Poland: The window to higher education in Eastern Europe?

Upheavals in Poland during 1980–1981 included proposals for some dramatic changes in its system of higher education. Taking advantage of the momentum for change created by Solidarity and using the strike weapon where necessary, academics and students produced temporary changes which in some cases represent a complete reversal of previous policies. By studying these changes one obtains a view of some of the directions socialist higher education in Eastern Europe might take if the opportunity permitted.Author's Note: The account that follows results from a sabbatical spent in Poland during the early months of 1981. It reflects the reading I did and the impressions I gained while there. Any conclusions reached are my own and should in no way reflect on the people of Poland who hosted my highly stimulating stay there.