Marcin Gołek Destroys MBA Diploma from Collegium Humanum After Scandal Erupts

A diploma scandal in Poznań's city hall has revealed another case of a public figure linked to the controversial Collegium Humanum. Marcin Gołek, the Vice-Mayor of Poznań responsible for climate and environment, admitted to possessing a Master of Business Administration diploma obtained from this Warsaw-based higher education institution. He undertook the studies due to their convenient, remote format, which allowed him to combine learning with professional duties. In an interview with "Głos Wielkopolski" on March 5, 2026, the politician unequivocally assessed this decision as a mistake. "It was a mistake" – stated the vice-mayor, referring to the choice of an institution that became the epicenter of a nationwide educational scandal. After the scandal erupted, which involved many local government officials and public figures across the country, Gołek took a radical step. As reported by the portal epoznan.pl, the politician destroyed his diploma using a shredder. He claimed he wanted to symbolically distance himself from the controversies surrounding the university. "He claims that after the scandal broke out, he destroyed it in a shredder" – reported the service. This decision shows the scale of social and media pressure that accompanied individuals linked to Collegium Humanum after allegations were revealed about issuing diplomas without an appropriate level of education. Collegium Humanum is a private university founded in 2018, offering mainly postgraduate, MBA, and doctoral studies in an online format. Its activities gained prominence in 2025 when media began reporting on suspicions regarding educational standards and the value of issued diplomas, leading to a broad discussion about the quality of private higher education in Poland and influencing the perception of qualifications obtained at such institutions. However, the case of the Poznań vice-mayor's diploma has not only a symbolic but also a very practical dimension. As revealed by Onet.pl and "Głos Wielkopolski", this document had a direct impact on part of Gołek's professional career. The MBA diploma from Collegium Humanum helped him obtain a seat on the supervisory board of the municipal company Energetyka Poznańska. This position, as the politician explained, required appropriate qualifications confirming managerial knowledge, and the diploma was meant to formally confirm them. This aspect of the case shows how qualifications from a controversial university could open doors to lucrative positions in municipal companies, raising additional questions about competency verification mechanisms. However, Poznań authorities firmly separate the matter of employment on the supervisory board from the appointment to the vice-mayor position. The city hall spokesperson in conversations with media unequivocally denied that the diploma from Collegium Humanum had any influence on Gołek's employment as Vice-Mayor for Climate and Environment. She emphasized that his competencies were assessed solely based on previous professional experience and substantive achievements, not formal documents from a specific university. Such a stance by the office attempts to separate the politician from the institutional scandal he became entangled in due to his earlier educational decisions. Mayor of Poznań, Jacek Jaśkowiak, commented on the entire matter in a brief statement for "Głos Wielkopolski". The city's head called his deputy's decision to study at the controversial university a mistake but did not indicate any professional or personal consequences. Information from the Onet.pl portal indicates that Gołek remains in his position, and his further work at the city hall is not currently threatened. The lack of announcements of specific actions from superiors suggests that city authorities treat the matter as a past incident that does not affect the current assessment of the vice-mayor's work. „To był błąd” (It was a mistake) — Marcin Gołek Reactions of Poznań residents to the revealed information, collected by "Głos Wielkopolski", show a certain social habituation to similar situations. Many Poznań residents in comments expressed a lack of surprise at the fact that a local government official possessed a diploma from Collegium Humanum. "I have exactly zero surprise" – was one of the characteristic comments quoted by the newspaper. Such an attitude may indicate a certain normalization of similar practices among public figures or low social expectations regarding the quality of qualifications obtained by politicians and officials.

Perspektywy mediów: Criticizes the systemic weakness of qualification controls for local government officials and the influence of unclear educational pathways on filling positions. Emphasizes the individual responsibility of the politician for the erroneous decision and the lack of direct consequences from superiors. The entire case shows a broader problem of public trust in qualifications obtained from private educational institutions, especially those offering accelerated and remote study programs. The revelation of the Poznań vice-mayor's case constitutes a local example of a nationwide phenomenon that shook the local government and political environment. Gołek's actions – from admitting the mistake, through destroying the diploma, to attempts to explain the practical consequences of possessing the document – illustrate a typical reaction path for public figures entangled in similar controversies. The lack of more serious professional consequences may, in turn, indicate the limited effectiveness of mechanisms for holding officials accountable for decisions regarding their educational paths, which nevertheless had a real impact on their careers and the positions they held.