Let’s go! Inauguration of the new academic year at Gdańsk Tech | Gdańsk University of Technology

The first meeting of the Senate in the new academic year is also the inauguration of the new term of office for the authorities of Gdańsk University of Technology - the rector, vice-rectors, deans and vice-deans. The ceremony will begin with a speech delivered by the Rector of Gdańsk University of Technology,  Prof. Krzysztof Wilde. It will be followed by the awarding of medals and distinctions to distinguished University employees. 

The next part will include the welcome of new students into the academic community, or matriculation, which will be held by the Vice-rector for Student Experience, Prof. Barbara Wikieł. The oath will be taken by 16 students who achieved the best results during university admissions, two representatives from each of the eight faculties. The closing speech for this part will feature Oliwia Hauchszulz, chairwoman of the Gdańsk Tech Student’s Union. 

The ceremony will also be an opportunity to award a prize to the student with the best academic performance in the last academic year. It will be awarded by Prof. Mariusz Kaczmarek, Vice-rector for Education, along with the representatives of the Technical Business Club PKB+ (Politechniczny Klub Biznesu PKB+). The winner of the Romuald Szczęsny Award for the best thesis written at Gdańsk Tech will also be recognized. He will receive the award from a representative of the Mayor of Gdynia. 

For the first time, there will also be a delivery of the Gdańsk University of Technology Talent Scholarship granted to six laureates starting their studies at Gdańsk Tech. 

The inauguration will culminate with a lecture by Prof. Włodzisław Duch (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń) entitled “Artificial Brains.” 

Prof. Duch specializes in artificial intelligence, applied informatics, neuroinformatics, machine learning, cognitive science and neurocognitive technologies. He was the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (2014-2015) and the Vice-rector for Research and Informatization (2012-2014) at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. At present, he is head of the Neurocognitive Laboratory at the Center for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies at this university. 

The ceremony will be musically celebrated by Gdańsk Tech Academic Choir conducted by Prof. Mariusz Mroz. 

On that day, at 9:15 am, the ceremony of laying floral tributes at the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers 1970 is also planned. On Tuesday, October 1, at 7 pm, a service celebrating the new academic year will be held at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz (Kościół p.w. Najświętszego Serca Jezusowego), led by the Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk. 

The faculties will hold their ceremonies in various formats and detailed information will be published on the faculties’ websites. Students who begin their studies at Gdańsk University of Technology for the first time this academic year are kindly invited to familiarize themselves with the International Fresher’s Guide, which will make the first days at the university much easier. 

Joint opening of the academic year for Pomeranian universities 

On Saturday, October 5, at 10 am, the academic community of more than a dozen Pomeranian universities and representatives of local authorities will meet at the Coal Market (Targ Węglowy) in Gdańsk for the third time to take part in a joint march along Długa Street. The Fahrenheit Universities and Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, mayor of Gdańsk, warmly invite you to participate in the event.