Opening Academic Year 2026 - 2027
The Opening Academic Year 2026 - 2027 will take place on Monday 31 August 2026 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. in the Martinichurch. The theme of the ceremony is
’The University at the heart of Society’.
Programme
The programme includes, besides speeches by Rector Jacquelien Scherpen and chairman of the Board Jouke de Vries:
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Speech by Rianne Letschert, Minister of Education, Culture, and Science;
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Dialogue between Peter Wennink and Robert Inklaar, moderated by Brenda Mathijssen;
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Awarding of the Alumnus of the Year Award to Ninah Tiemersma;
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Short speech by GUF-100 winner Isabella Martinez;
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Musical interludes by pop choir Bladgoud and organist Eeuwe Zijlstra.
Subsequently there will be a reception in the choir of the Martinikerk until 6:45 p.m.
The ceremony will be bilingual and interpreted live.
Photographer Pjotr Wiese will take photos of the OAJ ceremony. You can view the photos on his website afterwards.
Academic walk
Prior to the ceremony, there is, as is tradition, an academic walk of University of Groningen professors and representatives from study- and student associations. The academic walk proceeds from the Academy Building toward the Martinikerk. The academic walk will depart around 3:30 p.m.
More information
The opening of the academic year is intended for the UG community: staff, professors, students and partners. You can register even without a personal invitation.