‘It is the University that sets directions and goals, outlines the future’, such words were uttered by Prof. Radzisław Kordek MD PhD, the Rector of MUL, on September 29 at official inauguration of the academic year 2023/2024 at the Medical University of Lodz.

The official academic year 2023/2024  inauguration ceremony was traditionally held in Aula 1000 of the Medical University of Lodz and live-streamed on MUL website.

All the guests were welcomed by Prof. Radzisław Kordek Md PhD, the Rector of MUL. The guests of honour included:

• Marcin Martyniak, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health,
• Aurelia Ostrowska, Director of the Department of Military Health Service

at the Ministry of National Defence

• Brig. Gen. Ph.D. Piotr Płonka, Rector, Commander of the Land Forces Academy in Wrocław
• Col. M. Eng. Wojciech Jakóbczyk, Deputy Head of the Army Logistics Support Planning Branch,
• Lt. Col. Przemysław Janecki, Commander of the Military Medical Education Centre in Lodz
• Col. Zbigniew Aszkielaniec, former Commander of the Military Medical Education Centre in Lodz
• Mateusz Kowalczyk MD, Vice-President of the Supreme Medical Council and the Regional Medical Council in Lodz
• Anna Kacprzak, Chairman of the Council of Nurses and Midwives
• Monika Pintal- Ślimak, President of the National Council of Laboratory Diagnosticians
• Przemysław Andrzejak, Chairman of the University Council

as well as former Rectors of the University, Directors of Lodz hospitals, members of the Senate, Deans and Vice-Deans.

In his inauguration speech, The Rector summarised MUL development within the past three years. Prof. Radzisław Kordek thanked MUL employees for their engagement, presented the achievements of our university in science, infrastructure and clinical trials. He also addressed the students and underlined that they had become members of a community that values ​​freedom of thought and speech.

He also added that their study time is an opportunity to gain new experience, develop passions and interests, but also to expand their horizons and position themselves in society. Concluding his speech, the Rector wished the students success and encouraged them to enjoy freedom guided by courage, wisdom and tolerance.

Matriculation was the highlight of the ceremony programme. The freshman students and doctoral students took the oath before prof. Lucyna Woźniak, Vice-Rector for Research Strategy and International Relations, prof. Janusz Piekarski, Vice-Rector for Organisational and Students Affairs  and prof. Tomasz Kostka, Vice-Rector for Teaching.

MUL Rector, accompanied by prof. Waldemar Machała, Vice-Rector for Military Health Care, expressed his gratitude to the Commander of the Military Medical Education Centre, Colonel Zbigniew Aszkielaniec, for many years of reliable cooperation.

The inauguration lecture on ‘Where have we come from? Who are we? Where are we heading? Education in biomedical sciences as a separate field of knowledge’ was given by Janusz Janczukowicz MA PhD, Professor of MUL, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for Teaching Development, Director of Medical Education Centre.

In his speech, Pan Prof. Janczukowicz drew special attention to the fact that today it is not only the knowledge that students gain that is important but it is also the way the knowledge is conveyed in and the tools used in the teaching process.  Modern education of future medical specialist relies on   drawing on various areas of life, which enables students to realise how important and complex the treatment process is  and how closely it is linked to the changes in our reality. Prof. Janczukowicz indicated the increasingly significant role of innovations in teaching methods  and collaboration of all the members of the community of medical specialists, patients and students themselves, which can translate into  better preparation of future medical stuff for the challenges of contemporary medicine.

The end of the ceremony was exquisitely complemented with a performance by the University Choir, led by Prof. Anna Domańska.

 

THE LODZ ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP’S FIRST JOINT INAUGURATION OF NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

Lodz Universities: Technical University, Lodz University, Medical University, Film School, Academy of Fine Arts and Academy of Music  jointly inaugurated the academic year on October 2, 2023 in Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic.

The list of guests included i.a.:

• Waldemar Buda, Minister of Economic Development and Technology,
• Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Senator of the Republic of Poland, on behalf of prof. Tomasz Grodzki, the Speaker of the Senate,
• Karol Młynarczyk, Voivode of Łódź, also representing Mateusz Morawiecki, the Prime Minister
• Marcin Gołaszewski, Chairman of the City Council in Lodz,
• Adam Pustelnik , Vice-President of Lodz,
• Monika Malinowska – Olszowy, Chairwoman of the City Promotion Committee

and Foreign Cooperation of the City Council in Lodz,

• Krzysztof Apostolidis, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark,
• Alicja Bień, Honorary Consul of the Republic of France,
• Rafał Choma, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,
• Wirginia Gostomczyk, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Belgium,
• Krzysztof Skotnick, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic,
• Andrzej Welfe, Vice-President of Polish Academy of Sciences,
• Andrzej Bartoszewicz, President of Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Lodz,
• Marek Potrzebowski, Director of the Centre for Molecular and Macromolecular Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences,
• Paweł Czekalski, President of the District Medical Council inLodz,
• Anna Kacprzak, Chairman of the Council of Nurses and Midwive,s
• Radosław Dziuba, Director of Łukasiewicz -Lodz Institute of Technology,
• Dariusz Rogut PhD, Rector of Piotrków Academy,
• Sławomir Sosnowski, Rector of the Major Seminary, also representing the Metropolitan of Lodz, Archbishop. Grzegorz Ryś,
• Dariusz Bogdał, Vice-Rector for Science of the Krakow University of Technology,
• Tomasz Bęben, Director of Artur Rubinstein Philharmonic in Lodz,
• Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, Director of the Grand Theatre in Lodz,
• Dorota Ignatjew, Director of the New Theater in Lodz,
• Sławosz Uznański PhD Eng, an astronaut of the European Space Agency, who delivered the keynote lecture.

The ceremony was also honoured by the presence of vice-rectors of Lodz universities, members of the Senate and, above all, students and the academic community.

The first joint inauguration of Lodz Academic Partnership (LAP) was opened with a speech given by Prof. Elżbieta Żądzińska, the Rector of the University of Lodz. After welcoming the guests, Prof. Żądzińska recalled the beginnings of academic Lodz, its history and common successes of Lodz universities. Referring to Jan Karski, the patron of LAP, prof. Żądzińska emphasized that the primary goal of the Partnership is to fight and remind people of the need to investigate, understand and convey the truth, not only historical truth, but also the truth about the world around us created as a result of scientific research. She drew on Jan Karski’s biography and said that LAP wishes to uphold values ​​such as courage, patriotism, respect, tolerance and peace thereby promoting international dialogue, partnership and collaboration between scientific units.

Matriculation of freshmen students and PhD students was the key moment of the ceremony. Rectors of Lodz universities took oaths from their representatives, symbolically accepting new members into the academic community.

Gaude Mater Polonia performed by the Choir of  Lodz Academy of Music was the wrap-up of this part of the ceremony.

The Rectors of Lodz universities, the academic community and, above all, new students received congratulations and best wishes, among others from Waldemar Buda, the Minister, Elżbieta Witek, Marshal of the Sejm, Mateusz Morawiecki, the Prime Minister, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Voivode of Lodz, Chairman of the City Council, as well as Senator, who, on behalf prof. Tomasz Grodzki, the Speaker of the Senate, handed over the distinction of the Senate Eagle for the Lodz Academic Partnership, the highest distinction awarded by the Marshal of the Senate, to prof. Żądzińska.

The highlight of the official part of the event was the keynote lecture by Sławosz Uznański PhD Eng  entitled ‘A new look at our planet: from manned space flights to Earth observations’, during which the astronaut presented the inspiring application of space technology in everyday life, and also pointed out the connections between space missions and various fields of science.

After the official inauguration of academic year 2023/24 by the Rectors of Lodz universities, the Choir of the Academy of Music in Lodz performed the traditional song Gaudeamus igitur.

A unique, expressive and potent performance given by the students of the Acting Department of the Film School in Lodz, prepared under the supervision of Joanna Gogulska, was an artistic complement to the ceremony. The daring performance of songs from the repertoire of Maanam, Republika, Świnie and DAAB will be remembered long.