The leadership of the University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik in Košice (UPJŠ) inaugurated the 2024/2025 academic year on Monday, 16 September at 10.30 a.m. in the Auditorium of the UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine in a new look. The gowns were designed for the management of UPJŠ by the Košice fashion designer Louisa Dvorak.
The programme started traditionally with the opening address of the Rector of UPJŠ, prof. MUDr. Daniel Pella, PhD. There were 8 new professors, 15 associate professors and one holder of the scientific degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences introduced at the ceremony. The programme continued with the presentation of the Rector’s Awards in several categories. For the second time in the history of UPJŠ, the Faiga Senderovitch Prize was awarded for the the final thesis in recognition of its contribution to the fight against anti-Semitism, Holocaust distortion and right-wing extremism. The programme was closed by the university choir Chorus Universitatis Šafarikianae, which enhanced the experience of the moment with its artistic performance.
The opening of this academic year was exceptional, as the university’s leadership appeared before the academic community and the audience in new gowns and birettas designed especially for UPJS by Louisa Dvorak. A five-member committee composed of prof. Monika Halánová, vice-rector for academic qualifications and doctoral studies; prof. Martin Pekár, head of the department of history, UPJŠ Faculty of Arts; Dr. Mária Fedorčáková, assistant professor at the department of history, UPJŠ Faculty of Arts; Dr. Jaroslava Oravcová, Marketing Manager at UPJŠ; and Louisa Dvorak, fashion designer, drew drew on historical context and university tradition.
