On a study visit to the University of Cologne

From February 19–25, 2023, Miłosz Czopek, PhD, DSc, ProfTit took part in a study visit to the University of Cologne, during which he participated in a project titled “Leaders in University Management” as part of the Knowledge, Education, and Development Operational Program (PO WER).

The goal of the training was to improve the management skills of the leadership at Polish universities by learning about best practices in the following areas:

• university consolidation,
• cooperation with the socio-economic environment,
• the development of new educational methods and the competencies of students and administrative staff,
• the internationalization of universities,
• commercialization of research results,
• models of universities,
• the development of the university's key competencies.

The training program was very comprehensive and consisted of five days packed with activities from morning until late afternoon. The presentations covered topics such as international cooperation, participation in the Erasmus+ program, university alumni, innovative education, strategic planning, research and management strategies, diversity management, collaboration with non-university research institutes, scientific communication, career development, staff recruitment programs, capacity building, global responsibility, academic refugees, and teacher education. 

The University of Cologne is one of the oldest in Europe and one of the largest in Germany; it ranks 245th among the world’s best universities and provides education to approximately 45,000 students. The university has external funding of 105.7 million euros and total financial resources of 807.7 million Its mission is to create, preserve, and impart knowledge in order to offer its students and early-career researchers an outstanding academic education, preparing them for both academic and professional careers.