Marcin Gołek, the Vice President of Poznań responsible for climate and environment, holds a Master of Business Administration diploma from the controversial Collegium Humanum university, as revealed by the media in March 2026. The politician admitted that choosing this institution was a mistake, and after the nationwide scandal erupted, he destroyed his diploma in a shredder. Journalistic findings indicate, however, that this document had real professional significance—it helped Gołek secure a position on the supervisory board of a municipal company. City authorities claim the diploma had no impact on his appointment as vice president, which was based on other qualifications. The case has sparked reactions from residents and constitutes another episode in the broad scandal associated with the university.

Diploma from a controversial university

Poznań Vice President Marcin Gołek obtained an MBA diploma from Collegium Humanum, a private university that became the center of a nationwide scandal concerning educational standards. The politician himself described his choice as a mistake, motivated by the convenient, remote form of studies.

Destruction of the diploma after the scandal

After the disclosure of the diploma scandal involving many local government officials, Gołek decided to physically destroy his diploma using a shredder. As reported by the epoznan.pl portal, he wanted to symbolically distance himself from the controversies surrounding the university and the negative public perception in this way.

Impact on career in a municipal company

The Collegium Humanum diploma had practical consequences for Gołek's career. According to findings by Onet.pl and "Głos Wielkopolski," this document helped him obtain a place on the supervisory board of Energetyka Poznańska, which required formal managerial qualifications. This aspect raises questions about the mechanisms for verifying competencies in municipal companies.

Position of the city authorities

The press spokesperson for the Poznań city hall firmly separated the issue of employment on the supervisory board from the appointment to the vice president position. She assured that Gołek's competencies for serving as vice president for climate and environment were assessed solely based on his professional experience and substantive achievements, not the Collegium Humanum diploma.

The revelation that Poznań Vice President Marcin Gołek holds an MBA diploma from the controversial Collegium Humanum constitutes another episode of the nationwide educational scandal that has involved many public figures. The case came to light thanks to publications by "Głos Wielkopolski" and the Onet.pl portal in early March 2026. Gołek, who in the city hall is responsible for climate and environment, in conversations with the media unequivocally assessed the decision to study at this Warsaw university as a mistake. "It was a mistake," stated the politician, explaining his choice by the convenient, remote form of education that allowed him to combine studies with professional duties. After the scandal erupted, which discredited Collegium Humanum in the eyes of the public, Gołek took a radical step, physically destroying his diploma. As reported by the epoznan.pl portal, "he claims that after the scandal broke out, he destroyed it in a shredder." This decision was a clear gesture of distancing himself from the mounting accusations against the university concerning low educational standards and the questionable value of issued documents. The case, however, has a deeper, institutional dimension, extending beyond the symbolic destruction of paper. Journalistic findings indicate that the Collegium Humanum diploma had very concrete, professional significance for Marcin Gołek. As the media explained, this document helped him obtain a place on the supervisory board of the municipal company Energetyka Poznańska. This position, according to requirements, needed formal confirmation of managerial qualifications, which the MBA diploma was supposed to provide. This aspect of the case sheds light on a broader problem: how qualifications obtained from institutions with a controversial reputation could open doors to lucrative and responsible positions in companies dependent on local government, funded with public money. Questions arise about the effectiveness of internal mechanisms for verifying candidates' competencies in such entities. Collegium Humanum is a private Warsaw university founded in 2018, offering mainly postgraduate studies, MBAs, and doctoral programs in an online format. Its activities gained notoriety in 2025 when the media began reporting serious suspicions regarding educational standards and the value of issued diplomas. The scandal, which involved hundreds of graduates, including many local government officials, politicians, and civil servants, led to a broad public debate about the quality of private higher education in Poland and the ethical and legal aspects of obtaining formal qualifications. The authorities of Poznań, represented by the city hall press spokesperson, firmly separated the thread of employment on the company's supervisory board from the issue of Gołek's appointment to the vice president position. In communication for the media, it was emphasized that the Collegium Humanum diploma had no influence on the decision to entrust him with the function in the city hall. Gołek's competencies for managing the climate and environment area were to be assessed solely based on his previous professional experience, substantive knowledge, and achievements, not the controversial document. This line of defense aims to maintain trust in personnel decisions at the office and separate the vice president's image from the scandal associated with the university. The case has sparked lively reactions in Poznań.

Mentioned People

  • Marcin Gołek — Vice President of Poznań for climate and environment, holder of an MBA diploma from Collegium Humanum.