Professor Hans Rummel Conferred Doctorate Honoris Causa
Professor Hans Rummel of Hochschule Bremerhaven was awarded an honorary doctorate by Gdynia Maritime University today, Friday 6 October 2023. A doctorate honoris causa is considered one of the highest distinctions in academia. Gdynia Maritime University has awarded such a distinction to only five individuals to date, with Professor Rummel being the first non-Polish academic to become one of the University's honorary doctors.
Professor Rummel specialises in teaching and researching communication in English, based on the English for Specific Purposes method, in particular Maritime English. The professor is the founder of language laboratories at the German Navigational College and Hochschule Bremerhaven. He designed and oversaw the development of one of the first computer-aided English language learning labs. In the 1980s, Professor Rummel became an internationally renown instructor of Maritime English.
The nomination for the conferral of a doctorate honoris causa on the Professor was supported by four higher education institutions: Gdynia Maritime University, the University of Applied Sciences - Hochschule Bremerhaven, the Polish Naval Academy, and Sczczecin Maritime University. The scientific and professional achievements of Professor Rummel were reviewed by Professor Piotr Jędrzejowicz of Gdynia Maritime University; Professor Alexis Papathanassis, the Rector of Hochschule Bremerhaven - University of Applied Sciences; and Professor Roman Śmierzchalski of Gdansk University of Technology. A laudation was given by Professor Piotr Przybyłowski, who acted as the promoter in the proceedings for the conferral of the honorary doctorate:
"In Professor Rummel's professional CV, his relations with the Maritime Higher School, Gdynia Maritime Academy and today's Gdynia Maritime University feature prominently. Since the beginning of cooperation between Gdynia Maritime University and Hochschule Bremerhaven, he has been deeply involved in the implementation of joint projects and the search for new initiatives. Since 1978, he has visited our University almost every year, delivering maritime communication courses in English. The Professor's teaching talent, as well as the high assessment of his classes by his students, led to him being invited to provide classes during training voyages. He lectured during a seven-month voyage of the "Dar Młodzieży" training ship as part of "Regatta Colon 92" and a nine-month voyage to Japan for "Osaka 98”.
"This is a special day, not only for Professor Rummel but also for Gdynia Maritime Day. For today, for the first time, we confer the first doctorate honoris causa internationally awarded by our University - announced Professor Adam Weintrit.
In his speech, HM The Rector of GMU underlined the great significance of Professor Rummel's contribution to cooperation between GMU and Hochschule Bremerhaven:
"And not only is this a special day," he continued, "but a special year", as in 2023 we celebrate 45 years of cooperation between our universities, which was begun informally in 1976 by the Professor during the stay of the "Dar Pomorza" in Bremen. This was the first cooperation between Polish and German higher education institutions since the before the 2nd World War - something rather incredible in those days. Professor Rummel is a real symbol of this cooperation"
Professor Rummel gave a lecture for the occasion, which he began by adressing those gathered in Polish:
"I am grateful that we can all gather here today for this exceptional and beautiful celebration of the award of my honorary doctorate. This is a very special and unforgettable moment for me. It is a great honour for me to receive the academic distinction you are presenting me with today. It is also an exceptional day for your University. In my person, you are honouring the first non-Polish academic teacher and demonstrating the importance of the international orientation of Gdynia Maritime University".
Letters of congratulations were received by Professor Krzysztof Wilde - Rector of Gdansk University of Technology, and Professor Marcin Gruchała - Rector of the Gdansk Medical University
On the initiative of Professor Rummel, in March 1993, the Association of Friends of Dar Młodzieży was founded and registered under German law. The Association supports the important endeavours of Gdynia Maritime University's tall ship. The current chair of the Association is Professor Rummel.
For his achievements and his contribution to cooperation between the two universities, Professor Hans Rummel has gained recognition both in Poland and in Germany. The President of Poland decorated him with the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University granted Professor Rummel an award "For Meritorious Service to Gdynia Maritime University", and the Senate of Hochschule Bremerhaven made him an honorary member.
At the end of the ceremony, the name of Professor Hans Rummel was unveiled on the plaque commemorating him as an honorary doctor of Gdynia Maritime University.
