This report is part of a series of country projects within the OECD programme of work on “Building Effective National Skills Strategies”.
The OECD team wishes to thank current Minister for National Education, Dariusz Piontkowski, and former Minister for National Education Anna Zalewska for their commitment to this project. We are also grateful to Secretary of State for National Education, Marzena Machałek, for her ongoing support during this project.
The OECD is grateful to the Poland National Project Team for its invaluable guidance and input throughout the project, and its help convening and organising the stakeholder workshops. We are particularly grateful to the National Project Leader, Maciej Lasota from the Ministry of National Education, for his strong leadership and co-ordination of the National Project Team, which included, in alphabetical order: Aleksandra Jackiewicz (Ministry of National Education), Marcin Łata (Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology), Beata Lewczuk (Ministry of Investment and Economic Development), Agnieska Majcher‑Teleon (Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy), Katarzyna Świader (Ministry of Science and Higher Education), Violetta Szymanek (Ministry of Digital Affairs), and Paweł Zdun (Ministry of Investment and Economic Development).
Our warm thanks go to the many government and non-government representatives who generously shared their insights during workshops, focus groups and bilateral interviews with the OECD team in Warsaw and Krakow, and via written input. Over 100 stakeholders participated in the various meetings that took place during OECD missions. These stakeholders represented ministries, government agencies, subnational authorities, education and training institutions, businesses and business associations, unions and community associations, academia, civil society and other organisations1. The OECD would also like to take the opportunity to thank the staff of the Ministry of National Education and the Educational Research Institute for their excellent organisation of the stakeholder workshops and for their hospitality in hosting these events. We also thank the many experts who volunteered as moderators and note-takers during the workshops.
The OECD team is grateful to the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission for contributing both financial support and expertise throughout the project. We are especially grateful to Alison Crabb and Michael Horgan, as well as Rafal Janas, Krystyna Marek, Bartosz Otachel, Judit Rozsa and Aneta Sobotka.
While the report draws upon data and analysis from the OECD, Polish authorities and other published sources, any errors or misinterpretations remain the responsibility of the OECD team.
Ben Game (OECD Centre for Skills) was the OECD project leader responsible for co-ordinating the National Skills Strategy project in Poland. The authors of this report from the OECD Centre for Skills were: Chapter 1. Key insights and recommendations (Bart Staats, Ben Game and Stefano Piano); Chapter 2. Making the education system more responsive to labour market needs (Stefano Piano, with initial contributions from Sylwia Golawska); Chapter 3. Fostering greater participation in adult learning of all forms (Ben Game); Chapter 4. Strengthening the use of skills in Polish workplaces (Bart Staats); and Chapter 5. Strengthening the governance of the skills system (Ben Game). Sylwia Golawska and Andrzej Żurawski (consultants) provided invaluable research assistance, feedback and translations at different stages of the project. Cuauhtémoc Rebolledo-Gómez and Serli Abrahamoglu (Centre for Skills) provided statistical support, while Laura Dimante, Dami Seo, Sam Thomas and Georgina Young (Centre for Skills) provided assistance developing country examples and finalising references. As Head of the OECD National Skills Strategy projects, Andrew Bell (Centre for Skills) provided analytical guidance, comments on chapters and supervision. Montserrat Gomendio (Head of the OECD Centre for Skills) provided guidance, oversight and comments, while Stefano Scarpetta (OECD Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs) provided strategic oversight for the project, as well as comments.
Véronique Quénehen (Centre for Skills), Lauren Thwaites (Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs) and Jennifer Cannon (Centre for Skills) provided invaluable support for mission organisation, report layout and design, and publication planning. Elizabeth Zachary provided proofreading and editorial support.