A week ago Prof. Andrzej Kucharski became the dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology. Does the new faculty function without problems? What teaching methods would the dean like to change? What is his idea of cooperation with the industry?

400 researchers and academic teachers, 5,000 students – you became the dean of the largest faculty at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Is this responsibility more a constraint or a motivation to you?

Definitely a motivation. I’m not scared by these numbers, because the rector manages an even larger organism. Of course, I do not compare myself to the rector. However, I believe that everything is a matter of proper organization and proper cooperation with people. The larger the unit, the more you have to rely on people which you trust. If you tried to do everything on your own, down to the last detail, you would have a simple recipe for a failure.

So, have you already chosen your closest associates, vice-deans, whom you will trust?

Yes, but I don't want to give any names just yet. I must first consult them with the rector, because it is the rector who appoints vice-deans at the dean's request. I think I can say, however, that they will be people representing all the components of the new faculty. It consists of four departments from the former Faculty of Electronics, three from the former Faculty of Computer Science and Management and one from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology. I decided that it would be good if all the combined former faculties were represented among the vice-deans. It will be fair this way. In turn, as a dean, I should stop identifying myself with my background, and instead focus only on the future.

Eight departments operating in different locations and following different organizational styles. Did combining them run smoothly?

Everything at the faculty started according to the plan. None of the departments has stopped its activity. All classes are taking place as planned. Of course, we don't know each other well enough to know everything about each other. We need some time for this to change. In some time, we will probably forget where each of us came from. If we keep on talking about it forever, there will be unnecessary barriers. Of course, in the initial period it's not to be avoided, but we should look to the future. We are a new faculty and this is how we should think about ourselves. This also applies to the new vice deans. It does not matter what faculty someone worked at before. The most important thing is to well perform the entrusted tasks.

The faculty has been operating for almost a month. During this time, did you notice any element that requires immediate improvement?

Fortunately, there is no such big case. The problems that have emerged relate more to the start of the new academic year and mainly to the pandemic. However, this problem applies to the entire university. Of course, the most emotional response is triggered by the hybrid form of the classes, but the attitudes to it are very different. Some people are fed up with remote work and would prefer even the lectures to be held in a stationary form. Others prefer remote work, because it helps solve even such small issues as moving between classes. There is no perfect solution and we have to get through this period of the pandemic.

And has the creation of a new faculty changed anything in the education system?

In this aspect, we are somewhat prisoners of the legal system, which states that students must complete their studies on the basis of the same regulations they began with. We can't really change anything about this matter. From the students' point of view – so far – only the name plate has changed, because the fields of study and the lecturers remained the same.

What needs to be changed in the long run?

There are many things to do, but I would like to involve the students in this discussion. I feel that we tend to treat their participation in various types of advisory and opinion bodies as a necessary formality. I believe their share should be greater. They should attend meetings and be honest about what they like and what they want to be changed. I will invite them to such talks and ensure they know that they are doing it for their successors. I would also like to have a thorough look at the study programs. Check them for consistence and logics. Our graduates should feel that all the classes in their study program were really needed. The second issue is to make the classes more individual, especially in the second cycle of studies. Students must feel they are participating in joint research or initiatives. Currently, the most active students are grouped in student scientific organizations and they fulfil themselves there. I believe that it can be approached more systemically. I don't know what level will be possible to be achieved with such a large number of students. It will take a tremendous amount of work on the part of the teachers.

Such an individual approach may be an incentive to pursue doctoral studies.

Of course, but our perception of students is crucial here. From the point of view of a company, they are their new staff in a short time perspective. Using market terminology, as a university we produce graduates. On the other hand, it is common to think that students are our clients and that we sell them a commodity which is knowledge. I do not like both views very much. Perhaps the solution will be to refer to some of the concepts of the Humboldt University, i.e. to combine student education with scientific research. Imagine a student and a lecturer who are to some extent a complementary team and who conduct research together. Now, if we were able to include a company from the outside and look at everything a bit wider... Who knows how quickly this could translate into the emergence of new technologies and innovative solutions.

Speaking of companies. How do you envision the cooperation between the faculty and the industry?

In this respect, I have high hopes in the Social Board, which is now being formed, which will include representatives from the so-called economic environment. It will be the platform of our daily cooperation. There are many topics to discuss. Companies already make students offers of, for example, classes that can be carried out outside the study program as additional courses. Business representatives were also asked to give their opinion on study programs, although there is a conflict of interest in this respect. Companies would like us to educate graduates specialized in a specific environment, and we want a more universal approach. Another issue to be discussed is the issue of implementation doctorates and the emerging problem of intellectual property. It concerns not only doctoral theses, but also the work of our scientists. Companies tend to keep rights to the solutions developed in cooperation with the university. Meanwhile, scientists care about the publication of research results, because all evaluation systems are based on them. As you can see, there are many issues. We'll start discussing them as soon as the board is in place.

In the near future, you will certainly not run out of duties. Will you have a moment to rest and ride a bike? As far as I know, it's one of your hobbies.

I don't know, but I would like to. The initial period is very difficult. Everything has to be put in order. When everyone is finally in their proper work rhythm, it will be probably possible to combine work with a hobby. Cycling is a great thing – your brain has a chance to rest at this time. When riding a bike, I don't think about solving the work-related problems, but instead focus on the pleasant aspects.

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