Gdynia Maritime University GMU

Invitation to University Celebration Day

HM Rector Professor Adam Weintrit invites all students, doctoral candidates, staff, graduates, and friends of Gdynia Maritime University to attend University Celebration Day.

As this year 8 December, the date on which the University traditionally holds its Celebration Day, falls on a Sunday, celebrations will be held on Monday 9 December 2024.

A Special Day

The University's December Celebration Day commemorates the events of 104 years ago when, on December 8 1920, the first academic year was inaugurated at the Maritime School in Tczew, the predecessor of Gdynia Maritime University – the oldest maritime university in Poland. Later, on that same day in 1930, a ceremony was held to bless the School's new building following its relocation from Tczew to Gdynia under the name State Maritime School in Gdynia.

Hoist the Flag!

University Celebration Day will begin on Monday morning with a parade in front of the University's main building during which - in accordance with maritime tradition - at 08:00 hours we will raise the Polish flag on a tilted mast to the sound of the Polish National Anthem.

This beautiful tradition began in 1920 when, during the inauguration of the first academic year, a flag was raised on the building of the newly inaugurated Maritime School in Tczew, as the school did not yet have its own sail training ship.

Holy Mass at the University's Chapel

This year's Holy Mass for the intentions of the staff, students, doctoral candidates and graduates of the University will be celebrated at the University chapel in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering on GMU's main campus (opposite 'Kotwica', the University shop) at 09:00 hours.

The Mass will be said in front of a replica of the altar on board Dar Pomorza, the legendary predecessor to the University's sail training ship Dar Młodzieży.

Ceremonial Open Sitting of the Senate of Gdynia Maritime University

At 11:00 hours, the celebrations will continue with a ceremonial open sitting of the Senate of Gdynia Maritime University in the T. Meissner auditorium, the main auditorium located in the University's main building. During the ceremonial sitting, staff and students will receive national, University, jubilee, and other commemorative awards. There will also be performances by the GMU Academic Choir.

May We Honour Their Memory!

This year's celebrations will finish at 15:00 hours with a Memorial Roll Call in front of the University's main building. With this solemn symbolic act, we remember 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. Grandeur will be added to the occasion by the GMU Guard of Honour and the Border Guard Unit's Maritime Orchestra.

May our participation in University Celebration Day be a testimony to our identification with the tradition and history of our Maritime University
– Let's celebrate together!