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<p>The determinants of higher education policy have their sources in various spheres, such as economic, social, educational, national policy, administrative, and demographic. Problems for the development of higher education also stem from these spheres. One of them is the challenging demographic situation that is a significant element of developing higher education in southern Poland (particuarly in the Silesia region). Given this context, this article aims to indicate the policies of the universities in the region which respond to the existing demographic threats. This relationship is to confront student opinions regarding their vision for their education and future career within the current demographic situation. Using research-based on an analysis of university and regional local government strategic documents and surveys carried out among students, we conclude that higher education development policy is responding to the demographic transformation. Meanwhile, students’ attitudes to the challenges of the demographic situation is quite “flexible” and relatively ambivalent. This article presents the contrast between the increasingly tricky demographic situation in Silesia, Poland, and the limited response in the two main groups of stakeholders – academic authorities and students – that require shaping higher education ipolicy towards future demographic challenges.</p>
</abstract>

The determinants of higher education policy have their sources in various spheres, such as economic, social, educational, national policy, administrative, and demographic. Problems for the development of higher education also stem from these spheres. One of them is the challenging demographic situation that is a significant element of developing higher education in southern Poland (particuarly in the Silesia region). Given this context, this article aims to indicate the policies of the universities in the region which respond to the existing demographic threats. This relationship is to confront student opinions regarding their vision for their education and future career within the current demographic situation. Using research-based on an analysis of university and regional local government strategic documents and surveys carried out among students, we conclude that higher education development policy is responding to the demographic transformation. Meanwhile, students’ attitudes to the challenges of the demographic situation is quite “flexible” and relatively ambivalent. This article presents the contrast between the increasingly tricky demographic situation in Silesia, Poland, and the limited response in the two main groups of stakeholders – academic authorities and students – that require shaping higher education ipolicy towards future demographic challenges.

The impact of regional demographics on Higher Education Policy. An example from Silesia, Poland

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The determinants of higher education policy have their sources in various spheres, such as economic, social, educational, national policy, administrative, and...

The impact of regional demographics on Higher Education Policy. An example from Silesia, Poland

Publicado en línea: 13 mar 2021

Páginas: 10 - 22

Recibido: 15 jun 2020

Aceptado: 20 ene 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/environ-2021-0002

Palabras clave
higher education policy, demographic problems, university strategies, Silesia

© 2021 Robert Krzysztofik et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The impact of regional demographics on Higher Education Policy. An example from Silesia, Poland

Publicado en línea: 13 mar 2021

Páginas: 10 - 22

Recibido: 15 jun 2020

Aceptado: 20 ene 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/environ-2021-0002

Palabras clavehigher education policy, demographic problems, university strategies, Silesia

© 2021 Robert Krzysztofik et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
higher education policy, demographic problems, university strategies, Silesia