National level

Ministry of National Education 

The  Ministry (the website in Polish) coordinates activities in the area of continuing education at the national level. The responsibility for this area is shared between the Vocational Education Department (VED) and the Innovation and Development Department (IDD). 

The VED is responsible, in particular, for: 

• the organisation of work in, and the functioning of schools providing vocational education, and for adult education; 

• vocational exams and extramural exams; 

• conditions and procedures for acquiring and supplementing general knowledge and vocational skills and qualifications in non-school settings, and for improvement of the accreditation system for continuing education in non-school settings; 

• the Integrated Qualifications System (IQS), with the Minister acting as the coordinator. 

The main responsibilities of the IDD include: 

• coordination of the LLL policy, including the implementation of the Integrated Skills Strategy and administrative support for the Inter-Ministerial Task Force for LLL and the IQS; 

• promotion of adult learning, including the concept of Local Knowledge and Education Centres; 

• cooperation with central and local government institutions and social partners, including employers, in the area of adult learning; 

• cooperation with stakeholders for the coordination of regional-level activities in the areas of vocational education, higher education and LLL, also as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.  

See also general information about the range of responsibilities of the Ministry in Chapter 1.6 ‘Administration and governance at central and/or regional level‘.

Ministry of Science and Higher Education

The term ‘continuing education’ is not used in the Law on Higher Education and Science as the main legislative act for higher education. However, in view of the so-called third mission of higher education, this area can be considered to include: open universities (run by some higher education institutions); third-age universities (run by some institutions, but operating mainly outside the higher education system); and expert services, including training services, commissioned by various entities on an individual basis. 

Within the Ministry, the Department for the Organisation of Higher Education Institutions, Education and Student Matters regulates matters relating to non-degree postgraduate programmes, specialist programmes and other types of education offered to adults by higher education institutions.

See also general information about the range of responsibilities of the Ministry in Chapter 1.6 ‘Administration and governance at central and/or regional level‘.

Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy

The Ministry is the main partner of the Ministry of National Education in the field of continuing education for adults, and in particular, for unemployed people, some categories of job seekers and employed people. 

Continuing education is mainly the responsibility of the Labour Market Department. In this area, it cooperates with the minister responsible for school education. It also develops and disseminates tools, methods and resources to support career guidance and the development of competences of the unemployed and employed, and is responsible for matters related to EURES and economic migration.

Other ministries (incl. Ministries of Culture and National Heritage, Development and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, Climate and Environmental Protection, and Health)

Responsibilities include, for example, participation in the work of the Inter-Sectoral Task Force for LLL and the IQS, and activities undertaken as part of the skills development policy in line with the idea of LLL.

Regional / province level (województwo)

Regional authorities

Regional authorities are responsible for public education, including higher education. In particular, they establish and administer public in-service teacher training institutions, educational resources centres/libraries, and schools and institutions operating at regional and supra-regional levels. The planned network of such schools and institutions is outlined in a development strategy for a given province.

Each province governor submits a motion to the minister responsible for school education to appoint or dismiss the Head of the Regional Education Authorities (REA) (kurator oświaty) who exercises so-called pedagogical supervision over schools and non-school education settings in a given province.

Regional authorities also keep the Register of Training Institutions operating within their region.

See also general information about the responsibilities of local government at this level in Chapter 1.6 ‘Administration and governance at central and/or regional level‘.

District level (powiat)

District authorities

District authorities establish, administer and finance public post-primary schools (established in accordance with the legislation on school education), continuing education institutions, vocational education and training centres and sectoral skills centres. Sectoral skills centres may also be administered by other local government units, other institutions, organisations and natural persons based on an agreement concluded with the competent district authorities. 

See also general information about the responsibilities of local government at this level in Chapter 1.7 ‘Administration and governance at local and/or institutional level’. 

Commune level (gmina)

Commune authorities

Communes establish, administer and finance public primary schools.

See also general information about the responsibilities of local government at this level in Chapter 1.7 ‘Administration and governance at local and/or institutional level’.

 1.

Improving key skills in children, young people and adults

The ministers responsible for school education, higher education and science; culture and national heritage; sport; family, labour and social security; economy; regional development; and province-level executive bodies and other entities

2.

Developing and fostering a learning culture geared towards active and continuous development of skills

The ministers responsible for school education; economy; regional development; digitalisation; and province-level executive bodies and other entities

3.

Increasing employer involvement in the development and better use of skills

The ministers responsible for economy; family, labour and social policy; school education; and regional development; province-level executive bodies and other entities

4.

Building an effective system for skills assessment and anticipation and dissemination of related information

The ministers responsible for school education; economy; family, labour and social policy; and regional development; and province-level executive bodies and other entities

5.

Developing effective and sustainable mechanisms for inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination

The ministers responsible for school education; higher education and science; economy; regional development; and digitalisation; and province-level executive bodies and other entities

6.

Ensuring equal access to opportunities for the development and use of skills

The ministers responsible for school education; higher education and science; culture and national heritage; sport; family, labour and social policy; economy; and regional development; and province-level executive bodies and other entities