Opening Academic Year 2025 - 2026

The Opening Academic Year 2025 - 2026 will take place on Monday 1 September 2025 from 3.30 - 5 pm. in the Martinichurch. The theme of this year's ceremony is 'Impact Without Borders: Local Meets Global'.

Programme

The programme includes, besides speeches by Rector Prof Jacquelien Scherpen and chairman of the Executive Board Prof Jouke de Vries:

• Keynote speaker Prof Robbert Dijkgraaf
• Academic speech by Prof Marijke Leliveld
• Presentation of Alumnus of the Year Award 2025 to Khalaf Alkhalaf, MA
• Presentation of Ubbo Emmius Medal for science communication to Govert Schilling
• Speech GUF-100 Award winner 2025 by Maaike ten Hoor

In between there will be musical interludes by Student Music Association Bragi. The new UG Poet-in-residence will recite a poem.

The ceremony is bilingual.

Photographer Pjotr Wiese will take photos of the OAJ ceremony. See the photos afterwards on his website.

Academic Walk

Prior to the ceremony, there is traditionally an Academic Walk or procession of UG professors and delegates from study and student associations. The Academic Walk goes from the Academy Building towards the Martinichurch. It will take place around 15:00.

More information

The Opening of the Academic Year is intended for the UG community: staff, professors, relations and students.

Please register no later than 24 August or watch the event via the livestream on rug.nl/oaj.