The Interuniversity Inauguration of the Academic Year 2024/2025 in the European City of Science 2024 – one of the most important events in the entire academic year – will take place on 27 September this year. The special guest of the event will be Prof. Norman Davies, who will give a lecture entitled ‘Knowledge and ignorance: does the West understand everything?’ (lecture in Polish). The event programme will also include a concert with pieces composed by Stanisław Moniuszko and Antonin Dvorak.
Everyone is welcome to attend! If you would like to listen to Professor Norman Davies‘ lecture and take part in a unique concert at NOSPR, please register via the registration form (forms are available in Polish and English).
Events related to the celebration of the new academic year will last all day. Numerous attractions are also planned for the Katowice Market Square, and Radio Nowy Świat will broadcast live from the spinPLACE building. As in previous years, there will also be a march of rector’s retinues to the headquarters of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR).
Programme
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- ‘A Wish Concert’ – special edition of the Radio Nowy Świat programme, broadcast live from the Rawa Club, spinPLACE, ul. Bankowa 5, Katowice
Hosted by: Joanna Kołaczkowska, Prof. Ryszard Koziołek – Rector of the University of Silesia
Katowice Market Square, 12 p.m. (noon)
- European City of Science 2024 Research Camp
- Performances by folklore ensembles:
Student Song and Dance Ensemble ‘Katowice’ of the University of Silesia,
Song and Dance Ensemble ‘Silesianie’ of the University of Economics in Katowice,
Academic Dance Ensemble of the Silesian University of Technology ‘Dąbrowiacy’.
Events at NOSPR building (Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra)
- Solemn march of Rector’s retinues
- Official opening
- Speeches by rectors
- Matriculation and PhD students oath ceremony
- Inauguration lecture by Prof. Norman Davies ‘Knowledge and Ignorance: Does the West Understand Everything?’
English historian of Welsh descent, known for his excellent publications on the history of Europe and the British Isles. He is the author of the prize-winning history of Poland, God’s Playground (1981) and the Number 1 best-seller in Britain Europe: A History (OUP, 1996). Professor Davies has been awarded the CMG in 2001 for ‘services to history’, and has collected several Polish distinctions including the Order of Merit. Norman Davies is a regular broadcaster and commentator. He has been a visiting professor at Columbia, McGill, Hokkaido, Stanford, Harvard, Adelaide, ANU, and Cambridge. From 2000 – 2006 he was a Supernumerary Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford and in 2006-2008 a Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall and Peterhouse, Cambridge. He is an Honorary Fellow of St.Antony’s College, Oxford University and an honorary citizen of four Polish cities – Lublin, Krakow, Warsaw and Wroclaw.
Today Norman Davies resides in Oxford where he lives and writes.
Publications in English: White Eagle, Red Star: the Polish-Soviet War, 1919-20 (1972); God’s Playground: a History of Poland (1981); Heart of Europe: the Past in Poland’s Present (1984); Europe: a History (1996); The Isles: a History (1996); Microcosm: Portrait of a Central European City, on Wroclaw/Breslau, with Roger Moorhouse (2000); Rising ’44: the Battle for Warsaw (2003); Europe East and West: Collected Essays (2006); Europe at War, 1939-45: No Simple Victory (2006), published in the USA as No Simple Victory (2007); Vanished Kingdoms (2011); Beneath Another Sky: A Global Journey into History (2017).
Prof. Norman Davies | Photo by R. Kazimierczak / Wyd. Znak
Artistic setting for the official part: Cieszyn Brass Band of the University of Silesia, ‘Harmonia’ Choir of the University of Silesia, Academic Choir of the Silesian University of Technology, Choir of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, and Choir of the University of Economics in Katowice.
Concert
Stanisław Moniuszko – Hrabina (The Countess), Ballet Music
- I. Zephyr Chasing Flora
- II. Neptune on the Vistula
- III. Dance of Satyrs
Antonin Dvorak – Slavonic Dances op. 72, no. 1, 2, 6, 7
Stanisław Moniuszko – Mazurka from ‘The Haunted Manor’
Szymon Bywalec – conductor
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra
‘Harmonia’ Choir of the University of Silesia, Academic Choir of the Silesian University of Technology, Choir of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Choir of the University of Economics in Katowice
Registration
Registration form in English: https://us.edu.pl/MIRA_2024_ENG.
Registration deadline: 20 September 2024
Inter-university inauguration of academic year 2023/2024 | Photo by Maciej Mutwil / Silesian University of Technology
Accessibility
Architectural accessibility at the building of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (NOSPR) hosting the Interuniversity Inauguration of the Academic Year.
Communication accessibility
The event will have Polish and English subtitles.
We recommend visiting the links provided below to access the subtitles on your mobile devices:
The event will be interpreted into Polish sign language.
Available Help
The participants will be greeted at the entrance by people who can answer all your questions regarding the accessibility at the event.
Suggested accommodations
| Hotel name | Address | Room presentation |
| Hotel Monopol***** |
ul. Dworcowa 5 40-012 Katowice |
Hotel Monopol’s offer |
| Mercure Katowice Centrum**** |
ul. Młyńska 6 40-098 Katowice |
https://all.accor.com/hotel/B580/index.pl.shtml#section-rooms |
| Courtyard by Marriott**** |
ul. Uniwersytecka 13 40-007 Katowice |
Marriott’ offer |
| Vienna House**** |
ul. Sokolska 24 40-086 Katowice |
Vienna House’s offer |
| Novotel Katowice Centrum**** |
Al. Rozdzieńskiego 16 40-202 Katowice |
http://3d.worldpicture360.pl/novotel_katowice_centrum |
| Qubus Hotel Katowice**** |
ul. Stanisława Moniuszki 9 40-005 Katowice |
Qubus’ offer |
| Hotel M23**** |
ul. Mariacka 23 40-014 Katowice |
M23’s offer |
| ibis budget Katowice Centrum* |
Al. Rozdzieńskiego 18 40-202 Katowice |
http://3d.worldpicture360.pl/ibis_budget_katowice_centrum |
The event is organised by universities of the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science:
- University of Silesia in Katowice (leader)
- Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice
- Academy of Fine Arts and Design
- Academy of Physical Education in Katowice
- Silesian University of Technology
- Medical University of Silesia
- University of Economics in Katowice
And:
- City of Katowice,
- Silesian Voivodeship
- Metropolis GZM
Honorary patronage:
- Minister of Science
- Minister of Health
- Minister of Sport and Tourism
- Minister of Culture and National Heritage
- Polish Academy of Sciences
- National Representation of Doctoral Students (KRD)
- Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland
- Konferencja Rektorów Uczelni Artystycznych [Conference of Rectors of Art Universities]
- Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland
- Regional Conference of Rectors of Academic Universities
- Conference of Rectors of Universities of Economics
- Mayor of Sosnowiec
- Mayor of Chorzów
- Mayor of Cieszyn
- Mayor of Rybnik
- Mayor of Gliwice
- Mayor of Bielsko-Biała
- Mayor of Bytom
- Mayor of Zabrze
Media patronage:
- FORUM AKADEMICKIE
- Gazeta Wyborcza
Institutional partner:
- National Symphonic Orchestra of the Polish Radio in Katowice
The event is co-financed by the Silesian Voivodeship – Co-organiser of the European City of Science 2024.