October 1, 2011 marked the beginning of the 648th academic year at the Jagiellonian University. More than 15 thousand first-, second- and full cycle full-time students, 1,100 doctoral students, and 7,5 thousand part-time students begin their studies at the JU this year.   

"It is thanks to the Poles themselves and their struggle that we can now develop the University in a free and democratic country, which is a member of the European Union," said the Rector of the JU, Prof. Karol Musioł and encouraged the JU students and staff to shape their own future by participating in the forthcoming elections.

The major objective of the JU authorities during the last few years has been the building of the new Campus. The most recent goals include the building of the premises of the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, the premises of the Faculty of Chemistry, the swimming pool at the third Campus, the Nature Education Centre, the Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, the SOLARIS Synchrotron Centre, the new university hospital in Prokocim and the new Paderevianum.

"The new academic year is going to be a challenging one. We will have to introduce reforms which will open up new opportunities for the Polish academia," said the President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski at the opening convocation ceremony at the Jagiellonian University. He also said, among other things, that he felt truly honoured by the fact that he could participate in the opening convocation ceremony at the very cradle of Polish academia.

The annual university awards were presented during the ceremony. The Jagiellonian Laurels were given to Prof. Andrzej Świątkowski (in humanities, jurisprudence and social sciences), Prof. Ryszard Korbut (in medical sciences), Prof. Marian Mrozek (in exact and natural sciences). Merentibus Medal was presented to Prof. Michael Marberger. Pro Arte Docendi awards went to Prof. Elżbieta Muskat-Tabakowska, Prof. Stanisław Majewski and Prof. Andrzej Magiera. Elżbieta Penderecka was presented with the JU Person of Merit award.      

President Bronisław Komorowski also presented state decorations to the members of the JU Academic Staff including: Prof. Andrzej Białas, Prof. Karol Musioł, Prof. Jan Hertrich-Woleński, Prof. Marek Jarnicki, Prof. Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz, Prof. Stanisław Majewski, Prof. Wiesław Pleśniak, Prof. Tadeusz Borkowski,  Prof. Maria Chomyszyn-Gajewska, Prof. Tadeusz Marek, Prof. Ewa Okoń-Horodyńska, Prof. Barbara Opozda, Prof. Anna Raźny, Prof. Kamil Rusek, Prof. Marcela Świątkowska, Prof. Andrzej Wysocki, and Prof. Tadeusz Wawak.

The central and most important part of the opening convocation ceremony was the matriculation. A delegation of first year students swore an oath on behalf of all their colleagues. After the singing of the university anthem, a speech was made by the president of the JU Student Government, Dawid Kolenda. The last major part of the ceremony was the lecture on "The Great Ideas of Modern Day Medicine" delivered by Prof. Tomasz Guzik, the 2010 winner of the Foundation for Polish Science Award.    

After the ceremony, President Komorowski and Rector Musioł invited all the participants to take a glass of university wine and drink a toast to the future of Alma Mater.