The ceremonial opening of the 2026/2027 academic year began on September 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice with a traditional academic ceremony. Chorus Universitatis Šafarikianae, the university choir, performed Slovak national anthem. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. RNDr. Renáta Oriňaková, DrSc., Vice Rector for Science, Research, and Project Agenda, who welcomed the distinguished guests. The invitation was accepted by Rudolf Schuster, President of the Slovak Republic; Jaroslav Polaček, Mayor of Košice; Zuzana Podracká, representative of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic; Jana Kaťuchová, Chair of the Academic Senate of UPJŠ in Košice; Tomáš Illeš, Chair of the Board of Trustees of UPJŠ in Košice; representatives of other Slovak universities, public administration institutions, the judiciary, healthcare facilities, and other distinguished guests who work closely with the faculties and departments of our university.
At the beginning of his speech, UPJŠ Rector Prof. MUDr. Daniel Pella, PhD., thanked all researchers, faculty, staff, and students of the university for the achievements UPJŠ made during the past academic year. He also praised the cooperation with partner institutions and universities, which is mutually beneficial: “I would like to express my gratitude for something that is invisible – the hard work, effort, and various obstacles you overcome in your daily activities, yet still achieve success. This applies to both the staff and the students of our university, to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude.” The mayor of Košice, Ing. Jaroslav Polaček, delivered a welcoming address to the academic community, too. On this festive occasion, he presented Rector Pella with the City of Košice Medal as a symbol of the close cooperation between the two institutions.
The deans of all five UPJŠ faculties also expressed their support for the students at the start of the new academic year in their speeches: Prof. MUDr. Peter Jarčuška, PhD., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Roman Soták, PhD., Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. JUDr. Miroslav Štrkolec, PhD., Dean of the Faculty of Law, Assoc. Prof. JUDr. Mgr. Michal Jesenko, PhD., Dean of the Faculty of Public Administration, and Prof. Mgr. Renáta Panocová, PhD., Dean of the UPJŠ Faculty of Arts.
Introduction of New Professors and Associate Professors
Rector Daniel Pella introduced nine new professors appointed by the President of the Slovak Republic. In addition, 26 new associate professors who had successfully completed their habilitation proceedings before the scientific councils of the UPJŠ faculties received their decrees from the rector. Also introduced were five other faculty members who were awarded the title of associate professor at other Slovak universities, as well as a new recipient of Scientific Qualification Level IIa, granted by the Commission of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) for the Assessment of Scientific Qualifications of Employees.
Presentation of the Rector’s Award for Innovation in Education, Science, and Media Contributions
The program included the traditional presentation of the Rector’s Award to academic staff and doctoral students for innovation in education, exceptional contributions to scientific and research activities, and promoting the university’s reputation in the media and among the public.
The Rector’s Award for Innovation and Quality Improvement in Higher Education was presented to:
- prof. MUDr. Želmíra Macejová, PhD., MPH,
- Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Ľubomír Antoni, PhD.
Rector’s Award for Scientific Contribution:
- doc. RNDr. Peter Pristaš, CSc., university professor, for his significant contribution to promoting the reputation of the faculty and the university through the popularization of scientific research and its societal impact.
Rector’s Award for Significant Contributions by UPJŠ Doctoral Students in Scientific Research:
- JUDr. Júlia Hoffmanová, PhD., LL.M for significant scientific contributions in the field of tax justice in the digital age,
- Mgr. Jana Sabová, PhD. for significant scientific and research activity in the field of the development and experimental evaluation of bioactive materials intended to stimulate wound healing.
In the category of Significant Media Achievement, the following were honored:
- prof. PhDr. Marián Andričík, PhD. for media visibility and promotion of the university in connection with the translation of the heroic epic Béowulf.
- doc. RNDr. Michal Goga, PhD. for media visibility and promotion of the university in connection with the Antarctic expedition.
The university once again reaffirmed its commitment to support of human rights, the ideals of humanity, and democracy by awarding the Faiga Senderovitch Prize for a thesis that contributes to the fight against antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and right-wing extremism. The award was presented to Dominika Fialková, B.A., a student at the Faculty of Arts, for her bachelor’s thesis analyzing the misuse of medicine during the Nazi era and comparing medical experiments at the Auschwitz and Buchenwald camps.
The program concluded with a performance by the university choir Chorus Universitatis Šafarikianae, which, under the direction of choirmaster Mgr. Jana Havrilová, enhanced the festive atmosphere with its artistic performance. They performed the three-part canon “Dona nobis pacem” (Grant Us Peace), the composition “Adiemus” by Karl Jenkins, and an arrangement of the popular song “Lift Me Up.” The ceremonial gathering officially concluded with the student anthem “Gaudeamus igitur.” “Another year full of challenges, opportunities, and new knowledge lies ahead of us. I wish our entire academic community not only academic success but also personal growth and motivation for further progress. May inspiration and the joy of achieving our goals accompany us throughout the new academic year,” concluded Prof. Renáta Oriňaková, ceremoniary, at the end of the ceremony.
