Higher Schools vs. Cities' Social Capital in the Light of Theory of Contacts Świetokrzyskie Voivodeship Case

Systemic transformation process in Poland has led to a dynamic development of higher schools. Those higher schools generate new, both formal and informal, connections triggered by people working there, especially by those at higher positions. This situation leads to the creation of relation networks. Thanks to them one can get, process and transfer information, enlarge the owned knowledge which is necessary to raise the productivity of own activities. In compliance with the theory of contacts it should lead to social capital growth which stimulates development of the analysed areas. The objective of this paper is to characterise and compare contacts of rectors and deputy rectors of state and private higher schools in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship as well as to evaluate on this basis the part of social capital which develops thanks to formal contacts kept by the researched with people who are at a similar position in other institutions.