‘Let us rejoice while we are young!’ Faculty of Philology bids farewell to this year’s graduates.

Almost 120 people received their diplomas upon graduation from the Faculty of Philology at the University of Opole. The graduation ceremony took place on 17 July 2025 in the Blue Hall of Collegium Maius and it was a time for joy, congratulations, words of gratitude and group photos.

The graduates of the following study programmes sealed the end of their studies: English in Public Communication, English Philology, English Philology – Teacher Training Programme, Romance Philology from the Basics, German Studies, Languages in Business, Polish from the Basics with German, Applied Linguistics, Speech Therapy, and Speech Therapy with Polish as a Foreign Language.

The diplomas were presented by the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Prof. Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak, and her deputy, Dr Małgorzata Adams-Tukiendorf. Almost 120 graduates were joined on stage by their supervisors.

After the presentation of diplomas, the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Prof. Joanna Ryszka, and the Dean, Prof. Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak, addressed the audience.

‘Some of you began your adventure with the University of Opole two, three, or even five years ago, in a very different reality. We met many of you during a time of great uncertainty, in the post-COVID world, a time of war and anxiety for our loved ones,’ said Prof.  Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak. ‘Today, we also know that during your studies, we have all experienced the enormous change brought about by the development of artificial intelligence. How much the world has changed in just a few years shows how important the skills and competences you have developed during your studies really are.’

Prof. Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak also emphasised how much the international character of the University of Opole, and in particular its membership in the FORTHEM Alliance, means to the Faculty of Philology, its students and staff. She also noted that studying there required passion and enormous commitment from the graduates. That has been reflected in the high ratings of the faculty’s study programmes. ‘Thanks to your creativity and openness to the world, as well as to the academic teachers with whom you had the opportunity to work, our philology study programmes are among the 10 best in Poland,’ emphasised the Dean of the Faculty of Philology. ‘This is a source of pride, as it concerns over 20 of our study programmes, 180 academic teachers and 1,500 students, including this year’s graduates. You are our ambassadors, and your ideas and help in developing these study programmes cannot be overestimated.’

After the presentation of diplomas, the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Prof. Joanna Ryszka, and the Dean, Prof. Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak, addressed the audience.

‘Some of you began your adventure with the University of Opole two, three, or even five years ago, in a very different reality. We met many of you during a time of great uncertainty, in the post-COVID world, a time of war and anxiety for our loved ones,’ said Prof.  Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak. ‘Today, we also know that during your studies, we have all experienced the enormous change brought about by the development of artificial intelligence. How much the world has changed in just a few years shows how important the skills and competences you have developed during your studies really are.’

Prof. Elżbieta Szymańska-Czaplak also emphasised how much the international character of the University of Opole, and in particular its membership in the FORTHEM Alliance, means to the Faculty of Philology, its students and staff. She also noted that studying there required passion and enormous commitment from the graduates. That has been reflected in the high ratings of the faculty’s study programmes. ‘Thanks to your creativity and openness to the world, as well as to the academic teachers with whom you had the opportunity to work, our philology study programmes are among the 10 best in Poland,’ emphasised the Dean of the Faculty of Philology. ‘This is a source of pride, as it concerns over 20 of our study programmes, 180 academic teachers and 1,500 students, including this year’s graduates. You are our ambassadors, and your ideas and help in developing these study programmes cannot be overestimated.’

At the end of the graduation ceremony, everyone gathered in the Blue Hall sang the academic anthem ‘Gaudeamus igitur’. The words ‘Let us rejoice while we are young!’ were echoed a moment later during the photo session. Graduates posed for photographs in the Blue Hall and on the stairs leading to the courtyard of Collegium Maius. Traditionally in two ways – with caps on their heads and with caps thrown into the air. Everyone could also pose for individual photos with their loved ones and friends on the university step-and-repeat backdrop.

Photos

GRADUATES OF THE FACULTY OF PHILOLOGY IN 2025