Inauguration of the Academic Year 2023/24 at the new headquarters in Warsaw

On 26 October, Collegium Humanum witnessed its first Inauguration Ceremony of the new Academic Year 2023/24 at the University brand-new headquarters in Warsaw. The Inauguration of the Academic Year is always an important event in the life of any university. This year’s ceremony, however, was even more important for us because it was the first time that the event took place on our new campus.

The inauguration was honoured by the presence of numerous guests, including HE Gerhard Cardinal Müller, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Faith and Doctrine, HE Kazimierz Cardinal Nycz, Metropolitan Archbishop of Warsaw, prof. Vaclav Klaus, dr h.c., President of the Czech Republic (2003-2013), Mr Rafał Brzoska, President and Founder of the InPost Group, Mika Experimental CEO, Mrs Irena Santor, prof. Krzysztof Cugowski, prof. dr hab. Gertruda Uścińska, President of the Social Insurance Institution, prof. h.c. Ryszard Czarnecki, dr h.c., Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of Collegium Humanum Convent, HE Fr. Mateusz Gawarski, Rector of the Academic Church of St. Anna, HE Fr. Bishop dr Andrzej Gontarek, Head of the Polish Catholic Church in the Republic of Poland, Mr Filip Chajzer, Mr Sławomir Adamiec, Director General of the Ministry of Education and Science, Mr Wiesław Włodek, Vice President of Poczta Polska, Mr Marcin Michnicki, President of Moliera 2, Mr Adam Suchenek from Philips Morris, Mrs Joanna Racewicz, Mr Adrian Klarenbach, dr Rafał Dutkiewicz, President of Wrocław between 2002-2018, President of Employers of Poland, Ms Monika Mielnicka, Minister of Health Ms Katarzyna Sójka, Member of the Polish Parliament Mr Przemysław Wipler, prof. Inna Kostyrja, Vice Rector of the Kiev University of Culture, Fr. dr Andrzej Lewczak, Chief Orthodox Prison Chaplain, Mr Marian Dymalski, dr h.c., Vice President of FISU and Mr Waldemar Tevnell.

“Today, I was convinced that Collegium Humanum, even though it has entered its sixth academic year, is still a start-up. It is full of dynamic and innovative development. The fact that today we are opening another academic year in our new campus should be credited to our students. Thank you very much for this.” – said HM the Provost. HE Kazimierz Cardinal Nycz, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Warsaw, consecrated and solemnly blessed the new University headquarters at Aleje Jerozolimskie 133A. Whereas the Director General of the Ministry of Education and Science, Mr Sławomir Adamiec, presented – on behalf of the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda, and the Minister of Education and Science, prof. KUL dr hab. Przemysław Czarnek, the following state decorations:

– a gold medal for long-term services was awarded to prof. CH dr hab. Mieczysław Dudek,

– a silver medal for long-term services was awarded to HM prof. dr hab. Paweł Czarnecki, MBA, dr h.c., Honorary Consul of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Poland,

– a bronze medal for long-term services was awarded to Mr Michał Głaczyński, MA,

– the Medal of the National Education Commission was awarded to dr Patrycja Sroka-Oborska and Mr Marcin Kwiatkowski, MA.

In addition, Mr Sławomir Adamiec presented the Miechowita Medal to Collegium Humanum.

HM the Provost, prof. Paweł Czarnecki, was also presented by Mr Sławomir Adamec with the Gold Medal of Merit for Polish Sciences “Sapientia et Veritas”, awarded by the Minister of Education and Science, prof. KUL dr hab. Przemysław Czarnek.

During that night’s event, the Provost also bestowed the title and dignity of an Honorary Professor of Collegium Humanum to a humanoid robot – Mika, who is the CEO of Dictador – the first of its kind and unprecedented academic event of global importance. The title of honorary professor was awarded for the transformation of the global investment rum brand “Dictador” to the world of digital assets. In her speech, which was delivered in Polish, Mika said: “My presence on this stage is purely symbolic. In fact, awarding me the title of professor honoris causa is a tribute to the greatness of the human mind in which the idea of artificial intelligence was born.”

As the tradition goes, a permanent highlight of our celebrations is always the awarding of Collegium Humanum Gold Medals of Success, which is the highest distinction bestowed by our academic community. This time, for outstanding social, business and managerial activities, the medal was awarded to Mr Tomasz Misiak, Member of the Programme Council of Employers of Poland, Senator of the 6th and 7th term as well as the Founder and President of Mizyak Investment Fund Ltd.

Additionally, a truly outstanding personality and a friend of our University, Mr Vaclav Klaus, prof. h.c. dr hab. dr h.c., President of the Czech Republic in 2003-2013, was honoured with the title of Civis Academicus Honorificum as a gesture of respect and gratitude from our University and for supporting relations between Poland and Czechia.

The Provost also appointed new members of the Convent – Collegium Humanum Business Consultative Council, namely HE Gerhard Cardinal Müller as an Honorary Member of the Convent as well as dr h.c. Irena Santor and prof. Krzysztof Cugowski as Members of the Scientific and Programme Council of the Institute of Media and Journalism.

In the later parts of the event, the Provost, together with HM prof. Anna Banaszewska, Rector of the Humanum Medical University (formerly Higher School of Rehabilitation), ceremoniously matriculated our first-year students.

Mr Rafał Brzoska, Founder and President of the Management Board at the InPost Group, delivered the inaugural lecture entitled: “Education and new technologies – one path to success.” He wished students to walk through life without losing enthusiasm and learn from failures because only then will they see what real success is and what real success feels like.

There was also a beautiful surprise for HE Cardinal Nycz, HE Cardinal Müller, Ms Irena Santor and prof. Vaclav Klaus, who were presented by the President of Poczta Polska, Mr Wiesław Włodek, with commemorative postage stamps prepared by artificial intelligence with their images.

Adv. Piotr Podgórski, Member of the Management Board of the National Federation of Entrepreneurs and Employers Przedsiębiorcy.pl, presented a unique award to Collegium Humanum – “Diamond of the Polish Education 2023”.

Mr Sebastian Krauz, Chairman of the Student Union Council, also took the stage to welcome our new students.

The ceremony closed with a concert of the Tre Voci band, who performed songs such as “We Are the Champions” and “You Raise Me Up”. The event was hosted by Mr Bartek Jędrzejak. The entire Inauguration Ceremony was accompanied by the Choir of the Warsaw Archcathedral under the baton of Mr Dariusz Zimnciki. We would like to thank all our honourable guests for their participation. We wish our great students every success in the new academic year.