Deputy Minister of Agriculture and agrarian Development, Michał Kołodziejczak, associate of Donald Tusk's government, was at the center of the media scandal. According to the prosecution's findings and accounts of portals specified as ♪ I don't know ♪, the politician was to pay as much as PLN 5 000 for obtaining a degree in management at Collegium Humanum – a university frequently criticized for suspicious student practices.
How was the “study” of the Deputy Minister?
Investigative findings show that the process of handling papers for the Deputy Minister had already begun on 15 January 2024. On that day, Michał Kołodziejczak signed a contract with Collegium Humanum. A fewer days later, he handed over the documents, and on February 7, he was listed as a student.
"According to our information, everything has been carefully prepared by a group of people acting in agreement. This process did not include conventional classes, there were no exams or diplomas. It was a fast and customized strategy to get a diploma without learning" – we read in the journalistic report.
Degree ‘on order’
According to Bernard K., 1 of the defendants, Michał Kołodziejczak was to present him with files which were then transferred to the university administration. Bernard K. was besides expected to instruct employees how the next steps of the recruitment procedure and the defence of the undergraduate work would look.
"I was to enter the names of Kołodziejczak and 2 another people into the Socrates system. They were all expected to receive high-speed management degrees in June, even though they allegedly only studied for a fewer months. The evaluations were to be entered 'out of the head', without any verification," Bernard K. testified during the investigation.
False papers and counterfeit certificates
One of the key evidence in this case is simply a false certificate from the Silesian university, planted and signed by Basel N. – the rector of that institution. According to this document, Kołodziejczak had studied there for six semesters and continued to survey at Collegium Humanum.
‘This certificate was falsified. Kołodziejczak never studied at this Silesian university. Moreover, 2 another persons who were besides awarded diplomas were besides to be transferred from the same school – which suggests systemic actions to legalise illegal rights", the portal reports. ♪ I don't know ♪ citing investigative material.
How much did it cost to get a diploma?
According to investigators, in the end Michał Kołodziejczak was to pay a full of around 18 1000 zlotys:
- PLN 14 1000 – tuition fees for studies,
- Okay. PLN 4 1000 – additional services of Bernard K.
The first installment, amounting to PLN 5,000, was transferred straight to Collegium Humanum. However, yet Kołodziejczak did not receive his diploma – the detention of Rector Paul C. by the Central Anti-corruption Office in May 2024 interrupted the full process.
Investigation ongoing
The prosecution shall have at least 4 witnesses testifying to the participation of different persons in this scheme. In addition to Bernard K., Zenon Ch., Basil N., Wojciech S. and Jolanta B. were besides arrested.
Until now, there has been no authoritative message by the Deputy Minister himself. The Ministry of Plantity and agrarian improvement referred to the case laconically, stating that it "waits for the results of the investigation".
The case of Collegium Humanum – legal precedent?
This is simply a substance of major social controversy, but it may besides be of judicial significance. Although there is presently no precedent for the Constitutional Court or the European Court of Human Rights concerning cases of irregular acquisition of diplomas, the Polish courts have repeatedly assessed negative actions aimed at educational fraud, recognising them as a violation of the principles of good morals and public faith.
In the judgement of the territory Court for Warsaw-Sródmieście of 12 March 2021 (Event No III C 31/21), the court stated that the issue of a diploma without having completed appropriate stages of education constitutes a violation of educational law and may lead to criminal liability.
The scandal associated with Michał Kołodziejczak and Collegium Humanum is another example of suspicious functioning of any private universities and political influences on education. The substance will undoubtedly have its political and legal consequences.
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Michał Kołodziejczak was to buy a diploma at Collegium Humanum for PLN 5,000
