Rector's Speech
Speech of HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University during
University Celebration Day on 9 December 2024
Esteemed Senate, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Students and Doctoral Candidates!
For the second time this year, we gather for University Celebration Day to mark the important events of 1920, which we celebrate on 17 June and 8 December.
The two dates are of equal importance. The June Gdynia Maritime University Celebration Day marks the signing of an order by General Józef Leśniewski on 17 June 1920 to establish a Maritime School in Tczew, the predecessor of Gdynia Maritime University.
In December, we gather to remember a symbolic day in 1920, when for the first time the Polish flag was raised on the building of the newly established Maritime School in Tczew.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
The approaching new year encourages us to reflect and take stock of the most important events of the past few months in the life of our academic community. It is also a time in the lives of each of us when we look ahead to the future in the new year and make plans in the hope of their fruition.
However, before we enter into the second quarter of the century, allow me, Ladies and Gentlemen, to express my gratitude for the recent months of our often intensive but fruitful cooperation. In doing so, I would like to recall just some of our successes in 2024. Several of them I will mention for the first time. Those which I already mentioned during University Celebration Day in June, I will mention only briefly.
Some of our successes will be celebrated in the second half of today's sitting when many of you will receive distinctions, decorations, and rewards. But now please accept my sincere thanks and recognition for your work on behalf of the University, and the entire maritime industry.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
The first half of 2024 saw many successes in connection with the completion and opening of two extremely important investments in the University's infrastructure. Namely, the opening of the GMU Centre for the Offshore Industry in Gdańsk, which took place on 29 February, and another highly important investment project for our University, the GMU Sports and Recreation Centre, which took place during this year's sports day on 23 May. Both of these investments have become an integral part of our University in such a short space of time that we may no longer remember that we have only been using them for a few months.
The construction of the Centre for Offshore Industry testifies to Gdynia Maritime University's leading position in the Polish offshore market, especially in relation to wind energy. It is here that, since February of this year, the GMU Maritime Institute and the Offshore Wind Energy Centre are based, and projects carried out at the GMU Offshore Centre can already be proud. I firmly believe that the centre will provide an excellent opportunity to further develop the potential of our University.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
For many years, Gdynia Maritime University has endeavoured to meet the expectations of future students, prioritising not only the quality of our education but also while improving the facilities and lives of our students outside of classes. For this reason, one of the most important projects in the previous term of office was the construction of the Sport and Recreation Centre.
The opening of this facility is a great success! The GMU Sports and Recreation Centre offers fitness classes of the highest level and is the home of University sports clubs. The gym, the cardio and fitness areas, have proved to be popular among students, GMU staff, and the local residents of the Grabówek district. In turn, the University's infrastructure has been alleviated by underground parking, and many training courses are held in the conference rooms and the sports hall, as well as our University's celebrations and other events. The first staff and students' Christmas celebration in the history of the University, to which you are all warmly invited, will take place in the hall on Thursday 19 December.
This calendar year, intending to provide our students with more comfortable learning conditions, as well as supporting relaxation and integration, in April, we also opened new Student Zones in the University's main building, and in November in the Faculty of Navigation.
I remind you that the Sports and Recreation Centre is the first stage in the construction of a sports and student accommodation complex. It is the ambition of Chancellor Filip Malata and I that by the end of this term of office, a modern new student residence will be built on campus on Morska Street and for the surrounding area to be optimally developed.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Our University cooperates and appreciates the efforts of scientists both from Poland and abroad. On March 21, a second outstanding academic from abroad, Professor Bradford Parkinson of the University of Stanford, California, was awarded the Honorary Title of Doctor honoris causa of Gdynia Maritime University on Thursday 21 March 2024.
We are proud that such an eminent researcher as Professor Bradford Parkinson, known as the father of GPS, to whom the whole world owes so much for his achievements in navigation, became an Honorary Doctor of our University.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
During the past year, our efforts have been noticed and appreciated here in Poland.
Under a Decision of the Ministry of Science of 2 February 2024, Professor Krzysztof Czaplewski, the Director of the GMU Maritime Institute, was appointed to the Advisory Council for the Evaluation of Applications for the Award of Scholarships from the Minister for Higher Education and Science for Students and Young Scientists.
On 19 April, Professor Krzysztof Przybyłowski, the Head of the Department of Quality Management at the Faculty of Management and Quality Science, was recognised with the Professor Romuald Kolman Pomerania Quality Individual Award for his work in the popularisation of pro-quality management concepts in the Gdańsk-Pomerania region. On 7 May, at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, presented him with a national decoration awarded to individuals for their outstanding contributions to Poland and Polish society. For his outstanding service to the maritime economy, achievements in science, education, and implementation, and the popularisation of Polish scientific thought throughout the world, Professor Lech Murawski was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. Professor Janusz Mindykowski, who this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of his work in research and teaching, was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for outstanding service to the maritime industry, his achievements in science, education, and implementation, and the popularisation of Polish scientific thought throughout the world.
On 28 November, Janusz Mindykowski was elected a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Main Council for Science and Higher Education for the term 2025-2028.
I would like to inform you that I have once again been made a member of the Offshore Wind Energy Council at the Ministry for Climate and the Environment. As a member of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Academic Schools, I have been invited to take part in the work of the Commission for Science and the Commission for International Cooperation during this term of office.
It gives me great satisfaction to remind you of the success of our young scientists. Łukasz Stolzmann was one of the winners of the 6th edition of the competition for an award from the Minister of Development and Technology for the best thesis, doctoral dissertation, publication, or innovative solution in geoinformation, for his work entitled "Simulation environment in Python for selected safety measures in ship encounter situations", which received an award in the category of Undergraduate Diploma Work - 2023.
Our success can also be seen in that our staff have once again been included in Stanford University's prestigious rankings of the top 2 per cent of the world's most influential researchers. The first, which takes into account the scientific achievements of researchers from the beginning of their scientific careers, includes six GMU scientists:
• Dr Agnieszka Lazarowska, Assoc. Prof., Faculty of Electrical Engineering (currently Faculty of Computer Science),
• Professor Andrzej Stateczny, Faculty of Navigation,
• Professor Tomasz Tarasiuk, Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
• Professor Krzysztof Górecki, Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
• Professor Piotr Gnaciński, Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
• Professor Janusz Zarębski, Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
The second list, based on scientific achievements in 2023, also includes six scientists from Gdynia Maritime University.
• Dr Agnieszka Lazarowska, Assoc. Prof., Faculty of Electrical Engineering (currently Faculty of Computer Science),
• Dr Krzysztof Wróbel, Faculty of Navigation,
• Dr Mariusz Specht, Faculty of Navigation,
• Dr Mateusz Gil, Faculty Of Navigation,
• Professor Andrzej Stateczny, Faculty of Navigation,
• Professor Krzysztof Górecki, Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
It is with great satisfaction that I can say that Gdynia Maritime University has recently been included for the first time in the Times Higher Education Rankings 2025 (WUR 2025). In the July edition of the Webometric Ranking, our University ranked fifth among maritime universities in the world. This is no surprise, as we have consistently ranked among the top universities in this ranking for several years.
I also welcomed the news of a ceremony on 6 November during which Professor Ireneusz Czarnowski, the Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at GMU, was awarded the academic title of Professor of Engineering and Technical Sciences in Technical Computing and Telecommunications by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda following a resolution dated 24 July 2023. That same day, Professor Krzysztof Czaplewski, the Director of the Maritime Institute, was also presented with a nomination by the President for the academic title of Professor of Engineering and Technical Sciences in Civil Engineering and Transport following a resolution dated 24 July 2023.
Less than two weeks ago, we received more news of the success of our lecturers. Dr Paweł Górecki was granted the Council of Ministers Award for his highly rated scientific achievement “Measurement and modelling of thermal properties of semiconductor components for the purpose of designing these components and the systems that contain them” (automation, electronics, electrical engineering, and space technologies), conducted as part of the process for the award of a post-doctorate in 2023.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
It goes without saying that these achievements bring a great deal of pride to the academic community, whilst also attesting to the ongoing academic development and self-improvement of our lecturers.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
In considering our successes this past year, we must also mention our decisions and work in widening the study programmes we offer, which was led by the Deputy Rector for Student Affairs and Education, Dr Sambor Guze, and the deans of each faculty. Here I would like to remind you that as of September 2024, our University now has five faculties.
I am convinced that the creation of the new Faculty of Computer Science is an appropriate direction for the development of our University, and this time next year when we celebrate the next December University Celebration Day, we will have the first year of students at the Faculty of Computer Science of Gdynia Maritime University here with us. And together we will watch with satisfaction the progress of the students of the new faculty, who in a few years' time will become part of the intellectual elite of our country, strengthening maritime economy personnel and more.
We could not stand by and remain indifferent to the tremendous technological progress in areas such as IT, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, blockchain, and autonomous transport. I would like to wish the newly appointed Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science, Ireneusz Czarnowski, success in developing new structures at our University.
I would also like to cordially invite you to attend tomorrow's conference at the Faculty of Navigation on automated transport.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
In September of this year, we held a ceremony for the presentation of diplomas to the first edition of the Executive Offshore Wind MBA, organised by the Offshore Wind Energy Centre at Gdynia Maritime University. Back then, I told those in attendance at the ceremony that Poland has ambitions to develop wind energy on the scale of countries such as Germany and Denmark. I am convinced that through cooperation between business and academia, we can achieve a great deal in the development of our economy, including the offshore wind energy sector, in which there is an incredible opportunity for the development of our University. 3 Days ago, on Friday 6 December, in the Captain's lounge on board Dar Młodzieży, we held a ceremony for the presentation of diplomas to the graduates of the 2nd edition of the Executive Offshore Wind MBA
Ladies and Gentlemen!
In connection with the development of our University, I have mentioned, but also through cooperation with economic and social entities, in 2024 Gdynia Maritime University concluded a range of agreements with Polish companies and institutions, whilst continuing and widening our existing cooperation. Allow me also to recall the agreements signed by our University this past year.
On 1st February, a cooperation agreement was signed between the University and the Polish Register of Shipping in areas such as maritime and offshore technology, as well as the widely understood transport and port operations.
On 5th March, during the Edu Offshore Wind Careers and Education Fair, Gdynia Maritime University concluded an agreement on the Pomeranian Partnership as part of the EU Pact for Skills. The agreement concerns support for public and private organisations in the improvement and exchange of qualifications. It also foresees support in the development of the green and digital transformations.
On 22 May, I had the honour of signing an agreement with the company SR Robotics of Katowice for an increase in cooperation relating to research and R&D projects in autonomous shipping, autonomous underwater vehicles and underwater robotics.
On 13 June, the Deputy Rector for Cooperation and Development, Professor Tomasz Tarasiuk, during the opening of a project entitled "Concept for the Construction of a Metrological Infrastructure in the Underwater Acoustics Department of The Central Office of Measures", signed a cooperation agreement between the Central Office of Measures and GMU as part of the Ministry of Education and Science's Polish Metrology II Programme.
On 2nd September, during the sitting of the Senate Committee on Climate and the Environment and Foreign Affairs held in Gdynia and dedicated to the safety and protection of the waters of the Baltic Sea, in the presence of the Marshal of the Sejm, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, I was also pleased to sign a letter of intent between research vessel ship operators Gdynia Maritime University, the University of Gdansk, the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Marine Fishing Institute – State Research Institute, which aims to strengthen cooperation between the partners.
In just a few moments, during today's ceremonial sitting of the Senate, the Rector-Commander of the Firefighting Academy, Senior Brigadier Dr Tomasz Klimczak and I will sign a cooperation agreement between Gdynia Maritime University and the Firefighting Academy.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Our University and its experts contribute in an advisory capacity to matters concerning the development of the maritime industry of our country, hence my attendance from the 3rd until the 5th of June 2024 at the 33rd Economic Forum in Karpacz, the biggest political and economic conference in Central and Eastern Europe on security, economic development, modern-day challenges and overcoming crises. During this important event for Poland and Europe, I had the honour of taking part in two debates entitled: "The European transport network in the face of change: geopolitics and climate" and "Safety culture in transport: benefits and costs". I also took part in two closed-door meetings: one with the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the Minister of Science Dariusz Wieczorek, and also in discussions on opportunities and threats in the development of transport safety and innovative infrastructure projects. I also had the pleasure of being involved in discussions organised by the Digital Poland Association, as well as talks with the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Digitalisation Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, whom I informed of the establishment of the new Faculty of Computer Science at our University, to which he reacted with interest, inviting us to begin cooperating.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
During the previous term of office, I already spoke a great deal about the need for the internationalisation of our University and to undertake all efforts to achieve this aim. Following my reappointment for a second term of office in September, I am determined to intensify these efforts. The first step which I took was to widen the responsibilities of the Deputy Rector for Cooperation and Development, Professor Tomasz Tarasiuk, to include matters connected with internationalisation. Together we are currently undertaking the reorganisation of this division. Perhaps, should it be required, I will appoint an additional deputy rector responsible exclusively for internationalisation. In the age demographic decline and reduced interest in strictly maritime careers, in order to make full use of our research potential and educational infrastructure we should begin efforts to attract more international candidates to study at our University. I am referring mainly to students from the Far East and African countries, whilst naturally maintaining cooperation with our European neighbours.
Therefore, please do not be surprised by our increased activity concerning foreign centres and international organisations with which we cooperate. Recently, we have hosted many foreign delegations, and during these visits, we discussed the possibilities of expanding the existing forms of cooperation with our University. During the past year, we have welcomed representatives from: Malaysia, Lithuania, Ukraine, USA, and Germany (mainly in connection with our long-standing cooperation with Hochschule Bremerhaven), from the Maritime Academy in Antwerp, Belgium, and from China, namely representatives of Shanghai Maritime University.
We have also taken part as guests in ceremonies and meetings organised by embassies and consulates in Great Britain, Germany, France, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, and South Africa. We maintain close contact with honorary consulates in Malta, France, and Denmark.
Extremely important for our University was the visit of the Director of the Department of Technical Cooperation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Jose Matheickala, which took place at the end of August. For many years, GMU experts have played an active part in the work of IMO, a specialised UN organisation dedicated to maritime affairs. The meeting aimed to discuss further cooperation between IMO and GMU.
A month later, on 26 September, at the headquarters of the IMO in London, I took part in the main celebrations for World Maritime Day, which this year was celebrated under the slogan "Navigating the Future: Safety First". Representing the International Association of Maritime Universities at the celebrations, I met with the new Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco from Panama. Our talks centred mostly on cooperation between IAMU and IMO, but I also made use of the opportunity to encourage the Secretary-General to visit our University in the new year. The Minister was keenly interested in this proposal. Perhaps, a suitable occasion for an official invitation would be the TransNav 2025 Conference on Marine Navigation and Sea Transportation, organised by the Faculty of Navigation at GMU in partnership with The Nautical Institute. This would also give us a chance for a short summary of the Polish presidency in the EU in relation to maritime affairs.
Just a few days ago, as part of the 40th anniversary of cooperation between our universities, we welcomed a delegation from China, representatives from Shanghai Maritime University. In order to further deepen our contacts, we have decided to annex the agreement signed a year ago so that through the exchange of experience, joint research, and further exchanges of academic staff, as well as students, we can inspire and motivate each other to further develop and improve the education of future maritime personnel.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
We have also been guests at events abroad, taking an active part in congresses, symposiums, and scientific and academic conferences.
I would like to remind you briefly that on 17 and 18 April 2024, together with Professor Adam Przybyłowski, our AMU Contact Person, at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzard Bay in the USA, we took part in the sitting of the International Executive Board of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IEB), which I was honoured to chair as the Association's chair during the current term of office 2023-2025.
A month later, on 16-18 May, I took part in the HIMAT 2024 International Symposium on the History of Maritime Technology, organised jointly by Piri Reis University and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology in collaboration with the Research Salon for History of Maritime Technology in Japan and the Turkish Maritime History Research Center of Piri Reis University, during which our University signed a cooperation agreement with Piri Reis University for scientific research, as well as the exchange of students and teaching staff.
On 2 July 2024, I was honoured to represent our University at the International AMET Global Maritime Summit (AGMS 2024) in Chennai, India as a guest of honour, I gave a special lecture and chaired an international jury that selected the winners of the international awards (AGMA 2024), awarded by the Dr J. Ramachandran Maritime Foundation, the benefactor and the rector of the Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET). The principal topic of the summit was "Charting the Future of Maritime Excellence”.
A few days later, on 8 July 2024, I took part in the DSH International Shipping Innovation Conference in Shanghai on innovative solutions in shipping. The organiser of the event was the Maritime University of Shanghai, one of the 74 member universities of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU).
On 28-30 October 2024 in Peking, the 17th World Congress of the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN) was held. Taking part in the congress were three of us from Poland: The President of IAIN and Director of the GMU Maritime Institute, Professor Krzysztof Czaplewski; Professor Janusz Uriasz, Chair of the Polish Navigation Forum, and I, as Vice-President of the Polish Navigation Forum, and representative of the International Association of Institutes of Navigation appointed to represent IAIN in contact with the International Hydrographic Organization.
During the opening session, I had the honour of presenting a paper as a Keynote Speaker entitled: "A Balanced Reaction of Maritime Education Sector to Marine Technology Development including Autonomous Surface Shipping". The congress was opened by Professor Krzysztof Czaplewski, President of the International Association of Institutes of Navigation, who completed his 3-year term in Peking. For representing our country, the Polish Navigation Forum and our University, following the decision of the awards committee, the Professor will be honoured today with the Statue For Meritorious Service to Gdynia Maritime University.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
An important event for our University was the participation and participation in the deliberations and conferences of the Annual General Assembly 2024 of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU/AGA24), which I was honoured to chair.
This year's IAMU General Assembly took place from 7 to 12 October in the United States of America in Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts, on the campus of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and included a study visit to the port city of Boston.
Also part of the delegation from the University's research and teaching staff were:
- Dr Piotr Kopacz,
- Dr Kamil Formela and
- Captain Paweł Kołakowski from the Faculty of Navigation, and also
- Dr Adam Przybyłowski, Associate Professor in the Department of Transport.
The University was also proudly represented by our students, who I would like to mention by name and take the opportunity to once again thank them for their dignified representation and promotion of our University during the event. These were:
- Paulina Wolska, Wiktoria Dumińska and Jakub Kulbata from the Faculty of Navigation, and
- Patrycja Boratyńska, Przemysław Blicharski and Szymon Jabłoński from the Faculty of Marine Engineering.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Captain Kuba Szymański of the FNI, the Secretary General of the International Association InterManager with its headquarters in London for its help in financing the visit of our students to the USA.
I'm pleased to inform you that, during the visit, Dr Piotr Kopacz received an award for the best-prepared assessment as part of the process of evaluation of the IAMU research projects. Certificates of recognition were also presented to:
- Dr Agnieszka Lazarowska of the Faculty of Computer Science, and once again Dr Piotr Kopacz for his work in evaluating the research projects of applicants for IAMU funding.
- A certificate was also presented to Dr Adam Przybyłowski as a member of the International Programme Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Almost a month ago, on 13-16 November 2024, the MESIS'24 – Maritime Education, Shipping and Innovation Summit took place in Portugal at the Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique under the slogan Navigating the Future. I had the honour of taking part in a session entitled: Anticipating the future – skills and certification, on the evolution of skills and certification required by future experts in the maritime industry. The conference was organised during celebrations for the centenary of the Portuguese maritime school. In the USA in October, I had the honour of accepting this institution, the successor to the oldest maritime school in Europe, founded in the 15th century by Henry the Navigator, as a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities.
Two important meetings took place during the MESIS 24 Summit in Lisbon. I had the opportunity to talk at some length with the new president of The Nautical Institute, Captain Trevor Bailey. The topic of the talks was the joint organisation by the Faculty of Navigation and the Nautical Institute in June of next year of the TransNav 2024 Conference on Marine Navigation and the Safety of Sea Transportation. I also met with Lutonadio Masala, representing the Angolan Maritime Authority, a close associate of the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Republic of Angola, Professor Carmen Van Dún do Sacramento Neto, the former Minister of Higher Education of Angola, and the former Rector of the Academia de Pesca e Ciências do Mar do Namibe, Angola, with which, alongside building company Navimore, we cooperated as part of the largest education project in the European Union concerning the construction of a maritime university in Namibe, Angola. Our talks focused on the renewal of close cooperation with the Angolan university.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Another sailing season has passed. A successful season, but not without certain difficulties along the way. We successfully completed all training at sea on board Dar Młodzieży. Unfortunately, our ship is not getting any younger and requires increasingly costly and complex repairs. There is also a risk that in the future Dar Młodzieży will be unable to put to sea for an extended period of time, including being unavailable for seafarer training, due to an overhaul. As a maritime university which is required by the STCW Convention to provide such training to our students, this is something which we cannot allow.
It is for these reasons and more that the decision was made not to send the ship to Japan to take part in the Expo Osaka 2025 event. I decided that such a voyage would be too much of a risk. On the other hand, I declare that we will make every effort to bring the unit to optimal condition to take part in the scheduled races on the American continent on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, referred to as Sail250, on the Norfolk - Baltimore - New York - Boston route. The main celebration will take place on 4 July in New York. Dar Młodzieży has already received an invitation to take part in this prestigious event.
In mid-November, the Director of the Ship Management Department, Captain Dariusz Jellonnek, Captain of the Dar Młodzieży Rafał Szymański and I took part in the Sail Training International Conference 2024 in La Coruna, where Tall Ships Races routes were planned by the STI for 2025 and 2026. There is a possibility that on the way back to Europe from Sail'250 a sailing ship will take part in the 2026 Tall Ship race on the route from Halifax to Gdynia. Strong competitors to receive the ships returning from America are the British port Falmouth and the French port Le Havre.
I would like to mention that currently, we are undergoing intensive efforts to develop a financing model for the construction of a successor to Dar Młodzieży. It is time for a new Gdynia Maritime University training ship, the fourth in the line, to take the place of the 40-year-old frigate.
I would like to remind you that not long ago, in September, two meetings were held between the University's authorities and representatives of the national and regional government and city authorities, where we discussed the need to build a successor to the Dar Młodzieży, to maintain a high standard of education for maritime personnel.
It will also be necessary, in a more distant future, to obtain funds for the development of replacements for our research and training ships Horyzont II and IMOR. About this, and the need to build the successor to Dar Młodzieży, I had the opportunity to speak just a few days ago, on 4 December, in the Senate of Poland in Warsaw, during a joint meeting of the Maritime Parliamentary Team and the Kashubian Parliamentary Team, in which I participated at the invitation of the President of Senator Kazimierz Kleina. The subject of the sitting was "Investment Programmes at Gdynia Maritime University and the Maritime University in Szczecin for the construction of new scientific research and training vessels". The speeches made by the two rectors were met with great understanding from the parliamentarians. I had the impression that we did not have to convince the gathered that the renewal of the research and training fleet was not just in the interests of our universities. We are a forge for the future personnel of the maritime industry! Taking part in the meeting was Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka, and the Director of the Department of Maritime Education, Wojciech Gąsowski. I would like to thank them as well as Senator Arkadiusz Rybicki for his kindness and for arranging the meeting.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I would like to inform you that during the most recent sitting of the Senate of GMU, on 28 November, a new University Council was elected for the period 2025-2028. Joining the council were Dorota Pyć, President of the Management Board of the Maritime Port of Gdańsk, Piotr Gorzeński, President of the Management Board of the Maritime Port of Gdynia and Sławomir Kalicki, President of InterMarine Group and the Honorary Consul of Malta. Professor Krzysztof Górecki, Professor Lech Murawski and Professor Adam Przybyłowski were chosen from among the University's staff. The seventh member of the Council is, in accordance with the Law on Higher Education Act, the Chair of the Student Parliament. I am pleased to inform you that new leaders of the Student Parliament were elected a few days ago. Tobiasz Chęciński was once again elected chair. I would like to congratulate all newly elected members of the University Council and look forward to the fruitful cooperation of our University bodies. The University Council's new term of office shall begin on 1st January 2025. However, I would like to invite the outgoing University Council to the next sitting of the Senate, which will take place on 19 December, in order to take stock of its work to date, and I take the opportunity to thank all members of the Council, and especially the chair Joanna Zieleńska, for her great commitment and even model cooperation. Please accept my respect and gratitude.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
For the past few months, the academic community in our country has been awaiting amendments to the Law on Higher Education Act announced on several occasions by the Minister for Science and Higher Education, Dariusz Wieczorek. The Deputy Rector for Science, Dr Dariusz Barbucha, and I are also awaiting the new system for the evaluation of scientific journals, which is to come into effect on 1 January 2025, and of course clear and precise rules for the evaluation of academic units. And we are already coming to the end of the third year of the evaluation period 2022-2025. The Ministry of Science and the Commission for the Evaluation of Science (KEN) is reportedly aiming at linking the parametric indicative assessment and the expert assessment. Irrespective of what the changes will be, the new regulations will require changes to be made in the GMU Statutes. This will provide an occasion to make a few minor amendments to our provisions. I appeal to the entire academic community of our University for feedback as to which areas you believe would benefit from such internal changes.
Esteemed Senate, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Students and Doctoral Candidates of our University!
It is not possible to mention all current matters, including our successes of this past calendar year, in such a short period of time, so I have attempted to identify the most important ones. It has become a certain tradition that the next edition of the University's newsletter is released during our celebration days, edited by Małgorzata Sokołowska and Joanna Stasiak. Both in the publication and online you can find all the current information on University life which I warmly encourage you to follow.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
At the end of my speech, I would once again like to thank you all for joining us for today's ceremonial sitting and celebrating our University's Celebration Day. I also extend my congratulations once again to all those who were presented with decorations, distinctions, and awards. I am always pleased to see so many people presented with awards, as this attests to your continual dedication to your work, which is a source of great pride for me. Once more, thank you very much!
Today's Celebration Day is a cause for celebration for all of us - staff, students, and friends of our Maritime University. Together we make up a social circle which finds the answer to its dreams in the sea, as it was beautifully put by the great writer and sailor Ernest Hemingway. I wish all of you here today all the best and the fulfilment of those dreams.