The Ministry of State Assets (MAP) has prepared a draft amendment to the law on the management of state property, aiming to tighten requirements for candidates seeking positions on supervisory boards of state-owned companies. The changes include a longer required professional tenure, greater emphasis on managerial experience, and restrictions on the recognition of MBA diplomas. This is a direct response to the Collegium Humanum scandal, where politicians and officials obtained MBA degrees in an accelerated manner.
The draft, as reported by „Rzeczpospolita,” is awaiting entry into the list of legislative works of the Council of Ministers. The most significant change involves giving preference to individuals who have managed a large enterprise for at least five years. A large enterprise is defined as a company employing at least 250 people, generating over EUR 50 million in annual turnover, or having a balance sheet total exceeding EUR 43 million.
Additionally, the ministry wants to raise the required professional experience from five to seven years. The draft also tightens the recognition of MBA diplomas. Only programs conducted by appropriately authorized or accredited universities would be accepted, closing the loophole exploited in the Collegium Humanum affair. – The draft is waiting to be entered into the list of legislative works of the Council of Ministers – reported „Rzeczpospolita”.
Key changes: experience over certificates
The proposed regulations are designed to prioritize hands-on management experience over formal qualifications that can be easily obtained. The five-year management requirement for large enterprises is intended to ensure that supervisory board members have a proven track record of running complex organizations. The standard professional experience threshold is being pushed to seven years, raising the bar for all candidates.
The ministry’s move is part of a broader effort to professionalize the management of state-owned assets. Critics have long argued that political connections, rather than competence, have often determined appointments to supervisory boards. The new rules aim to make the process more merit-based.
Closing the MBA loophole
The Collegium Humanum case exposed how quickly some politicians and officials could obtain MBA degrees, often bypassing rigorous academic standards. In response, the MAP draft explicitly states that only MBA diplomas from properly accredited institutions will be considered valid for supervisory board candidates. This measure is intended to prevent similar abuses and restore public trust in the qualifications of board members.
The draft amendment is expected to be discussed by the government in the coming weeks. If passed, it will apply to all companies with State Treasury participation, potentially affecting hundreds of positions. The business community and legal experts are closely watching the process, as the changes could significantly reshape the landscape of corporate governance in Poland’s state-controlled sector.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PTWP
