This is the 24th edition of the University Ranking in Poland published by the educational monthly „Perspektywy” since 2000. It’s the first edition we wish to present to the broad international public by publishing it in English as well as in Polish. We are happy that Perspektywy University Ranking is read by young people not just in Poland but also all over the world by those who are interested to study in our country. Just this present academic year, the number of international students in Poland exceeded 100,000. I can say, immodestly, we have our share in it!

„Perspektywy” has been dedicated to provide information on higher education, and helping high school graduates make one of the most important decisions – choosing a university and a field of study. To evaluate and compare, universities applicants need an evidence-based guidance. The Perspektywy University Ranking provides solid tools making such comparisons worthwhile.

Over the years, we have been modifying the ranking's methodology to best reflect changes taking place in higher education in Poland and around the world. That is why we introduced the new criteria (internationalization, innovation, and others), and expanded the spectrum of indicators. Though we do not conduct scientific research in the field of higher education, we always make sure to maintain the highest methodological standards, and try to be as transparent as possible in publishing the results of the ranking, and open to censure.

The first editions of the Perspektywy University Ranking were largely based on the „soft” data, i. e. the opinions of academic staff and employers (the remaining part came from surveys completed by universities). In the following years, we consistently increased the scope of the „hard” data from sources external to the university (data from SCOPUS or from the Patent Office). At the same time, changes in the methodology have been introduced carefully, not to exceed 5 percent, to ensure comparability of the results on a year-on-year basis.

Full transparency and clearly defined rules have helped us a lot when we faced criticism from some universities. The prime objection was that it is not possible to represent the complexity of such an organism as university through a single number.

But it is clear that our ranking has never been reduced to a single number! Perspektywy adopted as a standard to publish all partial results of the assessed university. Consequently, a high school graduate receives the characteristics of the university with all 31 indicators. We also publish a set of sub-rankings comparing universities in such dimensions as internationalization, prestige, research, and others. And, importantly, most of our efforts are devoted to enhancing the Ranking of Fields (by subject), which currently presents 74 fields of study, favored by candidates.

We take every opportunity to advise high school graduates that the ranking should be for them a starting point only. The next steps should be a „short list” of potentially the most attractive universities followed by visits to them, participation in Open Days and, above all, talking with students, employees, and graduates.

We openly tell high school graduates that the ranking will not give them a ready answer which university is „best university”, at most, we can suggest the university that can be best for them – one that, after a many-sided analysis, will turn out to be best suited to the ambitions and abilities of the candidate.

Of course, we are also aware of the emotions rankings arouse in the academic community. That is why we listen carefully to the opinions of universities leaders, debate with them, and – if we believe it will serve the ranking – we make the necessary changes.

We are proud that „Perspektywy” gained the status of a reliable and impartial source in the competitive educational market. Our rankings and directories are considered – by university authorities, education authorities but foremost the young people – as a useful source of valuable information, without which it would be difficult to make based on facts decisions on higher education. 

We have been on the educational information market for over 30 years, and for almost 25 years have published the University Ranking. It has not been an easy process, but we know that our job makes sense both for the candidates and the Polish academic community.

Waldemar Siwiński
Founder, Perspektywy Education Foundation
President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence