Since 1989 Polish universities are undertaking a reform of their academic structure. During these ten years major efforts were made to modernise the teaching process, research organisation and management structures. In a view of the fact that the modern labour market requires open-minded versatile graduates the universities are striving to depart from traditional, self contained in faculty structures way of curriculum delivery and to introduce a modular course of study.

The above-described course of reforms requires appropriate management structures supported by effective management information systems. The universities partners in this project have already proceeded with major administration reforms.

Most of them undertook different reforms in the area of management structures and introduction of IT tools for information management. Most Polish universities have computerised databases for student registration and performance, but only at the faculty level. Therefore, our most immediate need is to integrate these systems into one university-wide date base. However, we are also aware that this is a complex task.

Another challenge faced by Polish universities is the introduction of a new admission procedure. Traditionally, a student is admitted to a faculty, which has its own admission procedure, usually lengthy and inefficient, and this makes a subsequent flow of students between the faculties very difficult. It was Warsaw University that initiated changes in this area through the introduction of the centralised candidate registration at a number of faculties along with joint entrance examinations in several fields 4 years ago.

An universities partners in this project made substantial progress during last two years in preparing Information Packages according to European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) standards and in the introduction of ECTS at least for international exchanges. The partners worked together on this issue in a Ministry of National Education (MONE) funded project and almost all of them took some steps to prepare an Internet version of their Information Packages, however most of the Internet accessible catalogues prepared are for individual faculties. Only Warsaw University made an effort to create a standard course description and commenced the creation of an university-wide course catalogue. This catalogue constitutes the basis for the further efforts planned within this project.

Collaboration between all the partners aiming at the best use of resources is the most effective way to further progress in the area of management information systems (MIS). The work will run parallel in two directions. A general, integrated management information system will be created. At the same time individual modules are to be developed.

The NET project is prepared with the above priorities in view. The participation of all Polish universities is the greatest strength of this project, which will make possible concerted actions in the area of MIS and the introduction of IT tools. Some of the participating universities are more advanced in particular areas and will play a leading role in the project. Thus the project will initiate and accelerate the developments in this area. Moreover, working in a large group will make it possible to set standards, which will be later used by all the partners. The advice and expertise provided by the EC partners will reach a large group of institutions in Poland and therefore will be used in the most efficient way.

The project will contain three types of measures:

1. Preparatory measures

Study visits to EC partners and site visits to Polish partners will be undertaken in order to analyse the existing models of MIS in higher education. These visits will be followed by reports on the models used (in EC and in Poland) and on relevant needs of the Polish partners.

2. Introduction of individual modules

Five new modules - Student Management Information System (SMIS), Centralised Admission Procedure (CSA) and Virtual Educational Network (VEIN), Flexible Study Systems (FSS) and Management Information Systems Model (MISM) will be designed and introduced. The approval by Rectors and Senates of individual universities of modules prepared for implementation will be ensured by the Supervisory Board and the project partners.

SMIS will be a database of students containing the following information:

Integration and standardisation of information on students and their performance has many uses. First of all, it improves management practices. It also allows for introduction of flexible study systems and flow of students between faculties, it supports national and international mobility, it can be used by educational authorities and researchers for statistical purposes (e.g. performance of promising high school graduates at universities, number and performance of disabled students).

The participating universities will introduce a central registration for admission of candidates. There are at least three reasons to introduce one central registration procedure for the whole university:

ˇ It is cost and time saving since students who want to enter different faculties do not have to register and pass examinations several times.

ˇ It is a logical predecessor of SMIS - successful candidates are then introduced into a student database.

ˇ It constitutes the basis for the new admission procedures, which will be introduced with the reform of secondary school graduation (“Nowa Matura”) soon after the year 2000.

The purpose of VEIN is to create a common standard for Polish universities and an electronic (Internet) platform for exchange and dissemination of information on courses and study (degree) programmes. It is planned to create catalogues in Polish and English version All individual catalogues of Polish universities will be linked in order to facilitate access to information on any of them. This will enable foreign students interested in studying in Poland to easily access information on Polish universities, courses and study programmes as well as on conditions of study in different universities. This way VEIN will facilitate introduction of flexible study systems and will support national and international mobility. The catalogues will also help to compare and set standards for study (degree) programmes.

One of our priorities is to integrate all existing and new modules in one system at each university. Another is to co-ordinate the efforts of all the participating universities in the area of management information Systems and in the use of IT tools. In order to achieve these aims a Task Force will be formed acting on behalf of the vice-rectors responsible for information management. Within the project the Task Force will be responsible for the preparation of a general plan for the use of IT tools in information management at the Polish universities. The Task Force will continue its work after the end of the project and will ensure co-ordination and coherence of efforts in this area.

The MISM module aims to design an integrated general management information system for Polish universities. Preparation of a report on integrated IT Systems for general management of higher education institutions in EC is assumed (including finances, personnel, etc.) A dissemination seminar will be organised to present results of the project and to discuss rules for future co-operation in the area of MIS. Guidelines for co-operation will be issued and disseminated: the guidelines will define rules and procedures of co-operation in selecting, purchasing and installing IT tools for MIS at Polish universities and defining the supportive role of MISM in the process

This module will be build on case studies of interdisciplinary study programmes at EC and Polish universities will be prepared on the basis of printed materials and study visits, i.e. profile of a student, organisational and legal framework. Case studies will be published and disseminated. Conference on flexible interdisciplinary study programmes and their future at Polish and EC will also be held. It will result in follow-up preparation of a set of guidelines and recommendations for future polices at national and university level.

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