We have inaugurated the jubilee academic year 2025/2026

A resounding "Gaudeamus" echoed through the Main Building of the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) – a sign that we have inaugurated a new academic year, this time a special one, opening the celebrations of WUT’s 200th anniversary.

As is tradition, the inauguration ceremony began with an address by the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology. Professor Krzysztof Zaremba stressed that our University is home to many outstanding research teams and student research groups operating at a very high level. He also emphasised that today’s ceremony opens a very special period for the University – its bicentenary, during which we will often refer to our history.

"In today’s frantic and busy world, we rarely think and speak about the past. The Warsaw University of Technology is a university focused on the future, because our main aspiration is to take part in creating the technologies of tomorrow and educating the elites of tomorrow. At the same time, we are painfully immersed in the world of present-day problems," said Professor Krzysztof Zaremba, Rector of WUT.

Looking to the future, honouring the past

The Rector highlighted our mission to educate new generations. In his speech, he paid tribute to great Poles who were part of the WUT community and made an enormous contribution to the development of science – Professor Ignacy Mościcki, Professor Stefan Bryła, Professor Jan Czochralski and Professor Janusz Groszkowski.

"The history of our Alma Mater is not only the past, not only an object of remembrance, but also – and perhaps above all – an obligation. An obligation to the multitude of our predecessors who, with great determination and consistency, created our complex history. An obligation to the University, to society, to humanity. An obligation to take responsibility for our works, to care for sustainable and ethical technological development," the Rector said. "We want to educate enlightened people, to ignite their passion, to instil the habit of lifelong learning, to accustom them to creative and critical thinking. We want our graduates to leave the University as intellectually independent people who boldly proclaim their views."

Addressing new students, the Rector cautioned that they will face certain moral dilemmas. How they deal with them will depend on the values they adopt – values the University strives to shape in them.

"From you, our newly admitted students, I expect more than just acceptance and observance of these values. I hope they will become a natural part of your own code of values," he noted.

"I am convinced that you have made a good choice – one that will likely determine your future. The beginnings will probably not be easy – university studies are fundamentally different from school education. You will not be taught – you will learn, and it will be up to you how this process proceeds. We will provide you with the conditions to gain knowledge and skills, but you will decide whether and how you take this opportunity," said Professor Krzysztof Zaremba.

On cooperation

On this special day for our academic community, many guests also took the floor. Alvin Gajadhur, Social Affairs Adviser to the President of the Republic of Poland, read a letter from President Karol Nawrocki. The President of the Republic highlighted the vital role of the universitas – the academic community.

"From first-year matriculated students and students of both cycles, through Masters and those promoted to academic degrees, to seasoned masters honoured with prestigious titles, awards and distinctions – all of you constitute the intellectual elite in whom we Poles place great hopes. You possess the most powerful force – knowledge – and at the same time share responsibility for the purpose and the manner of using that force," conveyed the President. "Higher education institutions must remain autonomous bastions of freedom of speech and freedom of scientific research, independent of external pressures – centres from which radiate the culture of genuine dialogue and intellectual integrity."

The President declared his openness to dialogue with the academic community to jointly implement changes in legislation concerning the development of research funding and the international promotion of Polish universities and research. "I trust that Polish universities will pay particular attention to the challenges facing Poland, although these are usually linked to global phenomena. (…) Poland’s speciality can and should be new technologies, especially in the areas of defence, energy, biology and medicine," wrote President Karol Nawrocki. "In the face of an extraordinary accumulation of processes changing the face of Poland and the world, we need careful, considered reflection on how to ensure that the genuine well-being of people stands at the centre of these transformations."

Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, read a letter from Minister Marcin Kulasek. "This exceptional moment, which opens another year of joint work, research, discoveries and development, is not only a celebration of the academic community, but also a symbolic confirmation of readiness to take on new challenges and an opportunity for Polish higher education institutions. It is in them that ideas are born which change the future and lay the foundations of a modern society. Here talents mature, passions develop, and science meets practice," conveyed the Minister, also expressing words of recognition for the entire academic community.

"The events of recent months have shown that Poland has great research potential and can use it with courage, flexibility and innovation. (…) I hope that the achievements of the Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will inspire young people who are beginning their studies today. I would like his story to remind us that every moment spent at university can be the first step towards projects that change reality," wrote Marcin Kulasek.

Bartosz Frankowski, the government-appointed head of the Mazovia region (Mazovian Voivode), focused on activities related to geopolitics and national security. He recalled recent success of our students and researchers – success in the International Future Energy Challenge in power electronics, a quantum computer prototype, space robotics competition, victory in the Nepal School Project competition, and a James Dyson Award James Dyson Award. He underlined the important role of universities and researchers in the face of challenges not only domestically, but also on the international stage.

"A new role for higher education institutions – technical universities in particular – is taking shape today: centres that support strengthening social resilience to threats and building crisis resilience. (…) Technical universities can and should play a role in increasing social resilience to threats. There is enormous potential here in engineering, cybersecurity, countering disinformation, critical infrastructure, geospatial information, and strengthening the defence industry – potential that will also be used in the continuous process of building resilience," said Bartosz Frankowski.

Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw, emphasised the importance of cooperation between our University and the City authorities. He sees scope for collaboration in such areas as urban revitalisation, urban planning, transport, and civil defence and preparedness for various challenges.

"When I read the list of degree programmes offered here at the Warsaw University of Technology, virtually each of them is a field for excellent cooperation between WUT and the Capital City of Warsaw. This is what we are looking for together – synergy, cooperation – and we can succeed here. We are already on the right track, because we have a framework agreement between the City of Warsaw and the University,” said Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. "We face completely new challenges, and it is very important that a university like the Warsaw University of Technology – of which we are all proud – helps us address them. Before you – I’m addressing students – lie truly fascinating, exceptionally exciting years. As a humanities scholar, I’m a bit envious, because you can specialise in fields with extremely practical impact and application – also for the city’s development. (…) Your experts and all of you specialise in areas that are absolutely fundamental to the development of the city."

Students to students, doctoral students to doctoral students

A key moment of the inauguration is always matriculation – the formal admission into the student community. So it was this time as well. First, representatives of new students from all WUT Faculties and the WUT College took the solemn oath, and then each person received congratulations and diplomas from the hands of the Rector.

Jakub Dekowski, President of the WUT Student Government, addressed first-year students: "I have a message for you about the future – a future that has just arrived and is sitting here with us, because you are that future, and it is your responsibility to devote the coming years not only to absorbing knowledge, but to seizing every opportunity to broaden your horizons."

"The Warsaw University of Technology has many faces. It is a place full of history, tradition and knowledge. It is people full of experience, ideas, joy and concerns which, combined, constitute the essence of our life. It is boundless opportunities, academic careers, business contacts, a full range of student organisations led by the Student Government, acquaintances, friendships and a family which – not through ties of blood, but through feelings and brotherhood – will accompany you on your path. All these are opportunities that stand before you today, and it is entirely up to you which of them you will make use of."

Julia Kuczak, Chair of the WUT Doctoral Students’ Council, underlined that the Warsaw University of Technology is a place where innovations that change the world are created. Here, student research groups develop modern solutions to pressing problems. Various spin-off companies originate here. Projects of great social significance are also born here. All this shows that WUT is not only a place to acquire knowledge, but also a space where dreams of modern technologies become reality.

"This year we have admitted as many as 178 new doctoral candidates. This is an absolutely impressive number, but above all it is 178 individual stories, research plans and ideas for advancing science. Let this be a year in which, instead of complaining about difficulties, we treat them as challenges. After all, who if not us – researchers – can turn hectolitres of coffee into publications, and stress into innovation?"

The first lecture of the new academic year

The inaugural lecture, titled "Stanisław Staszic. On the Need for Elites," was delivered by Professor Dagmara Mirowska-Guzel of the Medical University of Warsaw, President of the Warsaw Scientific Society. "One might say colloquially that Stanisław Staszic brings people together – people from different fields of science and with different interests. Sometimes in ways that are unexpected, but absolutely unique and – importantly – consistent and unchanged despite the passage of years. His industrious life and service to the country in a very difficult historical moment are the best proof of how much the country needs wise elites – elites of power, including financial power, and also elites of knowledge. Perhaps today this is particularly evident," said Professor Mirowska-Guzel.

"To say that Stanisław Staszic was a man of many talents is to say almost nothing. Among his best-known roles are: a pioneer of the cooperative movement, political writer, publicist, social reformer, translator, philosopher, statesman, patriot, naturalist, geographer and geologist, and, finally, a Catholic priest who, however, did not perform pastoral duties for most of his life. Staszic is a more or less well-known founder of many institutions still functioning today, but also a man who, as a Freemason, consistently changed his environment, worked tirelessly for the common good and laid the foundations for thinking – perhaps above all – about community."

"Societies that treat the elites of money, power and fame better than the elites of knowledge usually fare poorly. Those that, conventionally speaking, build knowledge-based societies not only recover from crises faster but also have a greater chance of development. There are many examples, including in our own times. (…) In societies closer to us – not only geographically – we unfortunately observe disregard, if not contempt, for the elites of knowledge, evidenced by their degradation, for example through low remuneration, pointing out their mistakes, stoking an atmosphere of distrust or hostility, and even fostering intellectual shortcuts in the form of various pseudoscientific solutions," Professor Mirowska-Guzel emphasised.

"Let us remember that acquiring knowledge is a difficult, demanding, long process. All attempts to take shortcuts always end in failure, or even disaster. Promoting one’s own version of knowledge and worldview by the political elite is profoundly harmful – though, of course, very useful, because it allows them to hold sway over minds."

Thank you for being with us

Together with our guests, we have begun an exceptional year in which we celebrate the jubilee of the Warsaw University of Technology. Thank you for being with us and for the many congratulations and good wishes we have received.

Some are just beginning their academic journey; for others, it is the last stage before the diploma; for still others – another year of professional and research challenges. We wish the entire academic community that the coming months bring the passion for discovery, the courage to take on challenges, and the satisfaction of building a future grounded in a 200-year tradition. May the many kind words we have received accompany us throughout the jubilee months, adding strength and inspiration.