{"id":8271,"date":"2021-10-08T11:37:41","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T11:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/website.prod.unilu.spikeseed.cloud\/en\/news\/new-academic-year-2021-2022-opens-with-optimism-and-hope\/"},"modified":"2021-10-08T11:37:41","modified_gmt":"2021-10-08T11:37:41","slug":"new-academic-year-2021-2022-opens-with-optimism-and-hope","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/news\/new-academic-year-2021-2022-opens-with-optimism-and-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"New academic year 2021-2022 opens with optimism and hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Luxembourg held its Rentr\u00e9e Acad\u00e9mique 2021-2022 on 7 October on Belval Campus.<\/p>

Both the Rector, Prof. St\u00e9phane Pallage, and Prof. Catherine L\u00e9glu<\/a>, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, sounded a note of optimism, hoping for a progressive return to \u201cnormality\u201d in campus life and a return to in-person teaching.<\/p>

Prof. Catherine L\u00e9glu praised the university community, students, teachers and staff, for their resilience and inventiveness during this challenging period. \u201cAs we look back on almost three semesters in a \u201cstate of emergency\u201d, we can say that we have learned a few things: Resilience and creativity pay off,\u201d she said.<\/p>

Rector Prof. St\u00e9phane Pallage outlined the University\u2019s Strategy framework, with medicine and health, sustainability and digital transformation as main pillars. \u201cThe three challenges I have just mentioned are among the most important challenges facing mankind in this twenty-first century. Our University WILL provide answers to the questions they raise.\u201d he emphasised.<\/p>

In his keynote speech, Prof. Michael Heneka, currently Director of the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Bonn (Germany), and designated Director of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), addressed the topic of the delayed impact of COVID-19 on the brain. Prof. Heneka highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on memory functions and brain morphology. He encouraged the promotion of support centres devoted to neurocognitive studies and the search for new therapies for victims of long COVID-19.<\/p>

Claude Meisch, Minister for Higher Education and Research, addressed the evaluation of the University\u2019s teaching by an independent organisation. While the full report will be presented in several weeks, the minister stated that \u201cthe conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation are encouraging\u201d. He also congratulated the University of Luxembourg \u201cfor overcoming the past crisis with commitment, humanism and solidarity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nTeaching Awards and Student Initiative Awards 2021<\/h3>\n

At the Rentr\u00e9e Acad\u00e9mique, awards were given for outstanding teaching and student initiatives.<\/p>

Teaching Awards were conferred to:<\/p>

Gabor Wiese<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Professor in Mathematics and Study Director of the Master in Mathematics, S\u00e9verine Menetrey<\/a>, <\/strong>, Doctoral Researcher in Mathematics, Zs\u00f2fia Kr\u00e4ussl<\/a>, <\/strong>Professor in Judicial Law, Sebastiano Tronto<\/strong>Research Scientist in Finance and Technology at the Department of Finance, Ingrid de Saint-Georges<\/strong><\/a>, Associate Professor in Educational Science, Harlan Koff<\/strong><\/a>, Professor of Social Sciences-Migration Studies.<\/p>

The Student Initiative Award was granted to the Student Delegation<\/strong><\/a> for its contribution to the social integration, mental health and well-being of students, the promotion of values and their support to the community. A second Student Initiative Award was granted to the BelvalExpress Theater<\/strong> for creative theatrical initiatives and outreach to students during the pandemic.<\/p>

The Teaching Award is dedicated to professors and associate professors, and to doctoral candidates and post-docs greatly appreciated for their work and honoured in recognition of their excellence and outstanding commitment. The winners are chosen based on student recommendations, given to their respective faculty council.<\/p>\n

\n\u00a9 Photos: Sophie Margue \/ University of Luxembourg<\/h5>\n