2025-2026 Academic Year Ceremony

The University of Liège celebrated the start of its academic year on September 23. Rector Anne-Sophie Nyssen orchestrated the ceremony around the theme of "critical spirit, audacity, resistance".

In the presence of staff and students, as well as political, diplomatic, academic, religious, secular and civil society figures, the University of Liège officially opened its year 2025-2026.

In her speech, Anne-Sophie Nyssen addressed the issue of chairs and the diversification of the university's funding.

I firmly believe that the mission of a public university is also to serve society". It is imperative to "build solidarity rather than competition within universities, (...) to evolve our operating model to open it up to new funding. We also need to increase our participation in European research projects (...) And we need to take part in major international projects.

She also returned to the events that took place in Liège on September 18.

Public universities must not only accept, but nurture and educate, the plurality of conditions and visions, and their peaceful coexistence. This, I believe, is the nobility of their mission, of our mission. Because it requires boldness, critical thinking and creativity.

Anne-Sophie Nyssen announced the arrival of three high-profile personalities who will receive the insignia of honorary doctor(see below)in the coming months, before outlining ULiège's prospects in terms of staff status, finances and major projects.

The ceremony was also punctuated by speeches from various representatives of the various bodies (academic, scientific, administrative, technical and workers) and students.

Relive the highlights of the ceremony

Speech given by Anne-Sophie Nyssen, Rector of ULiège

Read the Rectrice's FULL speech

Speeches by academic representatives

Photos of the event

Critical thinking, daring, resistance

Three words at the heart of this new academic year. Three concepts that will be developed throughout the year and embodied by three high-profile personalities who will receive the insignia of honorary doctor-es causain the coming months. Yasmine Belkaid, Director of the Institut Pasteur, Thomas Ostermeier, Director of the Schaubühne in Berlin, and Alain Aspect, Nobel Prize in Physics, will be present at ULiège as part of the Grandes conférences universitaires de l'ULiège. 

Practical information

One year begins, another ends...

A year at ULiège: retrospective 2024-2025

There's so much to remember about the past year at ULiège! Let's take a look at some of the moments that have marked the life of our community.