Scientific origins of our Department comprise two scholarly traditions. Firstly, they are the research studies on science conducted by prof. Piotr Hübner. Secondly, it is the so-called ‘Torun research school of inequalities in education and higher education’, within which the research of prof. Ryszard Borowicz is located. Current composition of our Department corresponds with the diverse and interdisciplinary character of studies on research and higher education, reflecting the above-mentioned traditions, as well as emerging interests of our staff. They encompass studies on transformations of the Polish higher education and reforms of university systems in Europe (Dominik Antonowicz), inequalities in the field of higher education and issues related to the value of education (Krzysztof Wasielewski), processes of internal differentiation of primary and secondary education and the functioning of rural schools in the local environment (Jarosław Domalewski), studies on women in science in Poland (Anna Pokorska), as well as analyses of public policy on science and higher education and international cooperation of higher education institutions (Marta Jaworska).
In the past, thanks to NAWA support under the Ulam Programme, Davide Donina (Italy) and Marjukka Mikkonen (Finland), who deal with issues of institutional frameworks and governance in higher education, joined the team.
We seek to answer questions on, among others, processes shaping the contemporary model of higher education, modes of university management and funding rules, research evaluation methods, as well as the origins and various dimensions of inequalities in science and higher education.
Within the scope of our interest also lie relations of universities with their external stakeholders (practical part of our research) and actions related to the popularisation of science (specifically of social sciences). We initiate and gladly involve ourselves in various endeavours aiming at implementing the notion of an ‘open university’.
We enjoy research challenges and are glad to observe how the findings of our research increasingly impact the way science is perceived in many academic centers around the world. We have executed or are currently executing research projects funded by national (NCN, MNiSW, NAWA, IDUB) and international agencies (European Commission). Our expertise have so far supported, among others, the governments of Poland and Ukraine, the European Commission, OECD, Ernst & Young, as well as non-governmental organisations (Education Development Organization Service, CEDOS, FDPA).
We are constantly present in global science. Many institutions and higher education institutions in Europe and around the world cooperate closely with us in research and other science or expertise-related endeavours (in recent years especially with academic centers in Toronto, Tampere, Porto, Budapest and Dortmund). We participate in major international research projects (CAP – Changing Academic Profession, SHERDE – Structural Higher Education Reform: Development and Evaluation, HEDOCE – Higher Education Drop-Out and Completion in Europe), and we present the results of our research at regarded international conferences around the world.