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JU opens the new academic year

JU opens the new academic year

‘Every beginning brings fresh hope, but we must also be mindful of the challenges we are going to face in the future. We start this academic year in a different reality, changed by the new act on higher education and new university statute, which comes into force today’, said JU Rector Prof. Wojciech Nowak during the official opening of the 656th academic year at the Jagiellonian University. The main celebrations were preceded by a traditional mass at St. Anne’s Collegiate Church and an academic procession of professors through the streets of Kraków.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education Jarosław Gowin, representatives of both national and local government as well as members of the consular corps, scientific and cultural community, uniformed services, students, and clergy. In his speech, Prof. Wojciech Nowak commented on some of the issues regarding the latest Polish act on higher education and stronger presence of the Jagiellonian University in the European discourse. The latter is illustrated by the fact that the oldest Polish university was chosen for the European Universities Initiative, and is one of the founders of the UNA Europa consortium along with leading higher education institutions from Berlin, Bologna, Edinburgh, Leuven, Madrid, and Paris.

‘We have significantly increased the level of internationalisation at the Jagiellonian University. We have also noticed a sizable increase in recognition when it comes to students and academic staff from outside of Poland. Last year, we had over 4.5 thousand international students, which means that one out of seven of our students came from abroad. At the same time, we are constantly expanding our visiting professors programme’, said Prof. Nowak. ‘The Jagiellonian University’s standing in international university rankings is steadily increasing, as shown by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, QS World University Ranking, and The Times Higher Education World University Ranking’, he added.

The University is also moving forward with modernisation works. This year marked the completion of the new buildings of the Confucius Institute and the Institute of the Middle and Far East. In the near future, the University Hospital will also move to newly erected facilities. Currently, the two largest ongoing investments are the new seat of the Faculty of International and Political Studies on ul. Reymonta 4 and the new building on ul. Oleandry which will house the Centre for Academic Support, Disability Support Service, and Institute of Psychology. There are also plans to construct sports facilities and student housing at the 3rd Campus of the 600th Anniversary of the Jagiellonian University Revival.

JU Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds Prof. Stanisław Kistryn briefly summarised the University’s achievements in science. According to his report, researchers from the Jagiellonian University receive the most grants from the National Science Centre out of all Polish higher education institutions. They have also secured significant financial aid from other national and international organisations and programmes, such as Horizon 2020 which has provided funding for 14 new projects in 2018. Prof. Kistryn also mentioned the European Research Council grant for Dr Rafał Banka for his project ‘Mereological reconstruction of the metaphysical system in Daodejing’. Lastly, he stressed that the Jagiellonian university is a leading higher education institutions when it comes to innovation, with 71 patent applications and 43 patents granted by the European Patent Office.

The most important part of the ceremony – the matriculation of students representing all 16 faculties of the University – was carried out by JU Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs Prof. Armen Edigarian. ‘I am very happy to be able to once again welcome young people who wish to spend the next several years with us at the Jagiellonian University. I congratulate you on your choice. Your hard work has paid off. You are now studying at the most prestigious university in our country. I am sure you will quickly adapt to your new life in Kraków’, said Prof. Edigarian.

As per tradition, the Jagiellonian Laurels, a special award for extraordinary scientific accomplishments in the last five years, were presented by the JU Rector. This year, they were awarded to Prof. Małgorzata Barańska form the JU Faculty of Chemistry and Prof. Gabriel Nowak from the JU Faculty of Pharmacy. Next, an opening lecture entitled ‘Surgeon in the 21st century: technician or still an artist?’ was delivered by Prof. Piotr Chłosta, Head of the JU MC Clinic of Urology.

The first day of the academic year 2019/2020 was concluded by a performance of the ‘Słowianki’ Song and Dance Ensemble at the JU Auditorium Maximum at 5.00 p.m.

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