The procedure for appointing PKA members is regulated by Article 251, sections 3 and 4 of the Act on Higher Education and Science, according to which:
- The members of the PKA are appointed by the Minister.
- Candidates for PKA members may be nominated by higher education institutions, the General Council for Science and Higher Education, hereinafter referred to as “RGNiSW”, the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, the Conference of Rectors of Public Vocational Schools, the Conference of Rectors of Vocational Schools in Poland, the presidium of the PKA, the PSRP, national scientific associations and employers’ organizations.
The procedure and rules of recruitment of experts from academic staff, employers, international experts and students are specified in Annex No. 6 to the Statutes of the Polish Accreditation Committee.
- candidates for experts from among academic teachers are proposed by the Sections, based on their academic or artistic achievements and didactic or professional experience or gained in quality assurance agencies for higher education;
- candidates for experts from among students shall be proposed by the competent body of the Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland, based on their knowledge and practical experience in the field of the principles of organising a higher education institution and the course of study, with particular emphasis on the rights and obligations of students;
- candidates for international experts shall be proposed by the President based on their international experience in the field of evaluation of the quality of education;
- candidates for experts from among employers are proposed by employers or organisations representing them, based on their knowledge of the principles of organisation of higher education institutions and cooperation with the social and economic environment, as well as experience related to cooperation with universities.
Annex No. 6 to the Statutes of the Polish Accreditation Committee
The qualification procedure leading to the appointment of an expert from among academic staff includes:
- identification by the members of the Section, of the discipline(s) in which it is necessary to recruit experts and higher education institutions having leading scientific or didactic achievements in this discipline(s);
- applying to the Rectors of the higher education institutions referred to in points (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). 1 with a request to indicate candidates with recognised academic and didactic achievements in a given discipline/discipline, including expectations towards candidates and the deadline for submitting applications;
- collecting applications from candidates containing information confirming that the conditions laid down in section 1, subsection 1 and Article 251, sections 5 and 6 of the Act have been fulfilled;
- preliminary assessment of the qualifications and achievements of the candidates submitted by the Team, the team for teacher education or the appeal team;
- presenting candidates who have received a positive opinion of the Section to the Secretary-General, in order to obtain the initial approval;
- submitting the list of candidates for experts to the President and the decision on appointing experts made by the President.
Annex No. 6 to the Statutes of the Polish Accreditation Committee
The recruitment procedure leading to the appointment of a student expert includes
- publication on the website of the Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland of an announcement on the recruitment of experts, including the schedule and requirements for candidates, as well as information on the recruitment of experts to student self-government bodies;
- collecting applications from candidates containing information confirming that the conditions specified in section 1, subsection 2, and in Article 251, section 5, subsection 1 and 4 of the Act are fulfilled by the Team qualifying candidates, composed of: a representative of the President for cooperation with experts in student affairs, a representative of the Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland;
- preliminary selection of candidates by the Selection Panel in accordance with the criteria specified in the recruitment announcement;
- training of candidates on detailed procedures and criteria for programme and comprehensive evaluation;
- conducting interpersonal skills development training of candidates;
- submitting to the President a list of candidates who have obtained a positive evaluation at all stages of the recruitment process and the decision on appointing experts made by the President.
Annex No. 6 to the Statutes of the Polish Accreditation Committee
The selection procedure leading to the appointment of an international expert includes:
- providing the Sections and foreign accreditation agencies with information on the recruitment of experts, including expectations towards candidates and deadlines for submitting applications;
- collecting applications from candidates containing information confirming that the conditions specified in section 1, subsection 3 and in Article 251, sections 5 and 6 of the Act are met;
- evaluation by the President of the candidates’ qualifications and achievements;
- decision by the President on appointment of experts.
Annex No. 6 to the Statutes of the Polish Accreditation Committee
The qualification procedure leading to the appointment of an expert from among employers or organisations representing them includes:
- provision of information to employers or organisations representing them on the recruitment of experts, including expectations of candidates and deadlines for the submission of applications;
- collecting by the proxy of the President for cooperation with employers the applications of candidates containing, in particular, information confirming that the conditions specified in section 1 item 4 and in Article 251 sections 5 and 6 of the Act are met;
- assessment of candidates’ qualifications by the President’s proxy for cooperation with employers;
- submitting the list of candidates together with the necessary documentation to the Secretary-General for approval;