University of Opole wins Polish Quality Award 2025

Prof. Rafał Matwiejczuk accepted the Polish Quality Award 2025 on behalf of the University of Opole and participated in the panel ‘There is no future without modernity – the new face of science’. during the Polish Entrepreneurship Congress in Wrocław.

The issues in the debate, which was attended by Prof. Rafał Matwiejczuk, Vice-Rector for Finance and Development, included knowledge and technology transfer in an academic setting and cooperation between education and the socio-economic environment, including the barriers separating these two worlds.

The discussion also focused on investing in employees and study programmes that would be both future-oriented and attractive. After all, education should meet the needs of the labour market and technology.

The debate was also attended by: Prof. Piotr Młynarz (Wrocław University of Technology), Prof. Szymon Szewrański (Wrocław University of Life Sciences), Dr Sylwia Hałas-Dej (Koźminski Executive Business School), Ryszard Kessler (Vice- Mayor of Wrocław) and Witold Ziomek (MPWIK S.A. Wrocław).

On the same day, on behalf of the University of Opole, Prof. Rafał Matwiejczuk received an award for the university’s performance – the Polish Quality Award 2025, and he also gave an interview to Nauka i Biznes (Science and Business), in which he talked about the work of the University of Opole.

Prof. Matwiejczuk spoke, inter alia, about the new organisational structure of the university and its development strategy, including internationalisation, practical education and cooperation with the socio-economic environment. Other topics included the HR Excellence in Research Award given to the University of Opole and the FORTHEM Alliance, which, in addition to the University of Opole, also brings together eight other universities.

The interview also touched upon the medical programme, launched eight years ago, and interdisciplinary research, implementation and development centres operating at the University of Opole, including: the International Research and Development Centre, the Centre for Early Modern Research, and the Centre for Radio Monitoring and Radioactivity Measurements. The Vice-Rector also mentioned the investments that the University of Opole had made thanks to the National Recovery Plan.

‘A university is not only a place for acquiring knowledge, but also a space where people’s attitudes are shaped, social capital is built and foundations for the future of the region are laid. Our goal is development, but also a visible, responsible and authentic presence in the life of the city, the country and the world. It is also an institution that shapes regional identity and contributes to a culture of openness,’ said Prof. Rafał Matwiejczuk.

At the Polish Entrepreneurship Congress in Wrocław, the University of Opole was also represented by: Joanna Kostuś (Chancellor of the University of Opole), Maciej Kochański (Director of the Rector’s Cabinet), Iwona Święch-Olender (Press Officer), Marek Liśkiewicz (Director of the University Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer) and Anna Tęgosik (UCWiT), and the team from the International Research and Development Centre.

Link to the entire conversation: The University of Opole as a centre of innovation, internationalisation and cooperation with the soci-economic environment