18:00 22 March 2025
Higher Education Funding in Poland at Only 1 Percent of GDP
Poland’s public universities face a funding crisis, with expenditures on higher education amounting to just 1 percent of GDP – one of the lowest rates in the European Union, where the average is 3 percent. Despite efforts to enhance international visibility since the 2018 reform, financial constraints hinder competitiveness in global rankings like the Shanghai Ranking.
Professor Bernard Ziębicki, Rector of the Cracow University of Economics, points out that while Polish universities maintain high standards comparable to Western institutions, limited investment holds them back. He emphasizes that historically low prioritization of education has led to the current situation, and the lack of clear incentives, such as improved student recruitment, weakens motivation to strive for better-ranking positions.
With financial discipline tightening and increased defense spending, next year’s funding could be the lowest this century, posing a significant threat to universities’ financial stability and ability to enhance international competitiveness.
