Prof. Dr hab. Rafał Matera
For the last eight years (two terms) as Dean, I have managed the work of the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Lodz where there are over 500 academic and administrative employees and 5,000 students.
Before working as a Dean, I coordinated mobility programmes at the faculty. I also worked at a private university as part of British validated studies. Therefore, I know the strengths and weaknesses of public universities when compared to non-public teaching and scientific institutions.
I understand the humanities, I practice Social Sciences (my research interests such as economics, sociology, international relations prove this), and I highly value Exact and Natural Sciences (I have scientific contacts with doctors and biologists). The Faculty of Economics and Sociology, which I was the head of, is interdisciplinary in nature – it employs people who carry out research in the field of economics and finance, sociological sciences, socio-economic geography and spatial management, management and quality sciences, legal sciences as well as physical sciences, computer science, mathematics and health sciences.
Building relationships is of key importance to me. As part of two dean's boards I had an opportunity to work with fantastic people. Also at my alma mater, Department of History of Economics, I had excellent contact with the entire team. Half of my scientific publications were co-written (I shared scientific work with a dozen or so researchers). I have supervised four doctoral students, and over 100 students have written their theses under my supervision. Several of them have been distinguished in various competitions.
My wife is an academic and the Head of the Department of American Studies and Mass Media – we have been together for thirty years and have two sons. When I am not working, I read books (mainly on an e-reader) and travel (usually with a small backpack).
My profile on the website of the University of Lodz.
My profile on Wikipedia.org
My vision is a HUMAN UNIVERSITY.
Rector of the University of Lodz manages the university, its activities and represents it externally. Competences of the Rector include, in particular:
Rector manages the university by setting its strategic development directions and supervising their implementation. He cooperates with Vice-Rectors and Deans, who are responsible for coordinating administrative processes and supporting Directors and Heads in managing individual units. The Rector ensures that academic and administrative goals are achieved in an integrated manner, which contributes to the efficient operation of the university as a whole. Chancellors cooperate with the Rector in the management of the central administration, which allows for a better use of resources and a faster response to the needs of the university.
Agnieszka Zgondek
E-mail: rektor@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 40 02
Narutowicza 68, room No. 111
Initiatives of scientific or socially useful natures may receive patronage from the Rector of the University of Lodz. Please visit the website explaining the rules for granting patronage (in Polish).
Dr hab. Dorota Golańska, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
I graduated in International Relations in 2002, obtained a PhD degree in Literary Studies in 2006 and a postdoctoral degree in Cultural Studies in 2018. My research concerns the phenomena of discrimination and the issues of political violence. I conduct research on political conflicts, militarisation processes, (ethno)nationalisms and political activism. I am also interested in decolonial theories and contemporary feminist epistemology.
I have completed several months of research internships at Utrecht University and Columbia University. I have published two monographs and a number of scientific articles; I have also edited six collective volumes. I am currently managing two NCN OPUS team projects as well as international research projects SMARTUP (CHANSE) and EUTERPE (HE&UKRI). I have completed an individual NCN OPUS project, participated in the GRACE (H2020), RESET (H2020) and GENDERGRADUATES (FP6) projects. I have managed two team projects financed by the ESF and participated in the work of the management committee and research groups of the COST action.
I have experience as an NCN expert, an expert in the CHANSE and HERA networks, as well as a member of the review team operating within the Economic & Social Research Council UKRI and an ERC and COST reviewer. I was a senator of the University of Lodz and a member of the Statutory and Organisational Committee in the 2016-2020 term. I am also a co-author of the “Gender Equality Plan” promoting equality and diversity within our academic community.
Horses and equestrianism are my passions.
The Vice-Rector for Science is the First Deputy of the Rector. The responsibilities of the Vice-Rector for Science include:
Ewa Czech
E-mail: prorektorka_nauka@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 40 04
Narutowicza 68, room No. 111
Dr hab. Małgorzata Wrzesień, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
From the beginning of my professional career, I have been dealing with issues of radiation protection of patients and staff exposed to ionising radiation. This topic, which is crucial for human health, has been present not only in my research, but also in my teaching work: my training courses have been supporting medical staff in performing their duties safely for nearly 10 years. I cooperate with numerous healthcare units and medical physicists.
Teaching has also accompanied me in other fields. After graduating from the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry at the University of Lodz, I worked as a lecturer and a teacher, among other things, at the High School No 13 in Lodz, the Righteous Among the Nations State Secondary School of the University of Lodz and the Specialist Extracurricular Work Centre Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory in Lodz. Thanks to this, I am not only a tenured teacher, but, just as importantly, I have gained experience at almost all levels of education.
I served as Vice-Dean for Teaching and Quality of Education in the term 2020-2024.
I received the 2nd degree team award of the Polish Radiation Research Society in the field of radiation hygiene for the publication Hand exposure to ionising radiation of nuclear medicine workers, ("Radiat Prot Dosimetry", 2008) in 2010, and the 1st degree team award of the Rector of the University of Lodz for teaching achievements in 2019.
I like to spend my free time reading and traveling both near and far.
The responsibilities of the Vice-Rector for Education include:
supervising the implementation of study curricula;
ensuring the quality of education and the accreditation process;
initiating changes in study curricula and supervising admissions;
developing a strategy for the development of education at the University of Lodz;
cooperating with enterprises in the field of student internships and supervising internship programme;
implementing innovative teaching methods and educational technologies;
supervising the quality of lifelong learning programmes;
supervising the quality of non-degree postgraduate study programmes;
supporting the development of digital competences of students and employees;
promoting the university as a centre of educational excellence;
supervising the supply of teaching equipment and its operation;
supervising the "Talented at School, Brilliant at the University" programme;
supervising Doctoral Schools in the field of doctoral education programmes;
developing learning outcomes for an inter-faculty study programme;
developing a strategy for implementing the so-called micro-credentials;
monitoring initiatives of the AI team ;
supporting the Vice-Rector for Popularisation of Science and Education in supervising the unit responsible for the knowledge and technology transfer;
supporting the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation of Science and Education in supervising the Foreign Language Centre;
supporting the Rector in the area of student affairs;
monitoring the implementation of the strategy of the University of Lodz in the managed area;
other matters related to the assigned scope of competences or ordered by the Rector of the University of Lodz.
Starting from October 2024:
Ewa Szulc
E-mail: prorektorka_ksztalcenie@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 40 24
Narutowicza 68, room No. 107
Dr hab. Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
I am a philosopher and an ethicist. I define myself as a hedonistic utilitarian. In my habilitation: Godny pożądania stan świadomości [Desirable State of Consciousness] (Lodz University Press) I argue that what is good for us are our states of mind. In 2024, Routledge published my book The Philosophy of Pleasure, which is the world's first comprehensive monograph devoted to hedonistic theory.
I have been cooperating with Peter Singer from Princeton University for many years. We have written two books together: The Point of View of the Universe (Oxford University Press, 2014) and A Very Short Introduction: Utilitarianism (Oxford University Press, 2017). We have produced a new edition of JSMill's classic book Utilitarianism.
I have completed two NCN grants. I received a grant from Yale University for research entitled: “The Theology of Joy and the Good Life – A Utilitarian Perspective” in 2017.
I have lectured and guest-taught at numerous universities including Princeton, Yale, Rutgers, Penn, NYU, Oxford, UCL, and at doctoral schools in Switzerland and the Netherlands.
I have been studying the issues of the good life, happiness and pleasure for twenty years. Furthermore, I deal with metaethics, utilitarian philosophy and problems of practical ethics: bioethics, animal rights, ethical aspects of new technologies. In considering these issues I am guided by curiosity: about human nature, desires and aspirations. Contact with people helps me satisfy this need. I really appreciate classes with students – they are a source of my inspiration and joy.
If I hadn't become a philosopher, I would have been a gardener. Lifting weights, hiking, and travelling also make my life more enjoyable. I have been hosting the Lives Well Lived podcast with Peter Singer since May 2024.
The duties of the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation of Science and Education include:
Ewa Czech
E-mail:prorektorka_umiedzynarodowienie@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 40 04
Narutowicza 68, room No.111
Dr hab. Radosław Olszewski, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
In my scientific work I deal with criminal procedure, fiscal criminal law and petty offence proceedings. I have supervised one doctoral dissertation, prepared reviews in fourteen doctoral dissertations and proceedings, served as secretary in four habilitation proceedings and supervised over eighty master's theses. I am a member of the Commission for the Quality of Education at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Lodz and the Head of postgraduate studies in Fiscal Criminal Law, and previously also in Fiscal and Economic Criminal Law and the New Model of Criminal Procedure. I chair the subject committee for penal sciences for conducting public defences of doctoral dissertations in the discipline of Law. I serve as a supervisor of the Student Science Club of Criminal Procedural Law and at the Law Clinic – Student Legal Information Point. I am a member of the Lodz Scientific Society.
Academic relationships should be based on respect, tolerance, openness and empathy. In my work – Head of the Department of Criminal Law and Criminalistics at the Faculty of Law and Administration and in other areas of my professional activity I treat these values as fundamental. This also applies to teaching activities and previously held functions: first-year supervisor or Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Lodz for Student Affairs in the BA and MA Administration and Social Policy study programmes.
When dealing with criminal proceedings, I pay particular attention to reliability, principles and guarantees. Being aware of their role, I have served as disciplinary spokesperson for doctoral students, chairman of the Disciplinary Appeal Committee for Students of the University of Lodz, disciplinary spokesperson in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and member of the Konwent Rzeczników.
I also intend to base my cooperation with current partners of the University of Lodz and to establish new contacts on the values that shape academic relations.
In my free time I play table tennis, hike in the mountains and expand my phillumenist collection.
The Vice-Rector for Academic and External Relations serves as the Second Deputy of the Rector. The responsibilities of the Vice-Rector include:
Ewa Szulc
E-mail: prorektor_relacje_kontakty@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 40 24
Narutowicza 68, room No. 107
Dr hab. Krzysztof Pabis, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
Nature has fascinated me since childhood. In high school I attended my first scientific symposia and became a member of the Polish Entomological Society. Since then, I have become a populariser of science as well as the author of several articles and a dozen or so educational books, including: Dlaczego motyl zjada muchę (CiS, 2018), Gąsienice w czekoladzie (Multico, 2018) and Prywatne życie mrówek (Ringier, 2020). I have also supervised two doctoral dissertations.
I am interested in complex ecological relationships and my research covers the world of European butterflies and the processes that shape marine ecosystems, including Antarctica, West Africa and the deep oceans of the Atlantic and Pacific.
I strongly believe that cooperation with other researchers is the foundation of good quality research. This is one of the reasons why I have decided to join the Committee of Polar Research Polish Academy of Sciences and the Association of Tutors of the University of Lodz. Expedition to the Antarctic and the three-month cruise across the Atlantic, during which I underwent equatorial baptism, was an extremely important experience in this field for me. On a daily basis I work with scientists from Norway, Portugal, Germany and the UK.
I am interested in the world in all its aspects: painting, photography, music, literature, cuisine, nature. I am a passionate reader of fiction and popular science literature, a fan of jazz, rock and classical music. Balance between work, family life and free time is very important to me. My way to relax is playing basketball or board games and taking walks in the forest.
In accordance with § 27 of the Statute of the University of Lodz, the Rector, Vice-Rectors, Chancellor, Bursar and other persons included in the team constitute the Rector's Board, which is an advisory body to the Rector.
Below you can find profiles of the key people responsible for the work of the administrative section of the University of Lodz. The Chancellor, together with the Deputy Chancellor, Finance Director and Bursar, play strategic roles in managing administrative processes, supervising infrastructure and finances, and supporting directors and heads of organisational units of the university. We encourage everyone to meet the members of the team that ensures smooth operation of our university, its development and efficiency.
Maciej Sysak
I have been working in various areas of the IT industry with a focus on customer cooperation and creative problem solving since 2007. I have held the position of Deputy Head of the IT Centre since 2014. Moreover, in the years 2022-2024, as the Rector's Representative for the Development of the University's IT and communication systems, I was also responsible for, among other things, the analysis of the university's needs in the development of the IT and communication system and their implementation.
In the IT Centre we have created our own systems: HR and payroll for the Rector’s Office, the University of Lodz Employee Service (an advanced HCM solution combining traditional HR information with an intranet module supporting communication and an extensive system for the circulation of fully electronic documents) and mobile applications for students, graduates and employees.
Initiating ideas, building concepts and finally giving them shape is something that has always driven me. I can proudly describe myself, and above all the entire team of the IT Centre, as the originators and creators of the Mobile USOS application currently used nationwide.
Managing projects and a team of around 50 people made up of a wide range of specialists allowed me to get to know our university in depth, and also provided me with experience in the most difficult and important area – supporting the needs and tasks of our community. Additionally, my position as an Assistant at the Sub-department of IT Management and IT Services Development at the Faculty of Management has helped me get familiar with many perspectives of the University of Lodz operation.
I am an IT manager, an analyst and a systems architect. I have always been associated with the University of Lodz, both formally (education and professional development) and at the level of vision and goal: I believe that looking ahead boldly, sometimes making difficult decisions and broad cooperation allow you to achieve the most difficult goals!
In the actions I undertake, I am ambitious, creative and focused on achieving common benefits for the entire University of Lodz. The experience I have gained over the years at the university allows me not only to make decisions quickly, but also, most importantly, to understand the needs of our community.
I love traveling, discovering new places, meeting new people and getting to know their perspectives. Thanks to this, I can constantly develop and boldly approach new challenges – those technical, business and organisational ones.
Chancellor of the University of Lodz coordinates administrative processes and supports directors and heads in managing individual units. The duties of the Chancellor include, in particular:
Office hours will be published in the second half of September.
Justyna Meksa
Ewelina Olczak
E-mail: kanclerz@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 40 10; +48 42 635 40 20
Narutowicza 68, room No. 101
Anna Rolczak
I have been associated with the University of Lodz for many years, I worked for the Faculty of Law and Administration since 2011, I also studied at this faculty and I graduated from the Faculty of Philology. I have supplemented my professional experience in the field of communications with Master’s degree at Clark University, and later with postgraduate studies in the area of service design at the School of Forms.
By going through all the levels of administrative career, I have gained experience that allows me to understand not only the processes in our institution, but also, most importantly, the needs of our community.
I have headed the Communications and PR Centre (formerly the Promotion Centre) since 2016, where, together with my team, we consolidated the university’s communication and were responsible for, among other things, managing the University of Lodz’s communication on social media profiles as well as for contacts with local and national media. We helped popularise science and promote research results. We presented the success stories and achievements of students, doctoral students, scientific groups, scientists, research teams and administrative staff, and supported the university’s social responsibility and pro-ecological activities. We were responsible for internal, external and visual communication.
I am involved in the work of the team responsible for communication at the European University of Post-Industrial Cities (UNIC), and I am also a member of Stowarzyszenie PR i Promocji Uczelni Polskich "PRom" (since October 2022 I have been the Vice-President of the association) and the European Association of Communication Professionals in Higher Education "EUPRIO", as a representative of the University of Lodz (since August 2022 in the steering committee, as a national deputy representative).
I am independent and ambitious and not afraid of challenges. I can quickly adapt to new conditions and tasks. I believe that teamwork is the key to the success of any community.
Professionally, I am particularly interested in: service design, human centred design, design management, strategic consulting, branding, visual identification systems and corporate communication.
Briefly about myself – an enthusiast of people, religions, cultures and the world. I always look for opportunities to delve deeper, especially in the areas I don't understand – I never grew out of asking everyone "why?"
I read and listen a lot. To recharge my batteries I need frequent city breaks (preferably in the north – I definitely prefer cold to hot). I find myself well in all circumstances – I like both jazz and classical, but also techno music.
The Deputy Chancellor of the University of Lodz coordinates administrative processes and supports directors and heads in managing individual units, as well as the Chancellor of the University of Lodz in these activities.
Due to many years of experience in the field of PR and marketing of universities, I am particularly close to the areas related to:
Additional responsibilities of the Deputy Chancellor of the University of Lodz include:
Office hours will be published in the second half of September.
Justyna Meksa
Ewelina Olczak
E-mail: kanclerz@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 40 10; +48 42 635 40 20
Narutowicza 68,room No.101
dr hab. Michał Mackiewicz, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
I have been combining practice and theory since the beginning of my career. Before practising science, I worked twice as an adviser to the Minister at the Ministry of Finance. My penchant for the finances of large institutions has shaped my interests. I defended my doctoral dissertation on the use of rules versus discretion in fiscal policy in 2006. Six years later I obtained a postdoctoral degree, also researching the topic of state finances.
Next to science there has always been practice. In the meantime, I founded and ran several companies, including a market research agency, a large company dealing with the preparation and implementation of European projects, a private nursery, a software company and a manufacturer of telephone gadgets. I am also an active real estate investor. I shared my experiences on a blog dedicated to running businesses and investing. From 2016 to 2024, I also combined my academic interests in finance and management experience by serving as Vice-Dean of Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Sociology.
I always base my financial management activities on the assumption that money cannot be the most important thing. Money is like the bloodstream in the human body: it remains essential, but after all, the purpose of human life is not to pump blood. Similarly, the good financial situation of both the university and each faculty should only be a background phenomenon. It is intended to enable the realisation of high-quality teaching and interesting learning but is by no means a goal in itself.
In financial management, I believe in rules, which I already dealt with scientifically at a doctoral level. I feel convinced that every zloty at our disposal should be spent in a predictable way, according to the rules that are known to everyone in advance and that are the same for everyone.
I try to find a good balance between work and leisure time. I hike a lot in the mountains; my wife and I know each other from the Student Science Club of Beskid Guides. Additionally, I am a passionate reader of detective stories and popular science books, especially on history and the development of civilisation.
The duties of the Finance Director of the university include:
Justyna Meksa
Ewelina Olczak
E-mail: dyrektor_finansowy@uni.lodz.pl
Phoen number: +48 42 635 40 10; +48 42 635 40 20
Narutowicza 68, room No. 101
Donat Kałuża
I am a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Sociology of the University of Lodz, majoring in Foreign Trade and postgraduate studies in capital markets. I have participated in numerous training courses in the field of currency trading, accounting, bookkeeping and public finance.
I worked as a sales representative, head of domestic and foreign sales, and also built a brand and ran my own trading company. For a dozen or so years I was a trustee and a court supervisor, as well as a chairperson of the board in manufacturing companies. I have been a Bursar of the University of Lodz since 2008.
LIFE OUTSIDE WORK
I have been happily married for 35 years. I am a father and a grandfather. I try to spend my free time in the bosom of nature. I breed dogs, currently specialising in the Polish Hound breed. I am a gourmet and a promoter of old Polish cuisine. I value honesty and a sense of humour.
The University of Lodz Bursar serves as the chief accountant. He manages financial processes and exercises control over salaries, assets, and the economical spending of the funds of the University of Lodz.
Office hours will be published in the second half of September.
E-mail: kwestorul@uni.lodz.pl
Phone number: +48 42 635 41 02
Narutowicza 68