Is the detection of an economic black swan worth a Nobel Prize? How is the new Development Strategy of the University of Gdańsk being developed? And what can you learn in the Department of Microeconomics? These questions were answered on October 3 during the inauguration of the 2024/25 academic year at the Faculty of Economics.
‘We know how people realise what is important to us at the moment. Consumer choice and dilemmas are nothing like what we deal with in the Department of Microeconomics. But after all, goods, products and services do not fall to us from the sky, they are exchanged. It is good to have an idea of how markets work and how consumers are lured. This is what we study in the Chair of Sustainable Market Processes,' said EC Dean dr hab. Wojciech Bizon, prof. UG, who made a similar reference to all the chairs of the Faculty of Economics.
This year's inauguration of the academic year at the Faculty of Economics was a symbolic beginning of the term of office for the team of Dean Prof. Wojciech Bizon, joined by Vice-Dean for Development and Cooperation with the Social and Economic Environment dr Magdalena Markiewicz, Vice-Dean for Science dr hab. Leszek Czerwonka, prof. UG and Vice-Dean for Students and Education dr Leszek Reszka.
‘We are currently preparing the University of Gdańsk Development Strategy for 2025-2030. This is a very important process because if we plan the development of any important area of our university's management incorrectly, we will be guided by this wrong signpost for the next 5 years. Therefore, it has to be a very thoughtful process,' said Vice-Rector for Development and Finance dr hab. Paweł Antonowicz, prof. UG. ‘I can assure you that our experience so far at the level of discussing individual strategic development packages has resulted in a very high level of acceptance and often expressions of appreciation from the business community.’
The Dean's team, together with the Vice-Rector for Development and Finance, honoured EC staff and students for academic, teaching and administrative achievements. This was followed by a doctoral promotion ceremony, after which the Vice-Dean for Students and Education , dr Leszek Reszka, prof. UG conducted the matriculation of new students of the Faculty of Economics.
‘Sometimes a person can become depressed when reading the biographies of Nobel laureates and other researchers that everything has been discovered. Nothing could be further from the truth. Economics is a wonderful social science that changes every day and creates incredible opportunities for scientific discovery and implementation. This is the strength and beauty of economics, you just have to master the skill of tracking down black swans ,' said prof. dr hab. Jacek Zaucha during the inaugural lecture. –‘The term “black swan” comes from a book by Nassim Nicholas Taleb and refers to an event that no one could have predicted, but which shook the fate of the world.’
The event concluded with a performance by the UG Academic Choir, which sang the songs ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Can't Help Falling in Love with You’ and traditionally performed the ‘Gaudeamus Igitur’.
