Gdynia Maritime University GMU

On Saturday 7th October 2023, the grand inauguration of the Academic Year 2023/2024 at Gdynia Maritime University took place at the Pomeranian Quay in central Gdynia.

The University welcomed its new first-year students in a truly maritime setting on the south pier of the "city of the sea and dreams" - home to the Maritime University since 1930, which has been providing maritime education for more than 100 years.

Saturday's inauguration ceremony was preceded by a Holy Mass at the  Redemptorist church in Gdynia, offered for the intentions of the staff, students, doctoral candidates and alumni of the University. The mass was said by the University chaplain and "pastor of the people of the sea", Father Edward Pracz.

Taking part in the events of the inauguration were members of the University's academic community – students, doctoral candidates, lecturers, and members of staff – but also representatives of national and regional government authorities, the rectors of other institutions of higher education, representatives of companies connected with the maritime industry, GMU partner associations, as well as alumni and associates of the University, local residents and tourists.

The inauguration of the 2023/2024 academic year began with the entrance march of the University's Guard of Honour, University authorities and the Senate, accompanied by the Navy's Maritime Orchestra, from the Faculty of Navigation to the location of the ceremony.

The was then a performance of the National Anthem and the raising of the flag on the mast.

HM Rector Professor Adam Weintrit welcomed all students, doctoral candidates, staff, and guests, with the following words:

The inauguration of each academic year is an important event in our University's academic calendar. It is an occasion for celebration for the entire academic community - including all those who come here daily to study, teach, carry out scientific research, and administration work, therefore further developing and supporting our Alma Mater.

Despite its relatively small size, Gdynia Maritime University is without a doubt an elite academic institution. At our University students gain an education that will open doors to all the most important maritime institutions in the world.

The University's position, at the top of the rankings of international maritime universities, is well-established. In the last ranking, we occupied 4th place. In recognition of this position, in February of this year, I was elected Chair of the International Association of Maritime Universities. This is not only my merit; it is the work of many generations who worked to forge the status of the University over more than 100 years.  

I wish you all much success; and that you will work hard to achieve your undergraduate degrees and continue your education at the postgraduate level. At Gdynia Maritime University, each of our four faculties has the right to award doctoral degrees. There are also opportunities for further study at the post-doctoral level, and some of our graduates go on to be awarded titular professorship.   

In concluding his inauguration speech, the Rector officially opened the 2023/2024 academic year, and the Academic Choir performed the "Anthem of the Maritime School", composed by Michała Hłaski, a graduate of the Maritime School in Tczew.

On the occasion of the inauguration of the academic year, the University received a letter from Polish President Andrzej Duda. The letter was read by the President's plenipotentiary, Marcin Drewa.

A speech was then made by the Mayor of Gdynia, Dr Wojciech Szczurek:

I am proud of Gdynia Maritime University. Through the work of its scientific staff and its students, the University develops character. But it also influences them to have a global outlook. Today, when you gain an education at a university that prepares you for work on the global market, you have to build a reference point. You have to look at what is happening in every part of the world in order to professionally develop your competencies each day, so that the certificate of completion you receive at the end of your studies continue to be a guarantee of excellence.

Letters sent to the Rector from the Marshal of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek, the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, and the Minister of National Education, Przemysław Czarnek were also read as part of the ceremony. A message from the Under-secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure was read by the director of the Department of Maritime Education, Wojciech Gąsowski.

The reading of letters was followed by the swearing of the oath. The oath was sworn by those students who gained the most points during the admissions process on behalf of all new University students:

• Jakub Wałachowski (Faculty of Navigation),
• Maciej Bochiński (Faculty of Marine Engineering),
• Paulina Juretko (Faculty of Electrical Engineering) and
• Paulina Czaja (Faculty of Management and Quality Science).

The names of all students were read out by the Deputy Rector for Student Affairs, Dr Mirosław Czechowski. At this point of the ceremony, the students swore the oath before the University banner, repeating the following words:

"Aware of my responsibilities as a student of the Gdynia Maritime University, I do solemnly swear:
that for the good of my country, I shall endeavour to gain lasting knowledge and skills,
uphold the dignity of students and the good name of Gdynia Maritime University,
respect the University staff,
abide by the rules of collegiate coexistence,
and be a righteous and honest human being.
"I do solely swear to protect the honour of the Polish flag and to remain faithful to it”.

The swearing of the oath was followed by a rendition of the hymn Gaudeamus Igitur by the GMU Academic choir, after which there was the matriculation of the representatives of each Faculty:

• Boris Perski and Jakub Krems (Faculty of Electrical Engineering),
• Aleksy Olechnowicz (Faculty of Marine Engineering),
• Alicja Nejesiadek and Stanisław Tomczak (Faculty of Navigation),
• Karolina Wróblewska and Szymon Borejsza (Faculty of Management and Quality Science), 
• Mateusz Zawadzki (representing doctoral candidates).

Students were officially made members of the University's academic community by the Rector in front of an honorary tribune using the Rector's mace. The new first-year students were then welcomed by the Chair of the Student Parliament, Jakub Strzelczyk, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering:

Remember that the uniform you will wear is not only a privilege, it is above all an obligation to honourably represent both the University and the Polish Merchant Navy. The insignia of our uniform has remained unchanged for generations. It's now your turn to represent the heritage of our forefathers, who made our maritime history, but also proudly fought for our freedom.

The matriculation ceremony was accompanied by the hymn Gaude Mater Polonia, performed by the GMU Academic Choir.

The Inauguration ceremony also provided an occasion for the presentation of the Minister of Infrastructure Awards by Rector Professor Adam Weintrit

Professor Piotr Włodzimierz Gnaciński was awarded an individual award for his entire academic achievements to date.

A joint award for outstanding scientific achievements was presented to Professor Krzysztof Górecki, Dr Kalina Detka, Dr  Paweł Górecki, Dr  Przemysław Ptak,  Dr Ewa Krac, Dr Krzysztof Posobkiewicz, and Emilian Świtalski.

The Minister of Infrastructure gave awards to the best students studying maritime subjects at the University. The award for the best navigator was given to Jan Nasur. The award for the best ship electro-automation student was received by Piotr Sokół, and the award for the best marine mechanic went to Marek Andrzejewski.

HM Rector Professor Adam Weintrit also presented an award "For Meritorious Service to Gdynia Maritime University" to Gerhard Feldmeier of Hochschule Bremerhaven - University of Applied Sciences.

Speeches were also made by Dorota Arciszewska Mielewczyk, President of Polish Ocean Lines, and Rector of the Hochschule Bremerhaven, Professor Alexis Papathanassis.

The inauguration ceremony came to a close with a performance of the Hymn to the Baltic and the exit parade of the Gdynia Maritime University banner accompanied by the Polish Navy Orchestra and the Gdynia Maritime University Guard of Honour.