UO has confirmed its academic strength. Excellent results in nationwide evaluation of quality of academic activity

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has completed the second ever evaluation of the quality of research activity of universities and research institutes. In the latest evaluation, the University of Opole also achieved very good results, confirming the university’s stable and strong position within the national research system. The 2022–2025 evaluation saw six disciplines awarded category A, and eleven awarded category B+. This is a very good result, particularly in light of the fierce competition between Polish academic centres and the closely matched level of scientific achievements in many disciplines.  In practice, this means that the university retains full degree-awarding powers in all the scientific disciplines evaluated, including rights to conduct procedures for awarding doctoral and postdoctoral degrees.

In the previous evaluation, one discipline was awarded A+ category, six disciplines A category and ten B+ category. This year’s results should be viewed in the context of the increasing demands placed on research institutions and the financial advantage enjoyed by some universities participating in the ‘Initiative of Excellence – Research University’ (IDUB), in which the University of Opole does not participate, and which involves significant funding for research from ministerial funds. Nevertheless, the fact that 6 disciplines were awarded category A and 11 disciplines category B+ even before the appeals process confirms that the University of Opole remains among the universities conducting research at a very high level.

‘It is yet further confirmation that our ideas and commitment to academic activity are yielding tangible results that exceed the nominal financial expenditure. This means that we are a university with a research potential that we continue to utilise more fully. It is also very good news for our academic community, including prospective students, current students and PhD candidates, as our efforts are receiving objective recognition and guarantee the quality of the University of Opole’s research and educational offer. I am pleased that the outcome of the evaluation is in line with the results of the recently published ‘Perspektywy’ Ranking and with Opole being ranked fourth in Poland in this year’s ranking of academic cities. ‘Taking one of the evaluation criteria into account, I would like to highlight the very positive development of our University’s relations with the broadly understood socio-economic environment of the region,’ said Prof. Jacek Lipok, Rector of the University of Opole. ‘Lastly, the University of Opole’s latest evaluation result is a source of genuine joy and pride for the Rector, as well as an opportunity to once again thank numerous representatives of our community to whom we owe this result,’ he added.

Research evaluation is a multidimensional evaluation of the quality of research conducted in individual disciplines. Three key areas are taken into account: the scientific standard of achievements, the financial outcomes of research and development work, and the impact of research activity on society and the economy. Therefore, the evaluation results are key indicators of a HEI’s academic standing: they demonstrate not only the researchers’ output but also the institution’s ability to organise research in accordance with the highest standards, support research teams and build sustainable research capacity.

Research categories are awarded on a five-tier scale: A+, A, B+, B and C. The A+, A and B+ categories grant the HEI full academic rights in a given discipline, including the right to award academic degrees. They are also important for teaching autonomy and for the funding of research activities from the state budget.

The latest result achieved by the University of Opole is therefore of strategic importance. It confirms that the UO successfully maintains high standards of research across a wide range of fields – from the humanities and social sciences, through the natural sciences, to medical and health sciences. It also sends an important signal to prospective students, PhD candidates, and institutional and business partners: the university’s research and teaching offer is backed by actively functioning, highly rated and recognised research resources.

‘I am very pleased with our result, all the more so as we were competing with universities that had additional funding available under the IDUB programme,’ said Prof. Daniel Pietrek, Vice-Rector for Research. ‘We knew that this time the results would be very closely matched, which is why we worked hard throughout the entire evaluation period, and in particular in recent times, ensuring that our university’s achievements were accurately documented and reflected in the evaluation results, in line with the efforts we had made. This would not have been possible without the work of the members of the university’s evaluation team, whom I would like to thank most sincerely for their work and commitment.

The top categories are the result of four years’ work by academics, research teams, institutes, faculties and the administration supporting academic activity. Hundreds of publications, projects, expert reports, implementations, collaborations and actions, which, only when taken together, reveal the true scale of the university’s achievements. The evaluation sorts this body of work into formal categories, but its significance extends beyond the procedure itself: it influences the university’s prestige, its potential for development, the funding of its research activities, and its standing in negotiations with national and international partners.

‘We have not yet had our final say. In one instance, we will be appealing against the decision and we hope to achieve a higher rating. I am glad that the work of the entire academic community has yielded such a positive result,’ emphasised Prof. Daniel Pietrek.

For the University of Opole, the latest evaluation serves both as a culmination of the past four years and as a starting point for developing a research strategy. The university is committed to maintaining a solid scientific foundation, whilst at the same time identifying areas in which it will continue to improve the quality of its research, enhance the international visibility of its output, boost the effectiveness of its research projects and strengthen collaboration with the surrounding community.

Research categories awarded to the University of Opole in the evaluation for the years 2022–2025:

Category A:

Health sciences
Law
Linguistics
Literary studies
Political science and administration
Psychology

Category B+

Biological sciences
Chemical sciences
Computer science
Economics and finance
Educational sciences
Environmental engineering, mining and energy
Fine arts and art conservation
History
Medical sciences
Physical sciences
Theology