On March 20, 1970, the Sejm of the People's Republic of Poland decided to establish the University of Gdańsk.
The University of Gdańsk began its operations on July 1, 1970. It was a merger of two, or rather three, academies: in addition to the Higher Pedagogical School and the Higher Economics School, it also included the Higher Teacher Training College.
The first rector of the University of Gdańsk was the former rector of the HPS prof. Janusz Sokołowski and his deputy was the former rector of the HES, prof. Stanisław Ładyka. The new university consisted of five faculties inherited from HPS and HES: Humanities, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Biology and Earth Sciences, Economics of Production and Economics of Transport, which were supplemented by a sixth one, the Faculty of Law and Administration.
‘The university that we all create stands on the solid foundations of 54 years of activity of our academy. Always admirable and worthy of remembrance is the determination with which scientists, despite difficult political and economic times, carried out scientific research in the early days of the University of Gdańsk, gradually laying the foundations of what is now the largest university in Pomerania.’ said Rector prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski during the gala presentation of awards on the occasion of the University's jubilee (relation).
In 2024, the University of Gdańsk is the largest modern university in Pomerania, where 1,810 academic teachers and scientists educate more than 20,000 students and doctoral students annually in 89 subjects at 11 faculties.
The university is highly ranked in national and international rankings. We learn and work in modern buildings on three campuses: Oliwski in Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. We operate research stations - including Poland's best-known Prof. Krzysztof Skóra Marine Station in Hel. In two International Research Agencies, we conduct research into quantum physics and vaccines, and our scientists reach for prestigious awards, receive high grants, and publish in high-scoring prestigious journals.
At the ceremony of awarding an honorary doctorate to Olga Tokarczuk, the Rector referred to the community we form as follows: ‘Talking about our celebration, I would like to start by reminding us of a certain obviousness, which, however, in the course of everyday affairs can sometimes escape us. An anecdote from the essay The Idea of the University by the eminent Belgian sinologist and writer Simon Leys expresses it well. The essay is an impassioned defence of the university as an institution whose aim should always be the disinterested search for truth and the spread of knowledge. Leys writes thus: "A few years ago in England, a bright and perky young Minister of Education came to visit a certain grand old university; he made a speech addressed to the whole body of professors to present to them the new steps of the government in the field of higher education, and began in these words: <Dear Sirs and Madames, since you are all university employees here...>, but one of the professors immediately interrupted him: <Excuse me, sir, we are not university employees, we are the university>”.
And it's hard to disagree with that. We, the lecturers, the researchers - we are not university employees. You, the students and PhD students - you are not its customers. Academia at its core has always been a community of scholars and learners.
We are all the university. That was the case centuries ago, and it is still the case today. That's why the celebration of our university is not a celebration of buildings, an abstract institution, or an idea - it's a celebration of the people who make up the university. It is our celebration.’
All the best, Academic Community of the University of Gdańsk!
