Prof. Michał Mackiewicz, Bursar of the University of Lodz, in Forum Akademickie: Freezing the Subsidy Will Create a Simple Incentive Not for Growth, but for the Downsizing of Many Higher Education Institutions

The algorithm used to allocate subsidies among academic universities took planned development into account, which had an impact on the financial situation of higher education institutions. Freezing the subsidy at last year’s level has meant that all development activities undertaken by universities in 2024-25, such as increasing student admissions, preparing new attractive study programmes or, finally, recruiting researchers, have had precisely zero effect this year on the amount of funding received, writes dr hab. Michał Mackiewicz, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, in his article entitled "Algorytm niemocy" [The Algorithm of Powerlessness].

Opublikowano: 24 September 2026

At present, university and faculty authorities are wondering whether they can afford development-oriented activities at all and whether such activities make any financial sense. Development is costly, and significantly so: increased student admissions mean overtime payments and sometimes the need to employ additional teaching staff. Better research also comes at a cost, yet evaluation results no longer have any impact whatsoever on the level of subsidy.

It is possible that the freezing of the subsidy is merely a one-off anomaly and that the algorithm will begin to function again next year. (...) However, it is entirely realistic that, given the strained budget, the war in Ukraine and the approaching elections, this year’s scenario will be repeated, namely freezing the ‘algorithmic’ part of the subsidy and allocating, at most, only minor amounts for a few per cent pay rises

–  writes dr hab. Michał Mackiewicz, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz.

Full version of the article in "Forum Akademickie” (in Polish)

Source: Forum Akademickie
Edit: Press Office, University of Lodz

Published: Marcin Kowalczyk

UNIVERSITY OF LODZ

 

Narutowicza 68, 90-136 LODZ

fax: 00 48 42/665 57 71, 00 48 42/635 40 43

NIP: 724 000 32 43

Funduszepleu
Projekt Multiportalu UŁ współfinansowany z funduszy Unii Europejskiej w ramach konkursu NCBR