Prof. Bronisław Marciniak, Rector of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) is a dynamic and growing community of more than 60,000 people, including about 54,000 students, and close to 3,000 academic staff. The City of Poznań on the Warta River, where the AMU originates, along with the town of Gniezno some 40 km away, is the cradle of the Polish state. Here, in the Wielkopolska ("Greater Poland") region, the symbolic baptism of Poland took place more than 1,000 years ago. It was here that the first bishops and primates of Poland built their residences, and the first rulers of Poland from the Piast dynasty were born. It was also here, thanks to the enlightened approach of our forefathers, that the foundations for contemporary higher education in the region were laid. The people of Poznań and Wielkopolska can be described as proud, noble and devoted to their country through daily hard work, courage and sacrifice in the hour of need.

Pope John Paul II said once at a meeting with young people in Poznań, "Here, everything started." I could not agree more. I believe Poznań epitomizes the connection between history and modern times.

As a native of Wielkopolska, I am attached to the local Poznań dialect. I like the pragmatism of the people here and their pursuit of innovation. As the newly elected Rector of the Adam Mickiewicz University, I plan to intensify research programs conducted at the AMU and introduce cross-and-multidisciplinary research on a wider scale. It is also important that we design a system of macro-majors for our students to choose from which will combine several academic career paths. Another area I believe to be vital is making our university more international in terms of teaching and introducing the opportunity to study English throughout the course of studies. I am also a great supporter of computerizing the teaching process and promoting student business activity. Both, I hope, will be facilitated by improving our system for the acquisition of European funds and opening the university more to the business world and the needs of local communities. I want our development strategy to reflect these goals and more fully meet the needs of the mission ahead.