For our employees
The year 2026 brings several challenges for the group of employees of the University of Lodz. As a reminder, this represents a staff of nearly 4,000. The evaluation of the university's scientific activities will be one of the most important topics for academic staff. The UniLodz Vice-Rector, Dorota Golańska, supported by the rest of the university, has been working on this area for a long time. We know how much depends on this, including financially, so we are doing everything we can to ensure the best possible evaluation. Importantly, we are working on this together, on an ongoing basis, with all faculties and units.
We will continue to support the university administration and teaching staff. We are launching two important projects: "University Excellence in Teaching 2," which will allow us to better tailor our offerings to the needs of students. We will also further develop tutoring, a more personalised form of teaching. The UniLodz Vice-Rector, Małgorzata Wrzesień will oversee these processes.
In turn, the "Impulse of the Future" project will allow our administration to enhance various competencies and provide opportunities to learn how to work more effectively and with greater benefit to our well-being. Last year, we reorganised our administrative structure, which was necessary. This year, we will focus exclusively on strengthening all teams. The UniLodz Chancellor, Anna Rolczak has been closely involved in these efforts from the outset.
With all groups in mind, we want to create a coherent, transparent HR policy and a clear motivational system. This, in my opinion, is incredibly important, as it impacts the well-being of employees who are thinking about their professional development.
We also want to be constantly with people, simply visiting them, talking to them and learning about their needs. And that's an effort that absolutely requires the entire Rector's Board. however, we really appreciate this kind of effort.
For our students and doctoral students
The adventure of studying begins much earlier than the studies themselves, we know this well, so we plan to significantly improve the admissions process this year.
We established an Admissions Centre in 2025. In cooperation with the faculties, it will make a fresh start in this area. We want to better understand candidates and create an intuitive system where they can feel confident and secure.
Another important thing – we will continue to work on reducing drop-out rates. This issue is no less important than admissions. We do not want young people to be left alone in difficult times and give up their studies prematurely. They must be provided with comprehensive support. Once again, the UniLodz Vice-Rector, Małgorzata Wrzesień, together with her team. will oversee this.
We are preparing new, more attractive study curricula (+ useful micro-credentials), an expanded range of programmes in English (because this opens us up more and more to the world), an even better support system for scienceh clubs, a participatory budget for students and doctoral candidates, and other, ever-increasing opportunities to get involved in university life. This means, among other things, even more active government and involvement in the popularisation of science, but also better feedback obtained through an improved student survey. These are the areas of responsibility of the UniLodz Vice-Rector, Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, the UniLodz Vice-Rector, Radosław Olszewski and the UniLodz Vice-Rector, Małgorzata Wrzesień.
We will also continue to support and strengthen our Doctoral Schools. This is the final stage of our education, and it is crucial because it provides us with, among other things, the next generation of talented researchers. We are aware of the many challenges involved; this is still a relatively new reality (several years in the making). We are also aware of the expectations of those pursuing PhD degree; we have met with them. We want to effectively respond to these needs and develop an optimal operating model, in conjunction with the School Councils. These matters have long been the responsibility of the UniLodz Vice-Rector, K. de Lazari-Radek, but she has recently been supported by a new representative, Prof. Tomasz Cieślak. Prof. Cieślak was present at the establishment of the Doctoral Schools as Vice-Rector of UniLodz, so we count on his extensive experience in this dialogue and activities.
For everyone
There are also issues that concern the entire UniLodz community and the broader university environment. The university should be a place to which one can return, in roles other than those of a student.
It's no longer a secret that 2026 marks the beginning of the modernisation of the old University of Lodz Library building – BUŁa. We're starting with the design, respecting its architecture and history, but we also want to create a place that will be vibrant for many groups – candidates, students, researchers, as well as those who want to organise or participate in interesting events there. We're also continuing to prioritise renovations to the existing infrastructure, and we'll be seeking external funding from ministries, local government and other institutions. The UniLodz Chancellor, Maciej Sysak, together with his great team, are spearheading this effort. We are keeping our fingers crossed!
This year, we will focus on disseminating knowledge about university finances, their mechanisms, and how to simplify work in this area. The UniLodz Bursar, Michał Mackiewicz began this process last year, both with groups of staff and students (including the Student Government). The university budget cannot be an enigma; everyone using it must understand its realities, be able to plan expenses and make rational decisions. Therefore, we want to meet, explain, learn from each other and have good partners in budget creation.
This will also be the year in which we will fully implement a new system for the circulation and approval of financial documents, as well as develop and implement a system for forecasting financial liquidity in the short and medium term. All this to make finances more comfortable. We have a fantastic finance team, and you'll be able to see for yourself!
We continue to build the UNIC Alliance, a network of 10 European universities, in which UniLodz has been a member for several years. This is a very important area for us, as it brings tangible results for many groups – new joint study programmes, opportunities for academic exchange and the development of language skills.
We also remember about the University Strategy. For us, it's not just a statutory obligation, but a real foundation for our actions and plans. We will present the UniLodz community with a human strategy, for people and about people. Director Katarzyna Rąkowska-Kutyło has been comprehensively addressing this important issue since last year, and I have appointed her as my representative in this area.
Finally, we continue to fight for the growing importance of science popularisation. It's not just about appreciating its role, but also about effectively countering harmful populism and the often-approved "ignorance." We will support the efforts of the UniLodz Vice-Rector, Krzysztof Pabis, who, at the beginning of his term, has been very active here, at UniLodz, and at the national level.
Source: Prof. dr hab. Rafał Matera, Rector of the University of Lodz
Edit: Press Office, University of Lodz
Photos: Paweł Śpiechowicz, Rector's Office, University of Lodz
