UM’s 50th anniversary kicks off with an invitation to the city and region

Today, the jubilee year marking Maastricht University’s 50th anniversary officially began. It opened with the Dies Natalis celebration in the Basilica of Saint Servatius, attended by King Willem-Alexander and hundreds of guests from the city, the province and beyond. In her jubilee address, Rector Magnificus Pamela Habibović emphasised the resilience needed to reach the age of 50 and to keep forging ahead in the coming years. She also launched the first call for Join UM50, through which UM is funding initiatives that strengthen the connection between the university and society.

Join UM50 invites anyone to submit ideas that bring UM into contact with residents of Maastricht and the wider region, and vice versa. This could be a ‘science walk,’ a hands-on science day for children at a local community centre or a health information stand at a market. Residents with a good idea, as well as associations, students, UM colleagues and others, can apply for a contribution of up to €5,000. More information is available at the UM50-website

In her speech, the rector noted that building connections is at the heart of what the university stands for. UM is an integral part of the city and its surrounding region—and that commitment runs deep. “It means we use the challenges people in our region face as inspiration for our research and education,” she said. 

Looking back and ahead, Habibović observed that UM has needed every ounce of resilience to reach where it is today. The continued existence of a university that now has 23,000 students, some 5,000 staff and 100,000 alumni was never a given. As a young university, UM has had to fight for its place, and will keep on doing so. “That spirit of innovation, resilience and openness continues to shape us to this day. And it can be a source of pride and inspiration for the future.”

More information about UM’s 50th anniversary and the Dies Natalis (including the honorary doctorates awarded to Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, lawyer Roger Cox and Professor Peter Stenvinkel) will be available soon at the UM50-website An extended photo report of the Dies Natalis will be published there on 26 January.