From the 27th to the 31st of May 2012 the XI School of Strategic Management of Polish Rectors Foundation dedicated to Chancellors and Bursars/Financal Directors took place in the Congress Centre hotel Krasicki in Lidzbark Warmiński. The project was realized in compliance with the guidelines of the Program of Permanent Projects of competence building of staff responsible for administering and/or managing HEIs.

72 representatives from 39 universities took part in the School. In the agenda there were 9 speeches and 3 panel debates.

The programme of the meeting consisted of three modules:

  • Development strategy of university in the light of changes in higher education
  • Management instruments and financial economy of higher education
  • New solutions in higher education

The special guests included Prof. Zbigniew Marciniak - Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of  Science and Higher Education, Prof. M. Branecka - expert in public finance discipline, Dr A. Gajewska - expert in consulting and financing of projects in the area of ​​Project Finance and Public-Private Partnerships, Prof. Włodzimierz Siwiński - professor of economics at the Warsaw University and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Polish Rectors Foundation, Adam Wiśniewski -  Head of Promotion of Innovation Department from Polish Patent Office, Michalina Wójcik - Deputy Head of the Department of Budget and Finance in Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Professor Jerzy Woźnicki - the coordinator of the school. For reasons beyond the control of the organizers, despite previous confirmation, some lecturers have not participated in the school. As a substitute for these lecturers, there were additional sessions about current problems in higher education.

One of the main issues discussed during the school were university development strategies in the light of changes in higher education (statutory requirement for creating them and implementing at the universities). A large number of participants also raised the issue of public-private partnerships, including experience with the implementation of specific programs of action in this formula.

Moreover, participants appreciated the presentation of the results of the project "Management control in HEIs", which was realised by Polish Rector Foundation as a part of a longtime Programme Benchmarking in higher education.

The average grade of the school for chancellors and bursars/financal directors was 4,3 (in the scale from 1 to 5).