Results of the Fifth Edition of the "Outstanding Graduates of UE Katowice" Competition

During the University Day of the University of Economics in Katowice, held on 12 January 2026, statuettes were ceremonially presented to the winners of the fifth edition of the “Outstanding Graduates of the University of Economics in Katowice” Competition. For years, this competition has been an important element of the University Day celebrations, highlighting graduates’ lasting ties with their Alma Mater and their outstanding professional, academic, and social achievements.

The award ceremony was hosted by the Vice-Rector for Development and Cooperation with External Environment dr hab. Robert Wolny, prof. UE. The statuettes and diplomas were presented to the laureates by: HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak and the President of the Alumni Association dr inż. Kamila Bartuś.

The winners of the fifth edition of the “Outstanding Graduates of the University of Economics in Katowice” Competition were:

in the academic category - prof. dr hab. Ewa Ziemba
in the professional category - Kornelia Cieśla
in the social category - dr hab. Jan Wojtyła, prof UE
in the rising star category - Roksana Śliwka

At the end of this part of the ceremony, dr hab. Jan Wojtyła, prof UE, addressed the audience:

“On behalf of those distinguished, I would like to express my gratitude for appreciating our efforts. I must say that this special ceremony referred to a number of academic symbols. I would like to recall the wording of the oath we took when we began our work. When we obtained academic degrees, it had a profound meaning. (…) It referred to something that is the foundation of social development: the commitment of everyone who undertook academic service - the great commitment of being a scholar, an educator, but above all a person who sets an example, is a guardian of the authority of the intelligentsia, and shapes development. (…) I believe that each of us asks ourselves whether we fulfilled our academic service, whether we fulfilled the commitment we vowed. And I must say that I always asked myself this question - whether I tried hard enough to be present in social and economic reality. Whether the people we educated here, at our University, were above all people of certain values. A university should promote personalities. Today we see a major deficit in this regard. Whether we built - as we vowed to build - on rock, or on fleeting sands; whether we remained faithful to a certain system of values. Because that always sometimes cost a lot, but it was the foundation of academic universities. This is what should endure. And today, when we received these highly honorable distinctions from the hands of the Rector - for which, of course, we are immensely grateful - I realized one thing: that my University, my Alma Mater, issued to me and to us a kind of confirmation that we fulfilled our service, and for that I am especially grateful - for this recognition and a kind of absolution. (…)”

Congratulations, and we wish you further success!

About the laureates

Kornelia Cieśla (professional category) - a graduate of the Academy of Economics in Katowice, majoring in Management and Marketing (now the University of Economics in Katowice), is an experienced manager in the public finance and healthcare sectors, for years successfully combining managerial, financial, and social competencies. She held the positions of chief accountant, head of control of public finance sector units, Head of the Budget and Finance Department of the County Office in Tarnowskie Góry, and - in the years 2008-2024 - Director of Specialist Hospital No. 2 in Bytom. During her term, the Hospital underwent successful restructuring, achieving financial stability with no liabilities, as well as dynamic infrastructural and technological development. Strategic investments co-financed by European Union funds were implemented, including the “Silesian Center for Physical Medicine and Early Cancer Diagnostics” with a value of approx. PLN 33.2 million, and the Silesian Center for Perinatology, Gynecology and Fetal Surgery, introducing innovative organizational, technological and family-support solutions. The facility she led received the titles of Business Gazelle 2012 and Silesian Voivodeship Hospital of the Year 2022, as well as 3rd place in the nationwide Hipokrates 2022 Plebiscite. Kornelia Cieśla was awarded the Bronze Medal for Merits for the Defense of the Country and the Gold Honorary Badge for Merits for the Silesian Voivodeship. At the same time, she actively engaged in the development of scientific research, innovative therapies, and broad health and social education. Since 2025, she has been running her own business - LOGO-SENSOR Therapy and Development Studio - within which she serves as Director and implements her own therapeutic programs as a trainer, health coach, sensory integration therapist, and perinatal therapist, focusing on supporting children and families;

Prof. UE dr hab. Jan Wojtyła (social category) - a graduate of the Academy of Economics in Katowice (now the University of Economics in Katowice), Faculty of Industry, disciplines: labour law and social policy, economic law; an outstanding scholar, academic manager and public life expert, for many years playing a key role in the development of higher education, social policy, and socio-economic dialogue in Poland. Associated with our University, he served as the Rector of the University as well as the Organizer and Dean of the Faculty of Finance and Insurance, actively co-creating modern standards of economic and financial education. He was Deputy Chair and Chair of the Legislative Committee, President/Honorary Chair/member of presidiums and nationwide committees of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools of Economics in Poland, as well as Chair of numerous expert and advisory teams. As an expert and advisor, he cooperated with the highest bodies of public administration, including ministers responsible for labour, social policy, education, science and higher education, as well as with the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, the National Development Council, the Presidential Council for Social Policy, and the Government Codification Commission for Labour Law. He actively participated in the work of the Conference of Rectors of Poland and the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools of Economics in Poland, as well as the Committee on Labour Sciences and Social Policy of the Polish Academy of Sciences. His activity also included involvement in the Labour Protection Council at the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, the Socio-Economic Council of the Silesia–Dąbrowa Region of NSZZ “Solidarność”, and advisory teams of Silesian Voivodes. At the same time, he held functions within Church structures, including as Deputy Chair of the Pastoral Council of the Archdiocese of Katowice, combining scholarly and expert achievements with social responsibility and the ethos of public service;

Prof. dr hab. Ewa Ziemba (academic category) - a graduate of the Academy of Economics, Faculty of Industry, Economic Cybernetics and Informatics (now the University of Economics in Katowice). The achievements of prof. Ewa Wanda Ziemba confirm her position as an outstanding alumna and scholar of international renown. Her research output focuses on the development of the theory of a sustainable information society and on interdisciplinary research combining informatics, management, and sustainability, inspiring the use of digital technologies to achieve sustainable development goals. She is a laureate of the Silesian Scientific Award, the Minister’s Award for outstanding scientific achievements, and the Marek Cara Award for creating the Polish scientific school of the sustainable information society; and the title Computer Educator of the Year confirms her innovativeness as a mentor and academic leader. Prof. Ziemba appears on the list of the world’s 2% most-cited scientists, and her numerous publications with prestigious publishers and in highly ranked journals, as well as her conference activity, strengthen the recognition of Polish science internationally. She is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and by decision of the EASA Senate, on 1 December 2025 she assumed the position of Vice-Dean of the Class of Social Sciences, Law and Economics, confirming her international academic leadership. She coordinated and continues to coordinate numerous research projects funded by the NCN, NCBR and the European Union, including Horizon 2020; she currently leads the TOP4HoneyChains project, aimed at developing an open digital platform for sustainable honey chains. In parallel, she develops the academic community as a supervisor of young staff, editor and editor-in-chief of renowned journals, significantly raising the standing and internationalization of the Journal of Economics and Management. Her activity combines research excellence, leadership, and real impact on the economy and society;

Roksana Śliwka (rising star category) – a graduate of the University of Economics in Katowice, where she completed two fields of study: International Economic Relations (specialization: international business management) and Finance and Accounting (specialization: finance and investments), is an example of a modern leader in the financial market whose career path confirms that determination, ethics, and consistency in action lead from student internships to co-ownership of a joint-stock company. She began her career in 2015 as an intern, systematically developing managerial and expert competencies to now serve as co-owner of Investment Partners S.A. and manage a team of financial advisors. As a certified expert of the European Federation of Financial Professionals (EFFP), she actively participates in shaping standards of ethical and long-term financial planning in Poland, contributing to the development of the profession of financial planner. The company she represents, based on a holistic approach to personal and business finance, has developed a position as one of the market leaders. At the same time, Roksana Śliwka is involved in educational activity as an academic lecturer and speaker at industry events, conducting classes and training sessions, among others, in Katowice, Kraków, Gliwice and Pruszków, inspiring subsequent generations to consciously manage finances. She is a co-creator of the “Financial Metamorphosis” project, which effectively raises the level of economic knowledge in society and promotes responsible financial attitudes. Her professional activity combines the worlds of science, business and education, and she translates the values gained at the University of Economics in Katowice into real impact on the financial market. Roksana Śliwka’s attitude makes her a role model for young graduates and fully justifies the award of the title of Outstanding Graduate of UE Katowice.