In this world there is a brought space for catholic universities

What is the situation of Catholic universities in Poland and around the world? What are the values of studying medicine at such universities as the KUL? What is to be faced in the sphere of science, but also mission at Catholic universities? An interview with Fr. Dr. Armando Puig i Tarrech, who visited The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) in his capacity as chairman of the Holy See's Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of the Quality of Education in Universities and Faculties of the Church (AVEPRO).

Monika Stojowska: The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin is the oldest and the first university in Poland to be certified by AVEPRO. What does it mean in practice?

Ks. dr Armand Puig I Tarrech: The system of Catholic Church regarding the Certification of quality is a special one because we don’t work like the national agencies which have a kind of direct control of the situation and the universities are obliged to do this evaluation, to allow people to come there, to control and to decide which is wrong, which is right and so on. In our case, we think that the evaluation starts with a wish, with a desire. When somebody says and thinks that in order to improve quality it is good to self-evaluate the institution and after that to accept people coming from outside may also evaluate the raport it has been written at the occasion of intern evaluation. This is the first characteristic. The second one is that this process is performed with a very low cost. Generally speaking national agencies do their work but obliging, inviting universities to pay fees of that.

How many universities have such a certificate? Jak wiele uczelni ma taki certyfikat?

We have 300 institutions that are under our umbrella. Within those institutions are ecclesiastical institutions. For example, in this university there are 2 faculties which belong to the discipline of the Catholic Church, strictly speaking which is namely: Theology and Philosophy. After that you have the Institute of Canon Law. We are not going to evaluate medicine, economy or political sciences. Although those faculties belong to the catholic university like this one but those are not ecclesiastical matters in the strict sense. It is very nice in these faculties that all the students follow several religious matters which do not belong to strictly speaking to their faculties. For example, logic or ethics. If you are doing medicine, logic is a kind of strange matter because it doesn’t belong to the curriculum of medicine but if you want to share the spirit of the university, logic is an important thing. The spirit is the consequence of the identity, of the university as the catholic university.

It is said the catholic universities are prestigious. In Poland it is not quite like that. What is the reason for it?

When KUL was founded over 100 years ago it was among how many universities in Poland? Quite a few. How many universities exists in Poland now? A lot. Now are the online universities and so on and so forth. In this area, KUL is very important because here people have understood, the Rector of KUL and staff and so on, they cannot live over the past glory but must live for the present challenges. For instance, you in recent times set up a faculty of medicine. It is a good choice. And the small story of the numbers of those who were longing to become a student and the real number who were actually accepted? 2000 and 60. It means that it is a real demand of the univeristies when they promote real and attractive programme. At the same time, our universities should accept quality as the main scope. Quality means research, means openness to the society, to culture, not being endogamic institutions and to have this flavor of knowing how the man and women of this very historical moment are behaving and doing the things. So the comprehension of the historical moment where you live now, 2023 is very important. In this world there is a brought space for catholic universities. Because they have an identity which in the begining may sound as an old identity but explained and lived as such is an identity gives an answer to the so many question people are putting themselves today.

Are the biblical studies the future? Why are they important in Poland and in the world?

Well, biblical studies are strong in different countries. Here, in Lublin there is a tradition of biblical studies and it would be nice to improve and to push up this tradition because there is a certain amount of scholars that are well prepared and have already given let’s say given aspiring fruits means articles, books, monographs and so on. So, on this basis we can build the future. The faculty, the university, the institute its always the mixture of two factors. Scholars and students. If you have well prepared scholars but don’t have the students, something is wrong. And on the opposite. So, I am impressed by the quality of the publication I’ve seen coming out from this team of biblical scholars here. At the same time, I think it is a challenge for all of you to make this number of students grow.I agree with the fact that Lublin has cultural and historical position which may allow people to consider this university as a reference university in the field of biblical studies.

How do you see the future cooperation between AVEPRO and KUL?

This cooperation has already started, because Rev. Prof. Nowosad is a member of our scientific council. Ta współpraca już się rozpoczęła, ponieważ ks. prof. Nowosad jest członkiem naszej rady naukowej.

How Catholic universities face with their problems? If there are any.

I was the Dean of the Faculty of Theology but we have to distinguished the catholic univestity from the ecclesiastical faculties. I mentioned at least two problems. The problem of quality, the problem with the relationship within the culture and the society and the problem of having real project. Those are the three main problems.

Thank YOU for the conversation