Inauguration of Academic Year
With the participation of distinguished guests, observing the academic ceremony, with the musical setting prepared by the choir Dramma per Musica and Big Band of the University of Opole, the opening ceremony of the academic year 2019/2020 took place on Friday, October 4, 2019.
Warm welcome
Professor Marek Masnyk, Rector of the UO, welcomed numerous guests who arrived to the auditorium of the Faculty of Theology. Among them were, among others, Voivode Adrian Czubak, Deputy Marshal Roman Kolek, Mayor of Opole Arkadiusz Wiśniewski, Opole parliamentarians and local government officials, as well as former rectors of our university: Prof. Franciszek Marek, Prof. Krystyna Czaja, and Prof. Józef Musielok. We were also honoured with the presence of numerous rectors of Opole and Polish universities, Bishop Andrzej Czaja - Great Chancellor of the Faculty of Theology, and Professor Paweł Kafarski - Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Opole.
Rector Marek Masnyk also greeted the representatives of the medical world, the management of the University Hospital, representatives of the business community, people of science, culture and education, and the first-ever Council of the University of Opole with its President Andrzej Drosik.
The Rector also welcomed the academic community of the University of Opole and, naturally, freshly enrolled students of our university, for whom the inauguration day is a special day.
A short film recapitulating the past year was presented to the audience (link to the film below). It consisted of snapshots from the most important university events, but it was the final sequence that evoked sincere emotion - the memory of Karol Cebula, a great friend and patron of the University of Opole, whom we lost in July this year.
In the traditional speech summing up the previous academic year, Professor Masnyk spoke about the employees and friends of our university as well as important members of the Opole academic community who died in recent months.
University as strong as a fortress
- Our university, as I have stressed many times, was built on the foundations of dreams, although many people accused us of megalomania - said the Rector. - The anniversary we celebrated last year - 65 years of tradition, 25 years of university - was for us a time of great joy, memories, and acknowledgements.
Prof. Masnyk added that the University of Opole is and will be a place where the right to freedom of thought, the right to choice and the right to experiment are respected. He said that the past year has been a time of implementation of the new Law on Higher Education at the University.
- We are not afraid of changes, we see them as an opportunity, but we also see risks for all of us - for the university, the city, the region - he said. - However, the university is an institution that should be strong like a well manned fortress and that is what we try to be.
The Rector informed that for the first year of studies at 72 fields of study, the University of Opole admitted over 3 thousand students this year, and that every year about 900 foreign students study at our university, and this year, for the first time, a group of 40 young people from China began their education at the UO. He also recalled the recent success of our university - the participation of the Opole University in the network of European Universities.
- I would like to stress the great value of the university," said the Rector. – Being a university adds to grandeur!
- On the opening day of the academic year, I wish you optimism and confidence that together we will be able to fulfil all our plans! To the youth, I wish you the joy of studying and fulfilment of your dreams! – said the Rector, finishing his speech.
Prof. Jacek Lipok, Vice-Rector for Research, read out the congratulatory letters sent to the Rector. One of them was sent by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, who wrote that the University of Opole is an important cultural and academic centre.
Not only rights but also responsibilities
The most important - as Professor Marek Masnyk, the Rector, stressed - moment of the ceremony was the matriculation of newly admitted students.
It was led by Professor Izabella Pisarek, Vice-Rector Academic and Student Affairs, who welcomed the parents of the first-year students present at the inauguration, and reminded new students that as students they not only acquired many rights, but also took on new responsibilities. Representatives of all the faculties of the UO, including foreign students, took a solemn oath on the banner of the university, and the Rector symbolically dubbed them students.
The ceremony was concluded with the inaugural lecture of Prof. Mirosław Lenart ‘Padua and its role in discovering the idea of the university'.
Video clip Here
Last academic year in 4 min Here
Inaugural ceremony (full) Here