Date added: 2024-01-04
Gdańsk University of Technology sums up 2023
– What was this year like? It was certainly intense, hard-working and difficult, considering what's happening in Poland and around the world, but we are a strong organization that can approach changes skillfully. I would like to thank the entire community of Gdańsk University of Technology for a common year of fruitful work. A year full of commitment and passion. I would like to thank the employees, PhD students, students and graduates – says Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, rector of Gdańsk University of Technology.
The most cited scientists in the world, publications in "Science", high in parameterization
At the beginning of the year, Gdańsk University of Technology received the final results of awarding scientific categories for the disciplines it conducts. Thus, as part of the evaluation of scientific activities for the years 2017-2021, as many as six disciplines conducted at Gdańsk Tech obtained the highest possible category A+.
Grzegorz Boczkaj, PhD, DSc, Eng., professor at Gdańsk Tech from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as one of six scientists representing Polish scientific institutions, was included in the list of the most frequently cited scientists in the world - Highly Cited Researchers Top 1% (Clarivate).
62 scientists from Gdańsk Tech (9 more than last year) were included in the World's TOP 2% Scientists 2022 list, which includes researchers whose publications are most frequently cited by other authors in the world.
Two articles with Gdańsk Tech affiliation were published in the "Science" journal: an article on the impact of nighttime artificial light pollution on human health, the main author of which is Karolina Zielińska-Dąbkowska, PhD, Eng., Arch. from the Faculty of Architecture and an article on newly identified variants of mitofusin 2, co-authored by Miłosz Wieczór, PhD, Eng., from the Faculty of Chemistry.
The innovative reactor for the pyrolysis of unsorted industrial and municipal waste created at Gdańsk Tech received the main prize and a special award of the Minister of Education and Science in the Polish Product of the Future competition, as well as one of the main awards of the Eagles of Innovation of the "Rzeczpospolita" newspaper.
Gdańsk Tech also received the EDUinspiracje 2023 award in the "Equalizing opportunities" category for the project of developing an innovative social robot in the therapy of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Moreover, researchers from Gdańsk Tech obtained additional millions of PLN for the implementation of research projects in 2023, and were also recognized for their achievements by the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Minister of Education and Science, the Minister of Development and Technology, the Foundation for Polish Science (START scholarships), the Gdańsk Scientific Society and the Mayor of Gdańsk.
Fahrenheit Universities, high in rankings, the greenest university in the country
Long-term, consistent cooperation within the Fahrenheit Universities (FarU) aims to federalize three universities (Gdańsk University of Technology, Medical University of Gdańsk and University of Gdańsk), which will contribute to improving the position of the largest universities in Pomerania as one academic center in international rankings. You can read about the activities that were carried out as part of FarU in 2023 here.
Gdańsk University of Technology was classified for the fourth time in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), i.e. the so-called Shanghai ranking, which is considered the most prestigious ranking of universities in the world. Only nine Polish universities were included in the ranking.
Gdańsk Tech also took high places in other rankings, for example:
• 1st place in Poland and 197th in the world in the UI GreenMetric 2023 ranking - the best universities in the world in terms of sustainable development and environmental protection
• 3rd place for the third time in a row among the best technical universities in the country, and 6th among all public universities in the Perspektywy university ranking.
You can read more about the Gdańsk University of Technology's achievements in the rankings here.
For the next three years, Gdańsk Tech received the HR Excellence in Research distinction.
Gdańsk Tech was awarded the Elsevier Research Impact Leaders award in the Engineering & Technologies category, awarded to universities that have the greatest impact on scientific research in Poland and thus contribute to better recognition of Polish science abroad. Gdańsk Tech was recognized for increasing its publication output, including citations above the global average.
Our university was also recognized for its activities for the region with the Pomeranian Eagle and the title of Golden Winner of the 25th anniversary of the Pomeranian Quality Award competition.
Investments worth hundreds of millions of zlotys, Gdańsk Tech kindergarten
In April, the STOS Competence Center was opened, where the Kraken supercomputer is located. The complex, the heart of which is a complex of specialized server rooms, is one of the most modern IT centers in this part of Europe. The total investment cost is almost a quarter of a billion zlotys. The CK STOS building won an award in the Construction of the Year competition organized by the Polish Association of Construction Engineers and Technicians in cooperation with the Ministry of Development and Technology.
In September, the topping out was held on the construction site of the Eco-innovation Center, a modern scientific and research facility dealing with the development of "green" technologies and pro-ecological solutions.
At the beginning of September, the MegaMocni PG Kindergarten for hundreds of children began its operations. It was created with the Gdańsk Tech employees, PhD students and students in mind. More public family rooms have also appeared on campus.
Gdańsk University of Technology also created a new green space for residents of Gdańsk. A public park with an area of approximately 7.5 thousand square meters was created right behind CK STOS.
Rectors from Europe at Gdańsk Tech, international conferences
In March, prof. Krzysztof Wilde, Gdańsk Tech rector, was appointed to the two-person presidium of the Board of Directors of the ENHANCE European University, as Co-Chair for the 2023-2025 term.
In April, Gdańsk University of Technology hosted the international conference of the European University Association (EUA), attended by rectors of several hundred universities from 40 countries.
In October, the ENHANCE Summit on Climate-Neutral Cities took place with the participation of over 120 teaching, administrative staff and students from ten European technical universities, as well as stakeholders and experts in the field of urban planning.
More candidates for studies, successes of students and PhD students
Once again, the number of candidates for Gdańsk Tech studies increased (by 16%), and after a one-year break, our university returned to first place in the ministerial ranking of the most frequently chosen public universities in the country.
The first graduate graduated from the Implementation Doctoral School, and more people graduated from the Doctoral School.
The SDPG Council was recognized in the ProDOK competition for the most post-doctoral initiatives of the past year, for its activities aimed at integrating doctoral students and promoting sports and culture.
The Gdańsk Tech student team was one of five in Europe and the only one from Poland to qualify for the PETRI program run by the European Space Agency. Moreover, as many as four people from Gdańsk Tech were included in the Student Council of the President of the Polish Space Agency, and a representative of our university became the chairperson of the Council.
In turn, students of the SimLE science club took a place in the top ten and received the judges' special award for the ASV Perkoz port drone (SeaSentinel project) in the RoboBoat2023 competition in the USA, and young architects won the international architectural competition for their vision of transforming the landscape of the Neckar river valley in the spirit of recycling.
On the National Education Day, the Teaching Gala was held for the first time, during which the most active academic teachers in the area of innovative teaching and high-quality education were appreciated. The best lecturers were also chosen by the students.
Supporting talented youth
For the first time, the Talent University of Technology summer school was inaugurated, a project addressed to students of the best Pomeranian high schools and technical schools, which were placed in the top ten of the Pomeranian Ranking of Secondary Schools and Technical Colleges "Perspektywy" 2023 (Gdańsk Tech was the first to announce the results of the ranking in January).
A special website for schools has also been launched, where teachers and students can find a lot of information about various forms of cooperation with the university.
Additionally, on 21 March, thousands of pupils participated in the National Open Day on the campus. The inauguration of the year of the University Secondary School took place at Gdańsk Tech
Winning championships, unique concerts, Eco-trees
Gdańsk Tech athletes and coaches won the Polish Academic Championship for the fourth time in a row, and the football players became runners-up in the European Academic Championships.
Two unique concerts took place on the campus during the year: in February, ACH! PG Karnawałowo - performed by the Gdańsk Tech Choir, which attracted several hundred people, and in June, an outdoor concert took place with the participation of Zbigniew Zamachowski, which was attended by over a thousand people.
On 6 December, the academic community took part in St. Nicholas’ Day in large numbers, during which, for the first time, 27 student and employee teams constructed 27 unique Eco- Christmas trees.