The new academic year 2026/2027 at our Faculty was officially opened on Thursday, 22 October. The ceremony was held in the Wrocław Tech's main auditorium hall and was attended by representatives of the faculty authorities, heads of departments and students – mainly those who are starting their studies at our Faculty. The programme of the event included the oath, an award presentation ceremony and an opening lecture about studies in the era of AI.

The audience was welcomed by Prof. Andrzej Kucharski, the dean of our Faculty. He pointed out that students at our Faculty find themselves in a world of rather unconventional interactions between teachers and students. The teacher tries to pass on knowledge and enforce something, and the student either submits to it or not. Sometimes they fight or try to evade some duties.

“We try to approach the matter differently, in a more Humboldtian way. Humboldt was a German who came up with the idea that in the academic world, at universities, people are more equal than in schools. As staff, teachers, and researchers, we bring certain values, such as experience; we know about certain matters ahead of us, about gaps in science and interesting things to solve. On the other hand, you bring enthusiasm and unconventional thinking which we, stuck in certain views and paths, do not see,” said the dean.

He also wished students that their studies are based on the idea of partnership.

“I just finished a conversation with students preparing their engineering theses, and these people are doing fantastic things that go far beyond the standard completion of a project just to credit the course. They do things with passion, with fascination, they propose their own solutions. Perhaps soon they will take these ideas to the next level, and then pursue a doctorate,” the professor said.

In conclusion, the dean expressed hope that this very way of working together will dominate at our Faculty.

An important part of the inauguration was the oath, taken from representatives of first-year students by Prof. Paweł Wachel, the vice-dean for student affairs. After that, the people in the auditorium could listen to the anthem "Gaudeamus Igitur."

Students with awards

During the opening ceremony, Prof. Andrzej Kucharski presented the Dean's Awards for commitment and contribution to the development of the Faculty in the academic year 2025/2026. They went to:

• Oliwia Borkowska – 1st cycle, System Engineering
• Bartłomiej Gawryszuk – 2nd cycle, Technical Computer Science
• Iuliia Kapustinskaia – 1st cycle, Technical Computer Science
• Igor Krzywicki – 1st cycle, Telecommunications
• Hanna Kuczyńska – 1st cycle, Technical Computer Science
• Kinga Kulawik – 2nd cycle, System Engineering
• Wojciech Majchrowski – 1st cycle, Applied Computer Science
• Patryk Matyska – 2nd cycle, Telecommunications
• Izabela Paniczek – 2nd cycle, Artificial Intelligence
• Mateusz Pilecki – 1st cycle, System Engineering
• Przemysław Sipa – 2nd cycle, Applied Computer Science
• Amelia Sroczyńska – 1st cycle, Technical Computer Science
• Grzegorz Szczepanek – 1st cycle, Technical Computer Science
• Kacper Szmergała – 1st cycle, Applied Computer Science
• Monika Świgost – 1st cycle, Information Technology in Automation Systems
• Mikołaj Zarzycki – 1st cycle, Algorithmic Computer Science

Dean's Commendations for commitment and contribution to the development of the Faculty in the academic year 2025/2026 went to:

• Paulina Hołodiuk – 1st cycle, Applied Computer Science
• Filip Janas – 1st cycle, Applied Computer Science
• Magdalena Kochańska – 1st cycle, Telecommunications
• Wiktor Kowalski – 1st cycle, Cybersecurity
• Szymon Stano – 2nd cycle, Artificial Intelligence

Congratulations to all the award winners and honorably recognised!

Faculty Student Government

The new students were also welcomed by Monika Świgost, the new and first ever female chair of the Faculty Student Government. Welcoming the first-year students, she noted that we live in fascinating times.

“Today, we have language models, powerful algorithms, and Ai-based tools that can instantly provide ready-made solutions or generate code snippets in a fraction of a second. It's great help, and none of us can imagine working without them anymore. But do you know what all these systems can't do? They can't stay up all night with us before a tough exam. They will not feel that relief and genuine joy when, after many hours of struggle, the desired correct result finally appears on the screen. AI has access to an unlimited knowledge base, but we have determination, engineering imagination, and... each other,” said Monika Świgost.

She added that university education is not just about getting ECTS credits. Both the student government and those involved in academic clubs strive to create a space where, between one deadline and another, a student can relax, find time for board games, socialise, or develop passions and meet people.

“We want this faculty to be a place where you come not because you have to, but also with pleasure. Therefore, I encourage you today: take as much as you can from these studies. Get involved in our faculty's life, carry out projects in the clubs, join our student government initiatives. But above all – be there to support each other. Sometimes it's enough to share well-prepared notes with someone before a test to save their semester. It is these kinds of gestures that build our community,” encouraged the new chairwoman.

In conclusion, she wished the students that all their life and university projects compile without errors, that the exam session turns out to be only a minor, painless formality, and that artificial intelligence is always a useful background for student creativity.

Invitation from TK Games

Traditionally, the inauguration of the academic year at our Faculty was an opportunity for students to get to know one of the student research clubs. This time it was the TK Games Research Club, presented by its president Bartłomiej Gawryszuk. In his speech, he talked about why it is worth getting involved in the activities of student research clubs. He emphasized that carrying out joint projects and pursuing passions enriches studies and gives them additional meaning.

How to study in the age of AI?

This year's opening lecture was delivered by Prof. Tomasz Kajdanowicz, head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence. The lecture was titled: "Why do we need our own intelligence if we have created artificial intelligence? How not to waste time at the university in the era of AI."

The lecture is available on our YouTube channel.