Inauguration of the 2020/2021 Academic Year | Gdynia Maritime University

Inauguration Speech of HM Rector of GMU

Dear students, together with our professors, you will play a part in shaping the second century of history of our Alma Mater, which has just begun. This is the significance of the current time. With your presence comes renewed strength and all that you set your minds to shall have a new, and hopefully, better form.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We begin this new academic year and today's celebrations in an untypical fashion. The marking of the 100th anniversary of our Alma Mater is an extraordinarily special occasion, but it takes place in the extraordinary circumstances and conditions of the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic. Qualified by the Ministry of Health as part of a yellow zone, our faces covered with masks, we practise social distancing; and remain in constant contact with the health inspection authorities, whilst appearing here today in reduced numbers of carefully selected University student and staff representatives. Many of us are therefore only able to attend today's celebration remotely; I take this opportunity to warmly welcome all of you who have joined us online. And so the beginning of this new term of office is marked by the restrictions of the pandemic, heightened control, and, it must be said, comes at a time of uncertainty.

Yes, the epidemic is hampering our activities, but it must not limit our dreams, our aspirations, our plans and the determination with which our academic community, our staff and students, have acted for generations. Uncertain. This is how it was 100 years ago when Poland had only just regained independence and the Maritime School was founded in Tczew. And it's similar today.

Let us try to imagine that time, Poland had no commercial ports, there were no ship operators, no shipyards, not even any ships, and access to the sea was extremely limited. The idea of creating a maritime school in such circumstances was, at the time, highly criticised. There was, however, genuine enthusiasm and determination, a will to build something from the ground up, and a vision of modernity, on which all hope rested and was realised through the sea. To the newly established, first maritime school in Poland, young people came from even the farthest corners of the country. They not only saw their opportunity in adventure on the sea but were also drawn to be part of the maritime community, the foundation of Poland's future as a maritime nation. And again, later, in Gdynia, it was the same. The city, and the Baltic port, both were built on the sand, literally out of nothing. These were the representatives of a generation. A generation that would later come to understand, once again, that access to the sea is fundamental to an independent Poland. Gdynia was, therefore, an expression of the nation's new will to live. A convincing and effective statement of intent. A sort of Polish America, if you like.

Today, we have extensive access to the sea, we have ports and ship operators and vessels, and in the world rankings of maritime centres of education, Gdynia Maritime University, as is similar with Szczecin Maritime Academy, occupies a leading position in Europe and the world. For the past 100 years, we have been, and I hope, we will be a powerhouse in the education of personnel for the Polish and international merchant navies and the widely understood maritime economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today we are inaugurating a new academic year. The 102nd year in the history of Polish maritime education, beginning with the foundation of the Maritime School in Tczew, through the Maritime School in Gdynia, the war period in England in London, Southampton, Lilford and Landywood near Birmingham, to the State Maritime School, the Maritime Higher School, the Maritime Academy, and finally, Gdynia Maritime University. From the beginning of the University's existence its role, importance and position were continually improving, which led to a change in its status and the resultant change of its name.

Dear Students,

The quality of each university is demonstrated by its graduates, ambitious, forward-thinking, open-minded, positive, committed, aware of their value, and exceptionally prepared for their professional careers. The outcomes of the education we provide are verified by operators and organisations from within the maritime economy. Our graduates are well equipped with practical skills and extensive engineering and scientific knowledge.

Our approach to education looks to provide a balance between theory and practice. In addition to well-equipped laboratories and simulators, we are one of only a few centres of education in the world to have access to research workshops, such as those of the Maritime Institute as well as modern equipped training vessels, including a sailing ship and the Ship Handling Centre in Iława, unique on a global scale.

Our students and doctoral candidates achieve spectacular success even before completion of their studies, receiving scholarships and awards from the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation and the Marshall of Pomerania for outstanding achievements in science, awards in numerous competitions, including the "New Technologies for Girls" Programme, scientific awards from the Polish Space Agency, Polish Nautological Society, Polish Navigation Forum, Maritime Economy Forum and other agencies, associations and scientific and industry organisations.

Our students are also successful in sports. And it is, of course, no surprise that our students and staff are keen sailors. A GMU crew captained by Jędrzej Charłampowicz proved unstoppable in the most recent Pomeranian Sailing Championships, coming in first in all races.

Stories of success are not only limited to our students. We can also be proud of the notable achievements of our lecturers and research staff. During the last year, two of them have completed a postdoctorate and a further four a doctorate, and six of our professors have been appointed to the committees of the Polish Academy of Sciences for the term 2020-2023. A further two individuals have received awards as part of the Young Scientist Competition run by the Gdansk branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The competition "Primum Cooperatio" [cooperation above all] was also won by Professor Tomasz Tarasiuk – Deputy Rector for Cooperation and Development at our University.

The last academic year also saw many organisational achievements, the biggest challenge being the incorporation of the Maritime Institute in Gdansk into the structure of the University, which, under a Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 27th August 2019, officially went ahead on 1st November 2019.

The Senate of GMU conferred upon two individuals of outstanding merit the title of Honorary Doctor of Gdynia Maritime University, namely Captain and Engineer Zbigniew Sulatycki and Professor Andrzej Naperalski.

We also created a Doctor’s School, began work on the “Innovation Incubator 4.0” project, under which a Technology Transfer Centre will be established at the University, and became a member of the Finish R&D consortium Awake.ai, dedicated to the development of innovative marine technology.

Our University has continued to develop and not only in terms of the scope of education it provides. We have modernised and extended its infrastructure and already this year we will begin the construction of a new sports hall complex and have plans to build another student hall of residence. And in all this, the Coronavirus shall have no say. At least, this is our hope.

We are seriously considering the construction of new headquarters for the Maritime Institute on our recently acquired land next to Wisłoujście Fortress in Gdansk and have begun talks on building a successor to the Dar Młodzieży.

In our efforts to maintain the maritime heritage of our University I'm happy to feel the support of those maritime associations, whose flags fly next to ours today: the Master Mariners' Association, the Association of Senior Marine Mechanic Officers and the Association of Marine Electrical Engineers. It is also of great significance to me as newly appointed Rector that as many as six of my predecessors stand beside me in support on the deck of the Dar Młodzieży: Professor Daniel Duda, Professor Józef Lisowski, Professor Piotr Przybyłowski, Professor Romuald Cwilewicz, Professor Piotr Jędrzejowicz and Professor Janusz Zarębski.

The tasks that lie in front of us in the coming years will demonstrate not only our ambitions but also our desire to develop. Maritime centres of education must be prepared for changes brought on by the modern world, and equally, they must also be prepared for changes at times of threat, as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The way forward for our University is the flexible adaption of the education provided in all areas of study to the current situation. We want to adopt e-learning. We plan to develop and introduce modern forms of education and tools (simulators, e-learning courses, e-textbooks, multimedia systems, and open internet access).

In terms of improving the safety of maritime and student education, and the training of seafarers and port personnel, we have for many years been working, and will continue to work, closely with the International Maritime Organisation, the UN agency, with which we have a very good relationship, and for who our best staff work as experts.

We cooperate widely with other international institutions, including in the exchange of lecturers, joint research projects, as well as student exchanges and collaborations. We organise annual scientific conferences of international reach, the works of which are indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. In addition to the elite, internationally recognised conferences, such as TransNav, we mustn't forget the wide range of conferences organised periodically by our students and student scientific circles.

The University's showpiece on the world stage, and an extraordinary ambassador for Poland, is the "Dar Młodzieży" on whose decks we currently stand. And whose commanders, Captain Ireneusz Lewandowski and Captain Rafał Szymański, were granted a special award during this past year for The Voyage of the Year, and another special award - the Leszek Witorowicz award - for their journey around the world on the Independence Voyage.

Also part of the University float are the research and training vessel “Horyzont II” which is capable of sailing polar waters, a research ship, the “Imor”, equipped with the most recent technologies, as well as several small units.

Currently, 4,800 students are studying at our University, including 1,4442 new undergraduate and postgraduate students, across the four faculties and 9 academic fields. Due to the restrictions on today's celebrations by reason of the pandemic, we are joined only by our Guard of Honour, and even our new students are represented by only 16 persons from each faculty.

Dear Students,

For some of you, these will be your first steps as independent adults. Don't be afraid to take full responsibility for your own lives. Face the challenge bravely. You have chosen your path, a strong path into the future. But to be successful, you need to give it your all. And look out for one another, because no one will do it for you. More than anyone, do it for yourself, but also for your parents, caregivers, and loved ones who believe in you, and who have great hopes for you. So hold your heads high! Do them proud. Believe in yourselves! Failure is not an option - after all, that's not what you're here for, you're here to succeed.

But don’t let the pressure get to you. Youth too has its own rights. There’s a time for work and a time for play. What’s most important is common sense and knowing how to maintain a balance.

This is an important, momentous time in your lives. And it's thanks to your hard work that you are here. It's an achievement to be proud of. But it's only the beginning. There's a long road ahead and, I won't lie, it won't be easy. But I assure you it is worth the effort. Today is the start of a great opportunity - I appeal to you all to grasp that chance. It's nearly time for your proverbial five minutes - please, don't waste it.

40 years ago, I was standing where you are now. A little scared, excited. Only then, the ceremony took place in front of the "Dar Pomorza", after a candidacy lasting a few weeks. And with me stood several people present here today: Master Mariner Andrzej Kardaś, the captain of one of the University's training vessels, Horyzont II, Sławek Kalicki, the founder and CEO of the Inter Marine Group and Honorary Consul to the Republic of Malta in Gdynia, Master Mariner Waldek Perchel, the President of APMAR - the Association of Shipping Agencies and Representatives in Gdynia, the CEO of Gdynia based company Dohle Marine Services Europe, Master Mariner Jurek Kaczmarek, the director of the Unipil Maritime Services Company and Chair of the Association of Marine Pilots. My warmest welcome to you all!

I wish you all a great deal of success in your quests for knowledge, skills and competencies, and most importantly in achieving your goal of gaining a new, well-paid and prestigious profession. I wish you inspiring lectures, interesting reading, imaginative and informative exercises, fascinating intellectual challenges, interesting tasks and projects, motivation to implement even the craziest ideas, and many university friendships and acquaintances. I wish you all this and more during this new academic year!

Look around you. You are standing in a historic spot. On the left, a statute of the great maritime Polish author Joseph Conrad, on the right, the Faculty of Navigation building, the place of work of the great seascape painter Karol Olgierd Borchardt and many others, and opposite, the Dar Pomorza, whose godfather was the Minister for Industry and Trade and original creator of the country's maritime power, Engineer Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski.

We stand here today in Kosciuszko Square, on John Paul II Avenue. The name of the street is no mere coincidence. It was here where the ORP "Błyskawica" now stands that our great countryman John Paul II gave a special homily for the people of the sea in 1987 during his third pilgrimage to Poland. Attended by thousands of the faithful, it was one of the greatest events in the history of Gdynia.

Today, in memory of his visit, near the bow of the "Dar Młodzieży", next to the VIP tent, there is a papal exhibit put in place by the newspaper "Dziennik Baltycki", which together with its partners Orlen and the Management Board of Port Gdynia commemorated the visit. I encourage you all to take a look at the exhibit.

At this point, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to father Edward Pracz, the pastor of the People of the Sea at the Stella Maris Centre, for the ceremonial holy mass he offered today in the intentions of the staff, doctoral candidates, students and alumni of our Alma Mater at the Redemptorist Church in Gdynia.

On behalf of our academic community, I would also like to thank His Excellency Archbishop Tadeusz Wojdy for the ceremonial holy mass on the occasion of the inauguration of the 2021/2022 academic year in Pomerania, which was celebrated last Friday, 1st November in the Basilica Cathedral in Gdansk, Oliwa.

Dear Students,

In light of this special occasion, the inauguration of the 2020/2021 academic year, I have put together for you a booklet of sea shanty songs, sailing songs and hymns about the sea titled "Lulled by the West Wind". I hope you all have a copy.

At the end of the booklet, I've included the words to the song "You'll Never Walk Alone". Perhaps its inclusion comes as a surprise, as it seemingly has nothing to do with the sea. The song is from the musical Carousel from 1945 and was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally performed by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Perry Como, Doris Day, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, and Johnny Cash, but the most famous rendition of the song was recorded by the band Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1963. The song's beautiful words led to You'll Never Walk Alone becoming the anthem of Liverpool F.C. as well as Celtic Glasgow.

Allow me to recite them to you.

When you walk through a storm,

Hold your head up high,

And don't be afraid of the dark.

At the end of a storm,

There's a golden sky.

And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind. Walk on through the rain.

Though your dreams be tossed and blown…

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart.

And you'll never walk alone… you'll never

walk alone.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is by no means accidental that I choose to read these words today. Not only are they suitable given the difficult circumstances in which we find ourselves today, but, most importantly, they are also appropriate to the type of careers that you have chosen. No doubt, there will be many a time when you will lose all hope, when it will seem like there's no way forward, but remember always to remain calm and not to panic. Remember also the words of Budka Suflera: "after the night, comes the day and after a storm, calm".

Dear First-Year Students,

You have chosen to study at an exceptional, elite university of world-class education. I congratulate you on your choice and reassure you that Gdynia Maritime University is one of the largest maritime universities in the European Union, and has been training merchant navy officers and future managers for the inland maritime sector since 1920 - for 100 years.

Generations of maritime personnel educated at our Alma Mater have mostly become officers of the merchant fleet. However, our graduates include not only captains of merchant shipping, senior engineers, superintendents, electricians, electronics engineers, automatic technicians, radio operators, captains of the sea, or commissioners, but also politicians; ministers, diplomats, ambassadors, consuls, sea attaches, parliamentarians, senators and MPs, provincial governors, local government officials, businessmen, managers, owners, directors and heads of ship operating companies, maritime industry companies, ports, shipyards and maritime administration, pilots, and famous sailors, as well as maritime artists and writers, and outstanding academics and scientists, of whom we should be proud. One thing remains certain: those who come here are by no means mediocre.

We are all part of an extensive maritime family. Dear Student, I appeal to you to be kind, respectful, and considerate to one another and support each other wherever in the world you may venture. And you have the right to expect the same of those that came and studied at the University before you, on many occasions, long before you. Our common roots, time spent at sea, in this square and onboard this ship, are, with time, all things we will have in common. From now on you are no longer alone, so remember the words "You'll never walk alone”.

I would like this beautiful song, with optimistic, uplifting lyrics to become our unofficial University anthem. I have already requested that Master Karol Hilla, the conductor of the University choir, include the song in the choir's rich repertoire.

As I have already mentioned, for many years we have been ranked as one of the leading maritime universities in the world. We have an exceptional reputation. I ask that in all you do, you conduct yourselves for the benefit of that glowing opinion developed by many a generation of your predecessors. Remember that a good reputation comes with years of hard work.

At a time when we are emerging from a global shipping crisis, it's not easy. Nevertheless, Poland remains an authority in the training of maritime personnel. And we live with the hope that our country will become an authority within the entire maritime industry. I wish wholeheartedly for us to accomplish this together, us and you, our successors. And I wish all students studying for roles at sea the honour of one day sailing under the white and red flag.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In just a moment I will use an ancient Latin maxim to announce the official inauguration of the Academic Year.

And in doing so I will be wishing you a happy, lucky, and successful academic year. May the best of luck be with you! May this new academic year bring goodness, happiness and success.

Quod Bonum Felix Faustum Fortunatum-que Sit!

I declare the 2020/2021 academic year open!