Opening Academic Year 2020/21
The motto 'On campus where you can, online where you have to' applies not only to education at Maastricht University (UM) next year, but also to the opening of the Academic Year 2020/21.
On Monday 31 August, UM President Martin Paul led a special 'coronavirus-proof' version of the annual event in front of a few invited guests. A much larger audience followed the proceedings online, via a special livestream on the UM’s YouTube channel.
This year’s theme was ‘After the storm - how corona could change universities’ and the keynote speaker was Harvard professor Eric Mazur.
Photo impression
Not the Theater aan het Vrijthof but the Tapijnkazerne was the venue for this year's Opening of the Academic Year.
Photos by Harry Heuts
Obviously, the ceremony was overshadowed by the coronavirus.
An upbeat opening speech by the President of the UM Executive Board, Martin Paul.
Martin Paul said he preferred to look ahead.
The keynote speaker was Harvard professor Eric Mazur, online from the United States.
This year's theme: After the storm - how corona could change universities
Prof. Mazur answered some questions on online education during the interactive livestream.
The musicians, students of the Maastricht Conservatorium and the UM orchestra, appeared on screen to perform their version of the Maastricht University opening hymn, Ode to Joy by Ludwig von Beethoven.
This time around, Rector Rianne Letschert announced the winner of the UM Student Award online.
A pre-recorded Zoom session featuring all the nominees.
Watching a video showcasing the social or cultural projects of all nominees.
And the winner is... the founder and developer of Maastricht for Climate.
De winner, Arthur Bribosia, received the prize in person.
With the UM Student Award, Maastricht University recognises outstanding cultural or social achievements by students or groups of students.
The three members of the UM Executive Board: Rector Magnificus Prof. dr. Rianne Letschert, President Prof. dr. Martin Paul and Vide-President Dr. Nick Bos.
Word of welcome by UM President prof. dr. Martin Paul
The President of the UM Executive Board, Martin Paul, welcomed the audience and highlighted the ways in which UM is arming itself and has armed itself against the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. ‘We are all in the same boat', he said, summarising the situation.
Watch the opening video of the event.
Keynote speech by Harvard professor Eric Mazur
Professor Eric Mazur explained how his view of education had changed during the course of his career, resulting in a vision of education that inspires and nurtures students even in times of coronavirus.
At the end of his presentation, he responded to a few questions from the audience in an online Q&A moderated by Martin Paul.
Watch the Eric Mazur introduction video.
UM Student Award 2020
This year's UM Student Award for outstanding social or cultural achievements was handed out to Arthur Bribosia, the founder and developer of Maastricht for Climate.
The five nominees were presented in a video introduced by rector Rianne Letschert, who announced the winner in a pre-recorded Zoom session.
Watch Arthur's statement recorded after the live award ceremony.
Closing and Ode to Joy
True to tradition, students of the Conservatorium Maastricht and the UM Orchestra wrapped up the ceremony with their version of Ludwig von Beethoven's Ode to Joy, performed in a creative, digital way, after which Martin Paul officially opened the academic year 2020/2021.
Watch the musical interlude and the closing speech by Martin Paul.