Open Days are one of the largest and most popular events organised at the University of Gdańsk. It is attended by students and teachers from secondary schools as well as students and staff from UG, and everyone views the two days differently. Below are some of these perspectives.
From left: Zofia Kacprzak, Aneta Mazurowska
Aneta Mazurowska, TEP Technical School in Płock
Although I am currently studying photography, honestly, I am most interested in psychology. I took an interest in this field to help my friends who often had some problems at home. I'm an empathetic person, so I wanted to be their safe haven and tried to help as much as I could, e.g. by using calming techniques. That's where my curiosity came from about how human beings work, where traumas come from, why a person is upset or sad. I am strongly oriented towards psychology, but I might discover something today. As I mentioned, I'm studying photography, so maybe journalism or something related to film.
Zofia Kacprzak, I Władysław Drapiewski Private Secondary School of Visual Arts
At the Open Days, I'm interested in art history. I used to see myself as an illustrator, but I realised that I was burning out when it came to artistic tasks. After so many years, I feel blocked because we don't have a free hand when it comes to what we create. We always have a set style, a theme for the work, and a technique to use. At the moment I'm not interested in making art, but more in looking at and analysing painting, sculpture, or architecture. I would like to work around art, for example in galleries or museums. I am also interested in working as a tour guide - I really enjoy telling various interesting facts about the life or style of the artists in question.
Joanna Morawska-Sobota, teacher at the Paweł Adamowicz University High School
My students are from a humanities profile class, with extended history, Polish, and English, so there are plenty of courses at the University of Gdańsk to attract their attention. When I talk to them, the cross-section of interests is huge, if only for the fact that some of them are taking extended biology in their Matura exams. Today, I talked to a student about the Cultural Communication major, but I also hear a lot about plans for linguistics or philology of all kinds. I try to encourage students to make their own decisions but I sometimes share my experience. I suggest they approach this choice with common sense and calmly. I myself am a graduate of the University of Gdańsk, so I have first-hand knowledge.
Maja Domżalska, a second-year undergraduate student of Journalism and Social Communication
As journalism students, in the course taught by Prof. Małgorzata Łosiewicz, we were tasked with the entire advertising campaign and strategy for the Open Days. Everything went quite smoothly, as in our year some people feel stronger in graphics, some in writing, and some in editing. We assumed that young people see journalism as a dying profession because its role is being taken over by influencers. We wanted to show that this is a misconception as journalism has become a very versatile profession. Our course is open to novelties and technological advances. We combined this with the seaside character of Tricity and created the slogan 'New Wave of Journalism'. As part of the campaign, we prepared a humorous advertising spot, a guide for future journalism students, leaflets, and a poster that presented our journalism scientific circles. Finally, a stand was also set up where we not only shared essential information with high school students but also handed out popcorn and lollipops.
Open Days coordinator Agnieszka Beck, UG Promotion and Sponsor Relations Team
Organising University-wide Open Days at the University of Gdańsk is not an easy but extremely rewarding experience. It requires effective coordination, determination, commitment, and the cooperation of a team of nearly 280 people.
All members of the team creating the event are to be congratulated and greatly thanked. Starting with the Chancellor's authorities overseeing the event, through the Dean's authorities of the Faculty of Social Sciences hosting us in their building and the faculty promotion coordinators who, hand in hand with us, decide how to present our university, not forgetting the administration and technical staff of the faculty who invaluably support the entire logistics of the event, the drivers, the Office of Occupational Safety and Health employees, and the programmers creating the Open Days website.
Exceptional recognition is due to the main actors: the inspiring lecturers who draw the crowds with their knowledge and charisma, the representatives of the various units who creatively present what they do every day, and the wonderfully committed students from the scientific circles who put so much heart into organising the activities at their stands that they make the event come alive and energetic.
From the coordinator's perspective, I am delighted that the Open Days are attended every year by more and more students interested in what UG has to offer, including those from outside the Tricity area, and that as the Promotion Team we are able to create this event in collaboration with such a wonderful academic community.
