Poland’s public debate focused on Dr. Hab. Iwona Przychocka, an adviser to the Ministry of Science on university quality matters, and on her Bulgarian habilitation. The conversation centers on her attempts to obtain habilitation in Poland on three occasions, with the third attempt succeeding at the University of Varna. Polish experts raised questions about the scholarly merit of the work cited for her habilitation, pointing to misalignment with the field and to the overall validity of the listed publications.
In June 2024 the former plenipotentiary for university quality, Waldemar U., who stepped down amid bribery allegations linked to a private teaching institution, was succeeded by Dr. Hab. Iwona Przychocka. Her main duties include evaluating university education quality, collaborating with the Polish Accreditation Commission, and issuing opinions on ministerial acts.
Dr. Przychocka earned her PhD at the University of Białystok in 2005 and spent large portions of her academic career in private institutions. At the Helena Chodkowska University of Technology and Commerce in Warsaw she held roles as dean, vice-rector and rector. In 2023 she became vice-rector at the Vistula Academy of Finance and Business. She also served as a professor at the Military University of Technology.
The concerns about her habilitation were raised by a reviewer who noted that many listed publications did not align with the field of study, including topics on the small and medium enterprises sector with limited theoretical contribution. The reviewer also found that some items were training materials rather than scholarly works. It was noted that several publications claimed by the candidate were not delivered. Other criticisms cited a lack of research hypotheses, a clear aim, and an explicit methodology, and judged the scholarly standard to be below the level expected for publication. The content and linguistic presentation were also questioned.
Bulgarian designation
Grzegorz Krawiec, deputy head of the Scientific Council for the Discipline of Legal Sciences and head of the Department of Administrative Law and Civil Society at the National Education Commission in Krakow, examined the available assessments and found troubling elements.
The reviewer found that the list of achievements included a set of studies claiming to address the Polish small and medium enterprises sector, yet the topics diverged from the field in practice and included tax issues. The listing also included tutorials, which raised questions about their scholarly value. One reviewer reported missing several publications, and others criticized the absence of hypotheses, a clear purpose, and a defined research method, with a judgment that the scholarly standard did not meet the requirements for publication. The statements included were seen as questionable in terms of content and linguistic accuracy.
A few years later the candidate reapplied for habilitation, this time at the University of Białystok. The process again required substantial effort from the candidate and the chairs of the committee faced varying outcomes.
In June 2015 the habilitation application was submitted. The Central Commission approved forming a habilitation committee and the faculty council agreed to proceed, but in October the candidate withdrew for personal reasons, according to the dean of the Faculty of Economics and Finance at the University of Białystok, Prof. Robert Ciborowski.
The third attempt occurred in Bulgaria, where the habilitation was completed in 2019.
Translations by Przychocka
Przychocka explained that her dissertation was defended at Varna University and addressed administrative and organizational factors of tax depletion. The work was translated into Bulgarian. She described studying the university before starting the process, noting that it was undergoing international accreditation, a factor she considered important for quality assurance. The choice of the university was tied to the habilitation procedure from initial verification to defense, and not everyone who sought habilitation was admitted into the process.
She described the entire habilitation process as demanding, yet transparent and focused on quality.
Puzzling rules
Experts in Poland still have questions about several aspects of the Bulgarian habilitation system and how they map to local standards for research output. When a candidate’s performance in Poland is viewed as weak and the candidate completes parts of the process abroad, concerns about the integrity of the system arise.
Bulgarian habilitations have drawn scrutiny from the Polish scientific community, with doubts about the quality and reliability of those degrees obtained there. The Bulgarian system is seen as facing a shortage of researchers with substantial achievements, which some describe as creating a tempting path for easier credentialing.
Another concern is the lack of independent verification of Bulgarian habilitations within Poland. This gap in oversight is viewed as something that could be exploited by individuals seeking easier access to credentials.
The Polish scientific community has limited knowledge about Bulgarian habilitations, including the procedures used to obtain them and the research methods behind them.
Bulgarian habilitations remain legally recognized in Poland under international agreements, a point of concern for many in the Polish academic community. A notable segment of the academic sphere has raised concerns about the scale of such recognitions and the ongoing need for evaluation.
Dilettantes advise the government?
Ministers responsible for science have not issued public comments on the matter. Experts argue that the situation undermines trust in Polish science when a high-level adviser to the ministry bears credentials that are questioned. They emphasize that the quality of university education depends on the competence of those shaping policy, the standards used to assess scholarly work, and the rigor of credentialing processes. The academic community urges caution when considering policy opinions and recommendations.
Another scholar expressed disbelief that a person with contested credentials would advise the minister on higher education quality, highlighting concerns about the link between assessment and governance.
Some observers compare Bulgarian habilitations with other regional systems, noting that recognition in Poland has not been uniform and that a background in private institutions often characterizes much of the career. Critics argue that there should be opportunities for younger scholars at public universities to participate in oversight of education quality rather than relying on figures whose records are debated.