The academic year 2024/2025 was inaugurated in the European City of Science Katowice 2024
One of the most important events of the academic year – Inter-university inauguration of the Academic Year 2024/2025 in the European City of Science Katowice 2024, which took place on the 27th September in the concert hall of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice is behind us. The event was attended by the authorities of the Silesian University of Technology, headed by the Rector, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk.
The Inter - University Inauguration of the Academic Year took place for the third time. It began with by the traditional march of the Rector’s processions in professors’ togas. It was attended by: His Magnificence Rector, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk. Prof. Dr Hab. Eng Sebastian Werle Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation , Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Bożena Skołud, Vice-Rector for General Affairs , Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Chrobok , Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Marcin Staniek, Prof. SUT, Vice Rector for Collaboration with Civic and Economic Environment, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Zbigniew Paszenda, Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Investment, Faculty authorities and employees of the Silesian University of Technology.
“Our universities want to leave a lasting mark after the year of the European City of Science Katowice. We have shown in previous years that we can work well together. We want our integration to progress, so that we can continue to support each other in the didactic, scientific, and organizational fields. It is the will of all Rectors, but also of doctoral students, students, and university employees. This is an example for other areas of functioning of our region, so that it could complete the transformation process that began more than twenty-five years ago”. - said the Rector Marek Pawełczyk.
On that day, all residents could visit the scientific town of the European City of Science Katowice 2024 prepared on the Katowice market square. After the procession reached the concert hall of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, the academic choirs started singing the solemn "Gaudeamus igitur", and the culminating points of the inauguration began. The ceremony was attended by Dariusz Wieczorek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Dr Hab. Marzena Czarnecka, Minister of Industry and Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Marek Gzik, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Officially, the new academic year was inaugurated by Prof. Dr Hab. Grzegorz Hańderek, the Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts, with the Rectors sceptre and the Latin sentence “Quod bonum, felix, faustum fortunatumque sit” – “that it be good, prosperous, happy and fruitful year”. An important point of the event was also the oath and matriculation of students and doctoral students of the University of Economics in Katowice, which was concluded by the Rector of the University - Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Celina M. Olszak.
There was also an inaugural lecture in the new academic year, which was delivered by a special guest - Prof. Norman Davies, world famous historian. In his speech entitled “Knowledge and ignorance: Does the West understand everything?” he encouraged the promotion of Poland and Polish history on the international arena.
“We had the opportunity to talk to Professor Norman Davies, who honoured us with his presence. He mentioned that he was in Silesia in the sixties and did not hide that our region had changed beyond recognition “– said Rector Marek Pawełczyk, who thanked everyone who contributed to
the organization of this event. The inauguration ended with a concert performed by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Szymon Bywalec. Participants could listen to the musical works of Antonin Dvorak and Stanisław Moniuszko.
The organizers of the event were universities of the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science: University of Silesia in Katowice (leader), Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Academy of Fine Arts, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Silesian University of Technology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, the City of Katowice, the Silesian Voivodeship and the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis
Photos: Maciej Mutwil
