Awarding Prof. Jerzy Bogdan Gajewski with the NCU title of doctor honoris causa added splendour to the University Day celebrations, which were held on 19 February, the anniversary of the birth of its patron, Nicolaus Copernicus. On that day, other distinctions and awards were also presented, as well as academic promotions for new doctors and post-doctoral fellows.
The celebrations of the University Day traditionally began with the laying of flowers at the Nicolaus Copernicus monument on the 551st anniversary of the birth of the University's patron. Then the events moved to the NCU Main Hall Aula.
photo Mikołaj Kuras
In the absence of His Magnificence Rector Prof. Andrzej Sokala, the ceremony was presided over by the Prof. Wojciech Wysota, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, who in his speech recalled the anniversaries awaiting the University: the 80th anniversary of the university in 2025, and already this year - the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Ludwik Rydygier Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz and the 20th anniversary of its merger with the Nicolaus Copernicus University.– Irrespective of important anniversaries, the Nicolaus Copernicus University has reason to speak with pride and satisfaction about our achievements, said Prof. Wojciech Wysota. - We successfully passed the mid-term evaluation of the Excellence Initiative - Research University programme conducted by an international team of experts. The experts' positive assessment, recognition of the project's implementation and, above all, recommendations for the coming years - are of great importance to us, also in practical terms. Maintaining its status as a research university is the most important challenge facing our University, as it will determine its development and position for years to come.
A special highlight of this year's celebration was the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Professor Jerzy Bogdan Gajewski, an eminent urologist from Dalho-use University (Halifax, Canada). The distinction was awarded to the scientist in recognition of his contribution to the development of Polish urology.
Prof. Gajewski's profile was introduced by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the NCU, Prof. Zbigniew Włodarczyk, and the laudatio was delivered by the doctoral thesis supervisor, Prof. Tomasz Drewa.
On that day, we also met the laureate of this year's 'Ratio et Spes' Science Award - Professor Chantal Delsol from the University of Paris XII and the University of Marne-la-Vallée, where she formed and directs the Centre for European Studies (now the Hannah Arendt Institute), specialising in East-West relations.
The University Day was also the occasion for the presentation of the title of Honorary Professor. Prof. Halina Kaczmarek from the NCU Faculty of Chemistry, received it in recognition of her significant contributions to the development of sustainable polymeric materials that have an impact on the environment and the everyday functioning of mankind. The title of Honorary Professor is awarded by the Senate of the University on the proposal of the Chapter of Honorary Distinctions. It is conferred on professors with outstanding academic achievements who have retired in the last academic year. The title was awarded for the first time in 2015.
photo Mikołaj Kuras
Since the same year, the University has also been building up a group of its Ambassadors, honouring alumni who have achieved significant success in science, culture, art, politics or business and who promote the University in their day-to-day activities. This year, the title of the NCU Ambassador was awarded to Marek Małecki, a graduate in chemistry (1974), president of the Solbet Capital Group.
On February 19, during a ceremony in the NCU Aula, diplomas were also awarded to new postdoctoral fellows and doctoral promotions were held.
Traditionally, the University Day celebrations were accompanied by the presentation of distinctions, medals and awards - both state and university.
