“Advent, the four weeks of waiting for Christmas, is a great opportunity for us, which we should not miss today, just as we did not miss it as children. We need to prepare ourselves for the holiday and to be able to formulate our big dreams, each one our own”, said Dr. Béla Merkely in his speech. The rector also drew attention to the importance of preparing for Christmas and the joy of anticipation. “We are preparing for a celebration of love, but the end of the year is also a time of reckoning. We take stock of how far we have come, what we have achieved, and what tasks and challenges we have faced,” he said. He added that for the second year in a row, the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the largest and most powerful in history, has been a major challenge that has shaped our daily lives, demanding determination, struggle and resilience.
“As the flagship of the fight against the epidemic, the citizens of Semmelweis University have all shown an example of heroism, responsibility and sacrifice. This has significantly enhanced our social esteem. Our national and international recognition has continued to grow, and our regional leadership has been consolidated. We have made great strides in international rankings: this year we have improved 149 positions to become one of the world’s top 300 higher education institutions, 277th to be precise,” he said.
He also referred to the change in the operating model that took place in August, which, as he said, not only brings an improvement in infrastructure and financing conditions, but also allows for raising the quality of life of Semmelweis citizens. “Because we know that the greatest value of our university lies in its human resources, and we can only achieve our common goals together. In the new model, therefore, our university is looking forward to more opportunities, more room for maneuver and more dynamic development than ever before,” said the rector. He also underlined the importance of the community experience, cooperation and collaboration, which is equally important in the fight against the pandemic and at Christmas.
This was followed by a speech by Dr. Lívia Pavlik, the university’s chancellor. “The Advent cycle is about preparation, attunement and reflection: faith, hope, joy and love,” she said, and then gave insight into how her own family prepares for the holiday. She stressed the importance of love, not only for those closest to us and our families, but as Jesus said, also for our neighbors. “True service, selfless love, is serving those from whom we cannot expect anything in return, our patients,” she added. She made special reference to the difficulties caused by the pandemic, which after 2020 has also marked this year. “But what is important is that together, helping each other and working together, we have not been defeated by any of these challenges. We overcame the most difficult situations and achieved success. We should be proud because we have a lot to be proud of. Let us pat ourselves on the back because we have something to be proud of. And let us rest for the rest of the year, because we need strength for 2022,” the chancellor said.
Gallery
The ceremony also featured performances by Song Factory Budapest and the Medic Orchestra, and the event concluded with a standing reception and champagne toast.
Ádám Szabó
Translation: Tamás Deme
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
