The university's activities for Sustainable Development and Goal 8 presented in the reports for 2021-2022 and 2020-2021 "Lodz University of Technology on the path of sustainable development".
As part of the implementation of the Integrated Programme of Lodz University of Technology, the competences of the university's teaching staff are being improved in the following areas: English, didactics, e-learning, presentation skills
and attractiveness of education.
Managerial and administrative staff develop their skills in the areas of language competence, project management (certified and non-certified), team management, interpersonal communication, work organisation, preparing presentations, stress management and preventing professional burnout, among others. In addition, training is provided on the use of the POL-on system and Excel, public procurement in EU projects, public procurement law, technology transfer and coaching and mentoring.
There are also a number of study visits and overseas training in leading units around the world. 40 managerial and administrative staff improve their competences by taking part in postgraduate and MBA courses. A number of organisational changes and improvements are planned in areas affecting the efficiency of university management.
The industry seminar organised by the Department of Production Management and Engineering was held as part of the international Circular Week series of events. Its theme focused on building and promoting an innovative and sustainable economy. It was attended by entrepreneurs interested in exchanging information, networking on proenvironmental behaviour of producers and consumers, sustainable development, circular economy, LCA.
There are three trade unions at Lodz University of Technology. Their representatives play a very important role in ensuring cooperation between management and staff. They support the TUL employees in their efforts to achieve better working
conditions, pay rises and social security.
They also strive to provide good quality education. They also offer material and legal assistance.
All TUL activities relating to the procurement of goods and services must comply with applicable laws, regulations, directives, etc.
The university manages its property in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and legality.
When making public expenditures, it is also guided by the principles of purposefulness and economy, taking into account the need to achieve the best effects from given expenditures, the optimum selection of methods and means to achieve the assumed objectives, the need for timely execution of tasks.
Lodz University of Technology is the initiator and coordinator of the ICT Central Poland Cluster, which represents and integrates the ICT industry in the region. It strengthens the position of the ICT industry in the region and creates conditions for its further dynamic development.
It has an important and recognizable voice in the discussion on the future and directions of the region's development, being a source of initiatives supporting innovativeness and cooperation of the economic, academic, scientific and local government environments, as well as providing substantive and opinion-forming support for initiatives submitted by other entities participating in economic life.
TUL makes it possible to conduct scientific research or development work and to train scientific staff at the highest world level.
This is done in accordance with the principles of academic freedom and freedom of creativity, respecting academic values. With a view to further dynamic development, the university is taking strategic actions resulting from the implementation of the content of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. These
include the following areas:
- implementation of good practices in staff recruitment and strengthening the competences of administrative support staff;
- promoting worker mobility;
- promoting and disseminating research results;
- career guidance and support for young academics;
- specialised training in the area of commercialisation and knowledge transfer and other forms of support for cooperation with industry.
As part of the implementation of the Integrated Program of Lodz University of Technology, the competencies of the university's teaching staff are being improved in the following areas: English language, didactics, e-learning, presentation skills and attractiveness of education. Management and administrative staff develop their skills in areas such as: language competence, project management (certified and non-certified), team management, interpersonal communication, work organization, delivering presentations, stress management or preventing professional burnout. In addition, training courses are conducted on the use of the POL-on system and Excel, public procurement in EU projects, public procurement law, technology transfer as well as coaching and mentoring. There are also a number of study visits and foreign training sessions in leading institutions around the world. In 2021, as many as 516 teaching staff, research and teaching staff and 567 administrative staff took part in the training courses under the TUL Integrated Program.
Lodz University of Technology, being aware of the impact of the assumptions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers on ensuring a high-quality work and research environment, has included the provisions of these documents in internal legal acts, procedures and practices applied at the university. The crowning achievement is awarding the title of HR Excellence in Research to Lodz University of Technology in 2016. In 2019, the European Commission extended TUL certification of HR Excellence in Research, and in 2022 TUL received another extension, which results in the approval of the Action Report for the years 2018-2021 and the adoption of a new Action Plan for 2022-2024. Positive external evaluation of activities in this area proves that the procedures introduced at TUL enable creating a positive and friendly workplace for scientists. All analyzes and activities carried out as part of HR Excellence in Research have been described in detail and published on the TUL website.
TUL has a system of financial support, e.g. non-refundable financial aid in a difficult life situation, or low-interest loans for the renovation and modernization of housing. Numerical data on the beneficiaries of this system are presented in the description of SDG1. TUL also cares for the well-being of employees and their families. The university has four holiday resorts: in Wiartle in Masuria, in Jastrzębia Góra in the Baltic Sea region, in Szklarska Poręba in the Sudety Mountains and in Konopnica on the Warta River. Stays in the guesthouses are co-financed from the Company Social Benefits Fund. 1,420 people benefited from such co-financing in 2021. Employees may also benefit from co-financing of holidays in a non-accounting form, the so-called ‘holidays under the pear tree’ (3,028 people benefited in 2021), as well as co-financing summer and winter camps for children (2,709 children took advantage of such an opportunity in 2021). TUL Sailing Club has a sailing base and its own yachts in Roganty, on Lake Dargin in Masuria, which the members of the Club can use on very convenient terms and and where, among other things, training camps under the name "First Step Under Sail" are organized for employees and their families (a total of 150 people received funding in 2021), as well as camps for doctoral students.
1,139 TUL employees benefited from co-financing under the employee pension scheme.
There is also a Senior Club at TUL which organizes trips, tickets to theaters and concerts, as well as a Fishing Club. Both clubs also receive funding from TUL. The university also has a cultural offer for its employees and students: monthly meetings "Music at the Lodz University of Technology" and "Thursday Culture Forum". TUL Academic Orchestra and the Academic Choir of the Lodz University of Technology are thriving. Four art galleries ("Biblio-Art", "Politechnika", " Krótko i Węzłowato” and “Pod napięciem”) exhibit works by recognized artists as well as amateur artists from TUL. In 2021, the University allocated over PLN 13,860,000 to support its employees and their families in the field of recreation and culture.
There are three trade unions at Lodz University of Technology. Their representatives play a very important role in ensuring cooperation between management and staff. They support TUL employees in their efforts to obtain better working conditions, pay rises and social security. In connection with the implementation of these tasks, representatives of the unions participate in the work of all collegial bodies of the university, consult all legal acts developed at TUL regarding employee and student matters, ensure the protection of employees' rights and entitlements in the field of employment, disciplinary matters and remuneration. In their offer, trade unions also have material and legal assistance as well as a cultural offer, e.g. cinema/theatre tickets with discounts, or sightseeing trips.
Lodz University of Technology enables conducting research or development work and educating scientific staff at the highest world level. This is done in accordance with the principles of freedom of science and freedom of creativity with respect for academic values. With a view to further dynamic development, the university takes strategic actions resulting from the implementation of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers. They cover the following areas: implementation of good practices in the recruitment of employees and strengthening the competences of administrative staff; supporting worker mobility; promoting and disseminating the results of scientific research; career counseling and support for young scientists; specialized training in the area of commercialization and knowledge transfer and other forms of support in the field of cooperation with the industry.
All TUL activities related to the procurement of goods and services must comply with applicable laws, regulations, directives, etc. The University manages its assets in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and legality. Managing public expenditure is also guided by the principles of purposefulness and economy, taking into account the need to obtain the best results from given expenditures, the optimal selection of methods and means to achieve the assumed goals, and the need to complete tasks on time.
The Code of Good Practices in the Organization of Competitions for the Positions of Academic Teachers at TUL regulates the issues of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment. This document is the implementation of the HR Strategy for Scientists, which was developed at the Lodz University of Technology as part of the application with the HR Excellence in Research logo. The good practices presented in the Code also refer to the provisions of the "European Charter for Researchers" and the "Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers". The Charter defines the rights and obligations to which scientists and institutions employing them are subject, while the Code defines the rules of recruitment of scientists that employers should follow.
Out of concern for the good preparation of students for their future work, TUL takes care of the practical aspect of learning, and the implementation of internships is a significant part of it.
In first-cycle studies, it is a mandatory requirement in the syllabus. Although internships are a recommended but not obligatory in second-cycle studies, they are carried out in most majors. TUL attaches great importance to verifying the competences acquired in the course of studies in the work environment. The university - taking advantage of its extensive contacts with industry and with the strong Career Office support - assists students in the implementation of this element of study program. Students are provided with a range of offers and they have the opportunity to adapt the internships to their needs - internships can take various forms: from holiday exchange internships, internships under IAESTE to industrial internships in the largest Polish and global companies. Students also have the opportunity to complete extra-curricular internships in the form of so-called additional practices and internships.
The Career Office actively operates at TUL, supporting the academic community in dealing with the labour market. It establishes and develops contacts with entrepreneurs. Career Office also verifies the expectations of the labor market towards students and graduates of TUL thanks to regular meetings with employers and presentations of their companies at the university. During such meetings, employers present the business profile of their company, familiarize interested students with its mission, values, achievements, present the requirements and forms of recruitment.
The office also offers job placement, apprenticeships and internships, prepares handbooks, conducts career coaching and career counselling, professional aptitude tests as well as development programs and training aimed at professional activation conducted by trainers from the Career Office and representatives of companies. The activities of the Career Office in 2021 include registering 1,843 job offers, providing support to 278 people through career counseling and entrepreneurship counseling, 69 training courses and workshops for 3,218 students and graduates of Lodz University of Technology, 440 hours of business coaching. The TUL Career Office is also a co-organizer of Europe's largest job fairs, which are a periodical event - the 17th edition of the Academic Job Fair, which took place in May 2022, attracted 18,000 visitors, 140 exhibitors, 40 training courses on various topics, attended by approx. 1000 participants.
TUL cooperates with employers in upgrading study programs. Employers participate in class visists, monitor students' progress and achievement of learning outcomes defined for internships, but above all, they support TUL in adapting programs to the current challenges of Polish industry. Business councils operate at individual faculties. Their task, as an advisory body, is to evaluate the education process and provide substantive support
in its implementation and continuous improvement of programs. The activity of business councils allows for monitoring the needs of the industry in the context of specific competencies of graduates. Thanks to this, it is possible to modify the program and adapt it to trends in a given industry. An important role in the education and improvement of programs is also played by the clusters to which Lodz University of Technology belongs:
Employers' representatives also define the scope of student projects, transitional theses or diploma theses. In 2021, 77 design works and 93 diploma theses were carried out in cooperation with the industry. Lodz University of Technology is also a member of the Lodz Regional Council of Industry of the Future, which includes economists, scientists and entrepreneurs from the Lodz Voivodeship. It’s purpose is to outline development strategies, support the digital transformation of enterprises and build the competitiveness of the economy. The role of TUL in the Council is to identify development trends in various areas of industry and to train highly-qualified personnel.