When preparing information on this subject, entities must remember that the evaluation team conducts the evaluation according to the following detailed evaluation criteria that are specified in §2.3 of the ordinance of the Polish Minister of Education and Science of 27 September 2021 on the evaluation of the quality of education at doctoral schools:
- the adequacy of scientific, artistic, and professional achievements, as well as the scientific, artistic, and professional activity of individuals with respect to the scope of education delivered to doctoral students;
- the quality of actions for the professional development of individuals that are taken by such individuals or entities responsible for specific doctoral schools, including actions related to serving as supervisors or auxiliary supervisors;
- the reliability of actions that are taken by entities to verify the qualifications of such individuals.
Entities should present the qualifications of the teachers at their doctoral schools that are necessary to achieve the learning outcomes. Entities are required to describe how the teachers are recruited and what qualifications and competencies they possess to teach doctoral students according to the curricula.
Each entity is expected to present five academic teachers or members of scientific staff who hold the highest qualifications in every discipline offered by its doctoral school. This should consider their scientific and artistic achievements, competence in scientific and artistic guidance, relevant professional achievements, and professional activities, including experience in grant acquisition and grant-funded project management.
The report must also cover the improvement of qualifications and competencies among doctoral school staff concerning their personal scientific and artistic development and their mentoring of doctoral students, including the cultivation of transversal skills. This issue should be presented in the context of initiatives undertaken individually by staff members, as well as in the context of the conditions, opportunities, and current offerings for the staff that are provided by the entity at the doctoral school.
Every entity should provide information on the selection principles of teaching staff members at their doctoral school, and the methods used to verify the qualifications and competencies of such staff members. It is also necessary to explain the method used to assess the quality and effectiveness of teaching, including how well the staff member fulfils their responsibilities, and the conditions under which they may be barred from teaching at the doctoral school.
The report must also present the nature and significance of resolved and ongoing disputes regarding the fulfilment of duties by the doctoral school’s staff members; the details of these issues may be verified by the evaluation team during the inspection.
Entities may present other information that they deem relevant to the evaluation of this area.
The entities’ descriptions should conclude with self-evaluations.
Materials on academic teachers or members of scientific staff who hold the highest qualifications should be provided as suitably labelled PDF attachments. The files must be submitted in both the Polish and English languages. The qualifications of other doctoral school staff members may be assessed by the evaluation team during the inspection, as well as being based on the official POL-on data.