104th 8 December Celebration Day
University Celebration Day began on Monday 9 December 2024 at 08:00 hours sharp morning - in accordance with maritime tradition - with the raising of the Polish flag on a tilted mast to the sound of the Polish National Anthem.
Celebrations got underway with the introduction of the GMU banner and the Polish flag by the University's Guard of Honour and the Border Guard Unit's Maritime Orchestra in front of the University's main building.
Taking part in the ceremony were University authorities, the Senate, staff, students, doctoral candidates and graduates.
The oldest GMU tradition, the raising of the flag, dates back 104 years when young students, many of them participants in the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1919-1920, raised the flag on the building of the newly inaugurated Maritime School in Tczew, as the school did not yet have its own ship.
The ceremony ended with a parade of the University's Guard of Honour accompanied by the Border Guard Unit's Maritime Orchestra.
9:00
Holy Mass
It's a Gdynia Maritime University tradition on University celebration day to celebrate a solemn Mass for the intentions of the University's staff, students, doctoral candidates and graduates. This year, the Holy Mass was held on campus in the University's chapel in the Faculty of Marine Engineering.
The Eucharistic celebration was held at 9:00 am and led by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk, His Excellency Father Piotr Przyborek. Taking part in the liturgy was the Pastor of the People of the Sea and Chaplain of Gdynia Maritime University, Dr Edward Pracz, and the Head Priest of the Parish of the Holy Family in Gdynia, Father Canon Mariusz Dziarmaga.
An air of solemnity was provided for the occasion by the GMU Choir and Guard of Honour.
11:00
Open Ceremonial Sitting of the Senate
The ceremonial sitting of the Senate in the T. Meissner Auditorium began at 11:00 am with the traditional breaking of glasses. Taking part were the members of the Senate, representatives of the University Council, staff, students, graduates and guests.
A speech for the occasion was given by HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, who began by welcoming the gathered guests. HM The Rector summarised the most important events of the past year, mentioning the University's investments, including the GMU Offshore Centre and the Sports and Recreation Centre. He also indicated the challenges the University will face in the future, including the construction of a new student residence on the main campus.
Among the most important investments, the Rector named the construction of a new sail training ship to replace the University's frigate, Dar Młodzieży:
I would like to inform you that we are currently working intensively to develop a finance model for the construction of a successor to Dar Młodzieży. It is time for a new ship to take the place of Gdynia Maritime University's 40-year-old training ship – the fourth in the line of ships in this role.
In September, two meetings were held between GMU authorities and the national government, regional government, and Gdynia Council representatives, where we discussed the need to develop a replacement for Dar Młodzieży to maintain the current high standards of education of maritime personnel.
In the future, it will also be necessary to source financing to replace the University's training and research vessels, Horyzont II and IMOR.
In his speech, the Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit, strongly emphasised the ongoing process of internationalisation of the University:
During the previous term of office, I said a lot of things about the need to internationalise the University and to undergo extensive efforts to achieve this aim. Following my re-election in September, I am determined to intensify these efforts. [...] During the period of demographic decline and less interest in strictly maritime subjects, to make full use of our scientific potential and teaching facilities, we should endeavour to obtain more candidates for study from outside our country. I am referring to students from the Far East and the African countries, whilst naturally maintaining our cooperation with our closest neighbours.
In concluding his speech, HM The Rector addressed the following wishes to those gathered in the Hall:
Today's University Celebration Day is a holiday for all of us: staff, students, and friends of our Maritime University. Together we make up a community for whom the sea is like the answer to their dreams, as it was so beautifully put by writer and sailor Ernest Hemingway. I wish all of you here today all the best for the future and the fulfilment of those dreams!
The next part of the ceremonial sitting involved the signing of a research and development agreement with the Firefighting Academy in Warsaw. On behalf of Gdynia Maritime University, the agreement was signed by Rector Professor Adam Weintrit and on behalf of the Warsaw Academy, Rector/Commander Senior Brigadier Tomasz Klimczak.
The signing of the agreement was followed by a speech by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Dr Arkadiusz Marchewka:
It is a great honour to be here today to take part in the events of Gdynia Maritime University Celebration Day, which every year is marked to pass on the history of Polish maritime education, which began on 8 December 1920 with the establishment of the Maritime School in Tczew. From that day forth, Gdynia Maritime University has created a rich tradition, developing its brand on the international stage. Through significant progress in the development of the advanced infrastructure of the University, the creative and innovative transfer of knowledge and the highest level of education, the University has for years been ranked as one of the world's best maritime universities.
2024 saw numerous scientific and research achievements and significant progress in the advanced development of the University's infrastructure. In response to the needs of the modern world, including challenges associated with the digital age, information technologies, artificial intelligence, and cyber security, in September HM The Rector established the GMU Faculty of Computer Science.
The Pomeranian Marshall, Emil Rojek, highlighted the importance of the University for Gdynia, the region and the economy.
Gdynia Maritime University is not only important for the city of Gdynia but also, as a driving force of the regional economy, also for Pomerania. The University responds to the challenges of the maritime economy in connection with harnessing the potential of the Baltic Sea, especially offshore wind energy, and focuses on the development of scientific research, but also its cooperation with business.
Also taking to the floor was the Mayor of Gdynia, Aleksandra Kosiorek:
Today, GMU is not only a prestigious University that educates both in academic fields connected with service at sea and civilian organisations but also a research centre and an important partner for our city. [...] On this University Celebration Day, I congratulate the authorities and the academic community on the success and development of the University, and I ask for more. I trust we will have ever more reasons to be proud and more areas in which we can cooperate, especially in light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of Gdynia. And today, when repeating the motto "Gdynia and the sea are one", remember that the sea is also the dynamic Maritime University, with its teaching staff, an exceptionally wide range of study programmes, an impressive infrastructure, and finally, many students fulfilling their dreams.
The last guest to say a few words was member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Dorota Arciszewska-Mielewczyk, a graduate of Gdynia Maritime University. In her short speech, the member of the Polish parliament spoke of how, as a graduate of the Maritime University, she sees how her Alma Mater is continually developing and how the teaching staff and the world-renowned high level of teaching at Gdynia Maritime University often attracts young people to study here and pursue a career in the maritime industry.
The ceremonial sitting of the Senate also saw the presentation of medals and distinctions. In the latter part of the ceremony, gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded by the President of Poland at the request of the Minister of Infrastructure to members of the University staff for exceptional fulfilment of their professional duties were presented.
Also presented were Honorary Decorations for "Meritorious Worker of the Sea" from the Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Education and Science National Education Commission Medals for "Service to Culture and Education".
The medals and decorations were presented to the awarded individuals by HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit, and the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Dr Arkadiusz Marchewka.
Next, His Magnificence awarded the "Meritorious Service to Maritime Education," "Meritorious Service to Gdynia Maritime University," and "Meritorious Worker of Gdynia Maritime University" medals to those who contributed to the development of the Gdynia Maritime University and maritime education.
Jubilee awards for GMU staff for 45, 40 and 25 years of service were also presented.
The next highlight of the celebrations was the presentation of diplomas confirming the award of doctoral degrees by Rector Professor Adam Weintrit. HM The Rector also presented First-Class Awards to doctoral candidates for their outstanding academic achievements. Rector's distinctions for organisational and social activities to the benefit of GMU were awarded for the first time.
As is tradition, awards were also presented to students with outstanding academic achievements and for social work for the benefit of the academic community. The Rector awarded three "Gdynia Maritime University Graduate Medals" for excellent academic results and outstanding work on behalf of the academic community.
For their activity and social work for the benefit of the academic community, Rector's Awards were awarded to members of the Students' Parliament. His Magnificence, The Rector, also presented awards to students for their significant achievements in sports at a national or international level. Granted for the first time were Badges of Honour for exemplary, conscientious, and long service in the GMU Guard of Honour.
Finally, a Danuta Kobylińska-Wala "Women in the Maritime Industry" medal, awarded by the Council for the Association of Master Mariners, was also presented.
The ceremonial Sitting of the Senate of GMU came to a close with a performance of the GMU Academic Choir.
15:00
Memorial Roll Call
University Celebration Day 2024 ended with a Remembrance Roll Call in front of the University's main building, during which the University remembered those who left an indelible mark on its history and thanks to whom we can be part of an academic community today and citizens of a free and independent country. With this solemn symbolic act, we remembered directors, lecturers, employees, students and graduates of the Tczew Maritime School and Gdynia Maritime University, who left for the eternal watch, having died in the field of glory, or at sea.
