Several hundred people: students, lecturers and invited guests participated in the glamorous inauguration ceremony of the academic year 2021/22 at the Podkarpacka Philharmonic. The entire event was broadcast online in two languages: Polish and English. This year, over 6,000 people have started their studies at 1st and 2nd degree studies as well as postgraduate studies at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów.

In the inaugural speech, the Rector of UITM, dr Wergiliusz Gołąbek emphasized: Each inauguration ceremony evokes emotions in everyone, causes a feeling of excitement related to new challenges, with a new opening. It is also an obligation for us. It relates to the present and the future. For first-year students, it is the beginning of a new path, a special period in life, in which the resultant of work, dedication and persistence has a chance to make dreams come true. For employees of the University it is a symbolic moment of starting the next year of work and development, a time of transferring knowledge and inspiring young people to acquire it. A difficult and demanding year is behind us. The coronavirus pandemic has complicated the functioning of many institutions, including our University but I would like to emphasize that we have emerged victorious from this difficult period.

It is the excellent implementation of online learning tools that was noticed and appreciated by Cisco Systems Poland (an American IT company, the largest in the network industry in the world). The Rector of UITM received a diploma for contributing to the development of e-learning and helping teachers and children during the pandemic which was given by Przemysław Kania, CEO of Cisco Systems. We are very grateful that you became involved in the process of assisting the use of technology for distance learning in primary and secondary schools. You have helped teachers and children a lot to start this process. We are proud and happy that we can cooperate with you – as Przemysław Kania said, justifying the giving of the award to UITM.

Traditionally, during the Inauguration, Immatriculation took place, i.e. the act of admitting first-year students to the academic community. During the first and second degree studies and postgraduate studies, more than 6,000 people have studied at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów this year. Among the students, there are nearly 1,500 foreigners from more than 50 countries around the world. As part of the Polish and English-language offer, learning takes place in 12 fields of study, and due to the pandemic risk, classes are carried out in a hybrid mode: lectures and seminars are online, while practical classes are conducted in a traditional way, maintaining a sanitary regime.

The inauguration of the new academic year 2021/22 was preceded by UITM 25th Anniversary Gala.