A surprising announcement by the new rector of the Jagiellonian University. I want to introduce a four-day school week

As we read, prof. Piotr Jedynak was elected by the Electoral College as Rector of the Jagiellonian University for the 2024-2028 term. He was one of four candidates for this position. The rector-elect will take office on September 1, although he has already announced some of the changes he wants to introduce.

The new rector of the Jagiellonian University wants to introduce a shorter study week

Prof. Piotr Jedynak admitted that this year’s election campaign at the Jagiellonian University was intense, and the victory in the first round was a great surprise for him. He also thanked all members of the academic community for participating in many debates and meetings. – The last two months were the most intense for me in my professional life, and certainly in my academic work – he said. – I had to learn a lot of things in areas that I did not manage at the university. In a word, I got to know the Jagiellonian University better, which makes me very happy, because it is also a good harbinger for the upcoming term. There are many challenges ahead of us, including investment ones. We need to complete the renovation of the Rotunda Cultural Center, start the construction of a dormitory in Ruczaj, and also improve the housing situation of two faculties located in the center – said the rector-elect.

In his election program, the new rector of the Jagiellonian University announced the creation of the best possible employment and educational conditions at the Jagiellonian University, ensuring the financial stability of the university, but also maintaining and further investing in research and teaching infrastructure. Moreover, at the press briefing he mentioned that he did not rule out limiting the study program to four days a week, including: due to the part-time work students often undertake. – We want to find a golden mean between, on the one hand, shortening this week, but on the other hand, maintaining the quality of education – he emphasized.

Who is the new rector of the Jagiellonian University?

Prof. Piotr Jedynak graduated from management and marketing at the AGH University of Science and Technology and completed interfaculty doctoral studies at the University of Economics in Krakow. In 1998, after defending his doctorate, he committed his future to the Jagiellonian University, starting work at the Faculty of Management and Social Communication of the Jagiellonian University (WZiKS UJ), where he is an employee to this day. During his university career, he held a number of positions, including: head of the Department of Management Systems, deputy director and later director of the Institute of Economics, Finance and Management (until 2014 the Institute of Economics and Management), as well as dean of WZiKS UJ. Since 2020, he has been the Jagiellonian University’s vice-rector for human resources and financial policy. The newly elected rector of the Jagiellonian University is the author of approximately 150 scientific publications, including the author or co-author of 12 monographs. He supervised 4 doctors and approximately 200 master’s and bachelor’s degrees. He was a reviewer in approximately 20 doctoral and habilitation proceedings as well as proceedings for the title of professor.

All 238 electors took part in the vote for the new rector. The winner, i.e. prof. Piotr Jedynak, supported by 122 people, prof. Tomasz Grodzicki – 63, prof. Armena Edigariana – 49, and prof. Dorota Malec – 4. Professor Jedynak is the 307th rector in the history of the Jagiellonian University and from September 1 he will manage it for the next 4 years.