Meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) for the SGH Warsaw School of Economics

The meeting was hosted by the Rector of the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, dr hab. Piotr Wachowiak, prof. SGH, who gave a presentation concerning the School and the most important, strategic objectives of its development in the nearest future. Among others, he pointed to the challenges related to dynamically shifting political and economic conditions as well as the uncertainty of the domestic and international environment.

Rector Wachowiak underlined that the unpredictability of the modern world meant that in-depth cooperation between higher education institutions was of key importance and allowed overcoming challenges and harnessing opportunities for development. In this context, academic and management-related experience which the IAB members have may be incredibly important for the plans for the SGH’s further growth.

The IAB meeting, divided into sessions, saw as well the participation of: dr hab. Roman Sobiecki, prof. SGH, Vice-Rector for Development; dr hab. Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak, prof. SGH, Vice-Rector for Research; dr hab. Jacek Prokop, prof. SGH, Vice-Rector for International Relations; dr hab. Krzysztof Kozłowski, prof. SGH, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs; and further dr hab. Dorota Niedziółka, prof. SGH, Dean of Graduate Studies; dr hab. Paweł Pietrasieński, prof. SGH, Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Cooperation with the State of Nevada; dr Małgorzata Znoykowicz-Wierzbicka, Deputy Dean of Undergraduate Studies; and officers and representatives of the Rector’s Office and SGH International Centre.

Our international guests sitting on the IAB were: prof. Jan Kratzer, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Academic Director and Founder of the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Berlin Technical University; prof. Gregory Mosier, Dean of the College of Business, University of Nevada, Reno; prof. Julia von Maltzan Pacheco, Associate Dean for Global Affairs in School of Business Administration in Sao Paulo of Getulio Vargas Foundation; prof. Sin Hoon Hum, Associate Dean of the School of Business at the National University of Singapore; and, joining us online, prof. Sherif H. Kamel, Dean of the Faculty of Management at the American University in Cairo.

The two-day discussions of the Board concerned such topics as: (1) best practices in managing a higher education institution (discussion moderated by Vice-Rector Prokop); (2) “The teaching process and university strategies for attracting local and international students – discussion and exchange of best practices” (discussion moderated by Vice-Rector Kozłowski); (3) a higher education institution’s research strategies: developing and implementing research strategies towards academic excellence – discussion and exchange of best practices” (presentation of the SGH’s academic profile and discussion moderated by Vice-Rector Chłoń-Domińczak).

In the discussions, the participants pointed to the fundamental change of conditions in which higher education institutions function, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian aggression and war on Ukraine, and the slowing growth of the global economy. Diverse experiences of universities in Singapore, Egypt, Brazil and the United States were presented. What was underlined, was that in the context of increasing competition on the global education market, it is still key to maintain the high quality of education.

An important part of the meeting was also a presentation on the current situation in Ukraine, prepared and given by dr Iryna Degtyarova, Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Cooperation with Ukrainian Universities. Dr Degtyarova and dr Jakub Karnowski held a discussion on the role of European and non-European higher education institutions in supporting their Ukrainian counterparts and the strategy of post-war recovery and reconstruction for Ukraine and its higher education.

The visit to Poland was also an opportunity to tour the SGH Campus, including the largest library for economics in Poland; the guide was dr hab. Marek Bryx, prof. SGH, Rector’s Plenipotentiary for the Development of the SGH Campus. The members of the Board were also able to take a look at Warsaw and learn about the history, culture and traditions of our country.

The International Advisory Board (IAB) for the SGH Warsaw School of Economics is a consultative body that has been created to advise the SGH Rector on current challenges and long-term strategy for the School.

The Board sets out the direction to be taken and offers some guidance as how to achieve strategic goals and how to evaluate the overall scientific results of the SGH. These are crucial for satisfying criteria of international accreditation and for being ranked among the best business and economics universities.

The IAB is a group of eminent scholars and experienced university leaders, hailing from all continents and representing the most prestigious economic universities and business schools from all across the world. The IAB meetings are held in person and online, a few times a year. 
Currently, the Board operates with eight members:

• prof. Stefano Caselli, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Bocconi University in Milan;
• prof. Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger, Rector of Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU);
• prof. Jan Kratzer, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Academic Director and Founder of the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Berlin Technical University;
• prof. Gregory Mosier, Dean of the College of Business, University of Nevada, Reno;
• prof. Julia von Maltzan Pacheco, Associate Dean for Global Affairs in School of Business Administration in Sao Paulo of Getulio Vargas Foundation;
• prof. Sri Zaheer, Dean of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota;
• prof. Sin Hoon Hum, Associate Dean of the School of Business at the National University of Singapore;
• prof. Sherif H. Kamel, Dean of the Faculty of Management at the American University in Cairo.