On Saturday, October 4, a parade of universities marched through Gdańsk's Royal Route to inaugurate the 2025/2026 academic year. The event was attended by representatives of the academic community, local authorities, and residents, emphasising the importance of science for the development of Gdańsk and building ties between universities and the local community. During the parade, the Mayor of Gdańsk presented awards to the winners of the Fahrenheit knowledge contest, which also included a survey asking residents what they considered to be the most important areas of development for the city.

For the fourth time, the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk and the City of Gdańsk organised a ceremonial university parade under the slogan “Long live science!” The participants set off at 11:00 a.m. from the Golden Gate and walked along the Royal Route in a colourful procession, which was also attended by the Deputy Governor of Pomerania, Anna Olkowska-Jacyno. The parade was made unique by performances by the choirs of the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology, and the University of Gdańsk, as well as by the Gdańsk Academic Orchestra and performances by stilt walkers, jugglers, unicyclists, and mirror characters.

‘Today's event is a symbol of the unity between the academic community and the city. Such celebrations build a sense of community and show that Gdańsk is a place open to cooperation, diversity, and innovation. I am very happy that we can meet in such large numbers today and show together that this diversity is a source of strength that allows us to develop science and culture at the highest level,’ emphasised the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Piotr Stepnowski, chairman of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk.

Next year, the Fahrenheit Union will enter its fifth year of operation, and applications to join it are being submitted by other Gdańsk universities - the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music and the Academy of Fine Arts. The Union's authorities emphasise their openness and readiness to expand cooperation, seeing this as an opportunity to further strengthen Gdańsk's scientific potential.

‘The Fahrenheit University Parade is a celebration of academic Gdańsk, but also a symbol of community. It emphasises the bond between universities, residents, and local government, which builds an open, modern, and strong city. Together with the universities, we are creating a Gdańsk that is a centre of opportunity. It is here that young people can develop their passions, taking advantage of the wide range of opportunities our city has to offer, both professionally and privately,’ said Gdańsk Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz. ‘Inspired by the achievements of Gabriel Fahrenheit, we show that the future of our city is based on knowledge, cooperation, and openness. Today, nearly 80,000 people study at 18 universities in Gdańsk, half of whom are associated with Fahrenheit Universities. This is the enormous potential of young people, which, thanks to initiatives such as competitions, scholarships, and joint research projects, is becoming the driving force behind the development of the city and the entire region.’

During the official part of the event, there was also an award ceremony for the competition on knowledge about Gabriel Fahrenheit, the patron of the FarU community. The Mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, personally congratulated the winners - Jadwiga Cichoń, Amelia Sarnecka, and Wiktoria Wójcik - emphasising the importance of remembering this outstanding Gdańsk citizen, whose achievements inspire future generations. The ceremony ended with a speech by Bogumiła Szymendera, representative of the Fahrenheit Student Union, followed by a symbolic exchange of FarU pins between former and current Ambassadors of the Union.

As part of the competition, Gdańsk residents were also asked what they considered to be the most important directions for the city's development. The most common responses included expectations regarding access to education through workshops, courses, training, and meetings open to different age groups. There were also calls for the creation of open spaces for learning and cooperation, modern educational and scientific centres, and places for the exchange of knowledge between residents, entrepreneurs, and universities. The Fahrenheit University Association is actively responding to these expectations by implementing projects that promote accessibility and integration in the academic community of Gdańsk. This year's University Parade is further proof that this idea is being reflected in the life of the city.

The parade was also attended by representatives of:

• Akademia Ateneum in Gdańsk 
• Akademia Finansów i Biznesu Vistula filia in Gdańsk 
• Akademia Marynarki Wojennej im. Bohaterów Westerplatte 
• Akademia Muzycznej im. Stanisława Moniuszki in Gdańsk 
• Akademia Sztuk Pięknych in Gdańsk 
• Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego i Sportu im. Jędrzeja Śniadeckiego 
• Gdańskie Seminarium Duchowne 
• Polsko-Japońska Akademia Technik Komputerowych filia in Gdańsk 
• Powiślańska Akademia Nauk Stosowanych 
• Sopocka Akademia Nauk Stosowanych 
• Uniwersytet WSB Merito Gdańsk 
• Wyższa Szkoła Administracji i Biznesu im. Eugeniusza Kwiatkowskiego w Gdyni 
• Wyższa Szkoła Bezpieczeństwa oddział in Gdańsk 
• Wyższa Szkoła Inżynierii Gospodarki w Słupsku 
• Wyższa Szkoła Społeczno-Ekonomicznej in Gdańsk 
• Wyższa Szkoła Turystyki i Hotelarstwa in Gdańsk 
• Wyższa Szkoła Zdrowia in Gdańsk. 

The organisers would like to thank Gdańsk Archipelago of Culture, the Gdańsk Museum, the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, and the services that ensured the safe conduct of the parade for their cooperation.