25 Years of the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa. An Anniversary That Brought Together Generations of Graduates
On 12 June, more than 300 graduates returned to the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the institution. The gathering became not only an opportunity for memories, but also a symbol of the lasting bond that has connected successive generations of students with the University in Nysa for a quarter of a century. Among the participants were representatives of nearly all fields of study and graduating years, who today work in hospitals, companies, schools, design offices, and public institutions across Poland and abroad.
The 25th anniversary of the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa is a particularly important event not only for the academic community but also for the entire region. Over the past 25 years, the University has become one of the key educational centres of the Opole region, educating thousands of specialists, leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, paramedics, nurses, architects, economists, and representatives of many other professions.
The history of the University began on 1 June 2001 with the establishment of the State Higher Vocational School in Nysa. Its creation was the result of a shared vision of academic, local government, and social communities that recognised the need to establish a strong academic centre in the south-western part of the Opole Voivodeship. Today, the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa is a modern institution cooperating with partners in Poland and abroad, equipped with up-to-date infrastructure and offering a wide range of study programmes. However, as the Rector of the University, Dr. Eng. Mariusz Kołosowski, Prof. UAS, emphasized, the greatest strength of the University has always been its people. They create an atmosphere of openness, commitment, and mutual support, thanks to which many graduates return after years with genuine emotion.
The anniversary featured many symbolic moments. One of them was the handing over of the city keys by the Mayor of Nysa to the graduates, and later to students celebrating their student festivities at Fort Prusy. Thanks to a drone broadcast, participants could follow this unique moment live, witnessing tradition meeting modernity. Guests also took part in a film journey through 25 years of the University’s history, presenting the most important events, investments, achievements, and people who have shaped and continue to shape the academic community. A particularly emotional moment was the time capsule with the message “What do we leave for the next 25 years?”. Representatives of study programmes passed on symbolic testimonies of their time to future generations, showing that each cohort of students adds something unique to the University’s history. A group photo of graduates and the planting of a commemorative tree in front of the Collegium Polytechnicum became a beautiful conclusion to the day, symbolising growth, rootedness, and continuity.
In the evening, official celebrations gave way to what often becomes the most valuable part of such gatherings: conversations lasting late into the night, memories, and celebration among people who, despite the passage of time, still feel part of one community. The “Night of Graduates and Students”, opened by a concert of the band Piersi, was the best proof that the academic spirit of the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa does not fade. The 25th anniversary also shows something else: the success of a university is not measured solely by rankings, modern buildings, or the number of study programmes. The greatest value lies in the people who, after years, want to return to the place where their story began.
Looking at hundreds of graduates who once again sat proudly and emotionally within the University walls, it was hard not to feel that the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa is more than just an institution. It is a community that people simply want to belong to. It is a story that continues, and whose next chapters will be written by future generations.
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