­ front of the efforts to strengthen the structure and profile of higher education re­ search, for example, through his involvement in the establishment of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER). In addition, he has contributed to many important scholarly works reflecting on the state of the art and the nature of the field. The conventional wisdom is that working in a university or college makes you an expert on higher education. Consequently, while academics like to do research on every possible topic, they are in general reluctant to examine their own social insti­ tution. Within the European context Ulrich Teichler is one of the main exceptions to this rule. Already in his student days he has recognised the unique characteristics of higher education institutions and systems, and he understood that special efforts are needed to improve our knowledge on higher education.

In many OECD countries, tertiary education systems have experienced rapid growth over the last decade. With tertiary education increasingly seen as a fundamental pillar for economic growth, these systems must now address the pressures of a globalising economy and labour market. Within governance frameworks that encourage institutions, individually and collectively, to fulfil multiple missions, tertiary education systems must aim for the broad objectives of growth, full employment and social cohesion.

In this context, the OECD launched a major review of tertiary education with the participation of 24 nations. The principal objective of the review is to assist countries in understanding how the organisation, management and delivery of tertiary education can help them achieve their economic and social goals. Poland is one of 14 countries which opted to host a Country Review, in which a team of external reviewers carried out an in-depth analysis of tertiary education policies. This report includes:

an overview of Poland''s tertiary education system; an account of trends and developments in tertiary education in Poland; an analysis of the strengths and challenges in tertiary education in Poland; and recommendations for future policy development.

This review of tertiary education in Poland forms part of the OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education, a project conducted between 2004 and 2008.

This Festschrift is dedicated to Ulrich Teichler who is celebrating his sixtieth birth­ day in 2002. Ulrich Teichler has been a central actor in the development of the field of research on higher education in Germany, Europe and beyond. Not only has he dedicated his professional career to studying a large number of higher education topics through national and international research projects. He was also in the fore­ front of the efforts to strengthen the structure and profile of higher education re­ search, for example, through his involvement in the establishment of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER). In addition, he has contributed to many important scholarly works reflecting on the state of the art and the nature of the field. The conventional wisdom is that working in a university or college makes you an expert on higher education. Consequently, while academics like to do research on every possible topic, they are in general reluctant to examine their own social insti­ tution. Within the European context Ulrich Teichler is one of the main exceptions to this rule. Already in his student days he has recognised the unique characteristics of higher education institutions and systems, and he understood that special efforts are needed to improve our knowledge on higher education.

This Festschrift is dedicated to Ulrich Teichler who is celebrating his sixtieth birth­ day in 2002. Ulrich Teichler has been a central actor in the development of the field of research on higher education in Germany, Europe and beyond. Not only has he dedicated his professional career to studying a large number of higher education topics through national and international research projects. He was also in the fore­ front of the efforts to strengthen the structure and profile of higher education re­ search, for example, through his involvement in the establishment of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER). In addition, he has contributed to many important scholarly works reflecting on the state of the art and the nature of the field. The conventional wisdom is that working in a university or college makes you an expert on higher education. Consequently, while academics like to do research on every possible topic, they are in general reluctant to examine their own social insti­ tution. Within the European context Ulrich Teichler is one of the main exceptions to this rule. Already in his student days he has recognised the unique characteristics of higher education institutions and systems, and he understood that special efforts are needed to improve our knowledge on higher education.

In many OECD countries, tertiary education systems have experienced rapid growth over the last decade. With tertiary education increasingly seen as a fundamental pillar for economic growth, these systems must now address the pressures of a globalising economy and labour market. Within governance frameworks that encourage institutions, individually and collectively, to fulfil multiple missions, tertiary education systems must aim for the broad objectives of growth, full employment and social cohesion.

In this context, the OECD launched a major review of tertiary education with the participation of 24 nations. The principal objective of the review is to assist countries in understanding how the organisation, management and delivery of tertiary education can help them achieve their economic and social goals. Poland is one of 14 countries which opted to host a Country Review, in which a team of external reviewers carried out an in-depth analysis of tertiary education policies. This report includes:

an overview of Poland''s tertiary education system; an account of trends and developments in tertiary education in Poland; an analysis of the strengths and challenges in tertiary education in Poland; and recommendations for future policy development.

This review of tertiary education in Poland forms part of the OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education, a project conducted between 2004 and 2008.