Decision-Making Processes at Public and Private Universities in Poland
Purpose: The article offers a comparative analysis of decision-making processes at public and private universities in Poland, focusing on governance structures, the distribution of authority among institutional actors (rector, senate, faculties), and the factors shaping academic and administrative strategies. It examines how these processes affect institutional effectiveness, educational quality, innovation, and adaptability to socio-economic change. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study applies a comparative qualitative approach, drawing on legal frameworks (e.g., the Law on Higher Education and Science), accreditation standards of the Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA), and national and international reports (GUS, OECD, EUA). It reconstructs decision-making through four stages—information acquisition, analysis, implementation, and evaluation—and includes a comparative case analysis of one public and one private university. Findings: Public universities operate within formalized, hierarchical frameworks that ensure transparency and accountability but limit flexibility. Private universities, in turn, adopt managerial and market-oriented governance characterized by autonomy, centralized leadership, and adaptability, though they face financial and legitimacy challenges. Effective decision-making in both sectors depends on stakeholder integration, labor-market alignment, financial sustainability, and crisis readiness. The study suggests that hybrid governance—combining collegial participation with managerial agility—offers the most balanced path to institutional development and competitiveness. Practical Implications: Recommendations include: (1) harmonizing collegial and executive authority; (2) strengthening data-driven governance; (3) diversifying financial resources; (4) integrating digitalization and internationalization; and (5) institutionalizing adaptive leadership and crisis preparedness. Originality/Value: The article provides an updated synthesis of governance in Polish higher education and offers empirically grounded recommendations tailored to the Polish legal and socio-economic context.