Research Unit

The Research Unit has been a part of the LSE SU Polish Business Society since 2017. Each year we conduct student-led research projects and organise events to facilitate a debate on some of the most complex challenges for students and the higher education sector nowadays. We aim to use our expertise and findings to help universities and businesses adapt to a rapidly changing world.

R.unit Report 2022

2021 Report

In 2020/2021, we worked on a report discussing how the changes introduced at selected Polish and British universities due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the students’ sense of belonging to the academic community.

The report consists of two parts. The first section presents in detail the changes implemented by universities to facilitate further learning and development of the students in response to the COVID-19 related restrictions. The second part includes an analysis of the survey examining the changes in students’ sense of belonging to their universities.

We believe these two matters to be strictly interconnected. Becoming acquainted with the circumstances surrounding students can help understand the factors affecting their feelings about their connection to the university. Our findings reveal that despite the efforts of the universities’ authorities, students rarely feel a part of the community. Even though their academic results have not worsened, the general satisfaction from learning significantly decreased due to lack of in-person contact.

Conclusions of the 2021 Report were presented during the 10th edition of the LSE SU Polish Economic Forum conference on 14 April 2021. The presentation was followed by a panel discussion with invited experts: Prof. Przemysław Sadura (University of Warsaw), Przemysław Staroń (SWPS University), and Zuzanna Samson (LSE PBS Research Unit). The discussion was moderated by Justyna Suchecka (TVN24). Full video coverage from the debate is available here.

Past Reports

In 2019/2020, we compared the situation of university graduates entering the labour market in Poland and in the UK. Presentation of our key findings took place during the Young Professionals’ Cocktail on 6th March 2020 and was followed by a panel discussion with invited experts and guests.

In years 2017-2019, our Research Unit worked on a report titled Comparing the higher education systems in Poland and the UK, which was based on a case study analysis of the Warsaw School of Economics, University of Warsaw, London School of Economics, and University College London. The paper also included a set of recommendations for Polish universities on how to further modernise and was presented during the annual Polish Economic Forum in London.