4th International Congress on the Quality of Education [coverage]

The 4th International Congress on the Quality of Education took place on October 22–24, 2025, at the University of Economics in Katowice and other universities of the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science. This year’s edition focused on innovation in teaching and system solutions in the context of ensuring and improving the quality of education. The event provided a platform for sharing knowledge and mutual inspiration.

On the first day of the International Congress on the Quality of Education, two internal events were held at the University of Economics in Katowice:

• Meeting of the University Committee for the Quality of Education of the University of Economics in Katowice;
• Meeting of the Council for Teaching and Quality of Education of the University of Economics in Katowice.

The next day, October 23, began with a discussion panel titled "Education and Research: Experiences and Challenges after Six Years of Doctoral Schools," which featured, among others, the Dean of the Doctoral School of UE Katowice, dr hab. Artur Walasik, prof. UE. The event brought together representatives of the academic community and aimed to reflect on the functioning of doctoral schools in Poland, their strengths, challenges, and directions of development, as well as the role of the supervisor and the university system in education and the internationalization of education and research.

Alongside the Dean, the panel featured:

• Dean of the Doctoral School of the University of Silesia in Katowice, prof. dr hab. Alina Świeściak-Fast,
• Director of the Doctoral School of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, prof. dr hab. n. med. Agata Stanek,
• Director of the Doctoral School of the Silesian University of Technology, prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Fujarewicz.

Prof. dr hab. n. med. Agata Stanek, Director of the Doctoral School of the Medical University of Silesia, emphasized the crucial role of the supervisor in the doctoral training process. As she noted: “prof. dr hab. n. med. Agata Stanek, Director of the Doctoral School of the Medical University of Silesia, emphasized the crucial role of the supervisor in the doctoral training process. As she noted: “The supervisor is the person who guides the doctoral student through the entire scientific process - from the idea, through research, to the defense of the doctoral dissertation.” The choice of a supervisor is therefore a key decision that determines the course and quality of the entire doctoral path.The choice of a supervisor is therefore a key decision that determines the course and quality of the entire doctoral path.

Later in the discussion, participants highlighted the challenges faced by supervisors. Since the establishment of doctoral schools, their role has been partially limited, which - according to some participants - makes it more difficult for them to provide comprehensive scientific guidance to doctoral students.

However, the discussion also brought out the positive aspects of doctoral schools. Doctoral students have gained additional institutional support and care, which - as noted - means that "in the event of a conflict, the doctoral student, as the weaker party, is not left without help." Some speakers pointed out that issues in the supervisor-doctoral student relationship are more often reported by doctoral students, while others - such as Dean dr hab. Artur Walasik, prof. UE - observed that supervisors also frequently face difficulties in cooperation.

The discussion showed that doctoral schools are an important component of the modern higher education system, providing support and standardization of the educational process. At the same time, they require further improvement - particularly in the area of supervisor-doctoral student relations and cooperation between schools and faculties. Participants unanimously emphasized that the key to success lies in balancing institutional structure with an individualized approach to the education of young researchers.