During the Opening of the Academic Year, there were speeches, awards and various cultural contributions, such as by poet Wout Waanders, pianist Joos Munneke, cellist Renée Wijnhoven and the Nijmegen Student Orchestra.
Recap of the Opening Academic Year 2024 - 2025
The Opening of the Academic Year took place on Monday 2 September from 14:00 until approximately 15:30 in De Vereeniging. The theme of the program was 'truth'.
Programme recap
Speech Rector Magnificus
José Sanders gave a speech at the Opening Academic Year that centered on the theme 'truth'. 'We cannot take and own the truth, but we can grow and strengthen it, in our university nursery of knowledge, by caring for it together', Sanders said. 'Together means: by respecting the scientific rules of the game and trusting that all participants in the debate sincerely seek the truth and are honestly open to everyone's arguments. Our job as a university is to do this with care and integrity, and to train our students in that same attitude.'
At the end of her speech, Sanders announced a campaign video by the Universiteiten van Nederland (Universities of the Netherlands). This campaign is a response to the planned cuts to universities and the sciences.
Speech student speaker
Navete van Andel Bertomeu is studying psychology and has just finished her bachelor's degree. Besides her studies, she is active as a circus teacher, among other things. During the Opening Academic Year, she did not give a traditional speech, but offered the audience a theatrical dreamy presentation inspired by the theme of truth.
University Study Awards ceremony
Seven recent graduates received the University Study Award. The University Study Award is an annual prize for students who have written a thesis of exceptional quality.
Team Science Award ceremony
The Executive Board presented the Team Science Awards for the first time. The Radboud Team Science Award went the Bothnian Sea cruise team from the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science (RIBES). This team excelled on account of a special and effective team spirit and will therefore receive 10,000 euros to further boost this team spirit.
Presentation of the Radboud University Medal
The Radboud University Medal is awarded annually to staff members who have made a special contribution to Radboud University. This year, University Medal was presented to Ellen Venderbosch, Board Secretary of the Faculty of Arts
Speech Wout Waanders
Every year, a writer is invited to give a speech during the Opening Academic Year. This year, poet Wout Waanders had been asked to give a speech to inspire the upcoming academic year.