Summary of 2024
Joining the European University Alliance, high rankings in the world’s most prestigious rankings, the election of rectorial and dean authorities, and the initiation of key investments – this is a concise summary of 2024 at Opole University of Technology.
“Our university can count this year as another success. This is primarily the result of our swift response to a changing reality, adaptability, and the dedication of our employees,” emphasizes Prof. Marcin Lorenc, rector of Opole University of Technology. He highlights the university’s most significant achievement of 2024 as joining the European Universities Alliance.
European Universities Alliance
The European Universities Network, established by the European Commission, involves implementing a shared, integrated, and long-term strategy in education, research, innovation, and societal impact. Among the 14 alliances formed this year is KreativEU, which includes Opole University of Technology. KreativEU (Knowledge & Creativity European University) is a joint initiative of 11 higher education institutions from across Europe, located in Portugal, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and Turkey. Its goal is to create a European University centered on creativity derived from Europe’s cultural heritage across education, research, and knowledge transfer.
“KreativEU aims to offer a competitive and attractive European system of education and research. It brings students, researchers, academics, and society together across cultures, borders, and academic disciplines,” explains Dr. Eng. Aneta Kucińska-Landwójtowicz, vice-rector for cooperation at Opole University of Technology. “Through the consortium, we will implement an innovative educational model. New interdisciplinary and international programs, micro-credential courses, and summer schools will emerge in thematic areas such as national heritage, architecture, cultural studies, ethnography, food sciences, materials sciences, immersive technologies, artificial intelligence, ecology and landscape planning, sustainable development, economics, marketing, and management,” she adds.
Global Rankings
The global rankings affirm that Opole University of Technology provides world-class education and conducts high-level research. Among these rankings is the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, in which the university is the only institution in the region included. It ranks 2nd in Poland for Mechanical Engineering and 3rd for Metrology.
“We also rank high globally, belonging to the top universities in the world. In both areas, we are positioned in the 201–300 range of the world’s best universities. This confirms that our chosen direction for scientific development is effective and successfully executed, thanks to the dedication of our employees,” comments Prof. Grzegorz Królczyk, vice-rector for science and development. The rankings are based on criteria such as research performance, impact, and international collaboration.
Additionally, in the 2024 Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments by the Shanghai List, Opole University of Technology is the only Polish technical university listed, alongside three physical education academies.
Another key global ranking is the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In the latest edition, nearly 2,100 universities worldwide were included, with 40 from Poland. For the third consecutive year, Opole University of Technology appeared in the ranking, and it remains the only university from the Opole Voivodeship included in THE. It ranks 3rd among technical universities in Poland and holds its global position in the 1201–1500 range, alongside major institutions such as Łódź University of Technology, Poznań University of Technology, Silesian University of Technology, University of Gdańsk, and University of Wrocław.
It is worth noting that the achievements of our university are also recognized overseas. This is evident in the U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking, which includes 2,460 of the best universities from approximately 95 countries, ranked across 51 fields/disciplines/subject areas. In the latest edition, only 281 European universities were included, 12 of which are from Poland. Opole University of Technology, in the engineering field, was listed for the first time last year, ranking 9th in Poland and 747th globally. This year, the university has climbed to 4th place in Poland and 417th globally.
A Period of Significant Investments
The year 2024 has also been a period of significant investments for the university. Most notably, construction has begun on the “Newton” Innovative Center for Integrated Educational and Library Services at the second campus. This facility will house a library, an auditorium, educational spaces, and an IT laboratory. The library section will feature areas accessible to external users, including a library information center, reading zones, individual and group workstations, and computer stations. The building will also host the headquarters of the Student Government of Opole University of Technology. The new complex will span 12,000 square meters. The first phase of the project, costing nearly PLN 37 million, is being financed from the university’s own funds.
Meanwhile, the first campus is undergoing a major renovation of the “Leipzig” building, valued at over PLN 70 million. Starting next academic year, this building will be home to two faculties: the Faculty of Economics and Management and the Faculty of Production Engineering and Logistics.
Our university continues to systematically open new laboratories and upgrade existing ones to ensure that our researchers and students work with state-of-the-art equipment.
This year, for example, the “INVEST-PARK LAB” Renewable Energy Source Optimization Laboratory was established. It serves educational and research purposes while also fostering collaboration with the socio-economic environment, which is particularly significant amid discussions on green energy. This investment, worth nearly one million PLN, was supported by the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone. Exchange of experiences with industry is one of the pillars of a technical university’s operations. Every year, the university gains new partners, such as Opole-based Nutricia, which has funded scholarships for our students and has also helped equip a laboratory in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
A Time for Decisions
Every year, our university introduces new fields of study. This year, these include image communication, physical activity and health trainer, as well as updated and improved programs in economics and finance, tourism, and international tourism. These new offerings—and not only these—are drawing considerable interest from applicants, whose numbers have been steadily increasing despite demographic challenges.
The year 2024 was also a time when our university community once again excelled in showing solidarity, this time by providing assistance in various ways to those affected by the September flood.
Finally, 2024 was a year of important decisions. On March 19, Prof. Marcin Lorenc was re-elected as the rector of Opole University of Technology for a second term (2024–2028). New dean authorities were also elected.