On a midweek occasion, President Andrzej Duda attended the inauguration marking the 2024/2025 academic year at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw. The ceremony brought together military leaders, faculty, and students to mark a new cycle of study that will help shape the competencies of Poland’s defense establishments. The president spoke about the essential role universities play in preparing officers for increasingly complex environments, and he emphasized that the path through WAT is more than classroom work. It is a journey toward leadership, technical mastery, and ethical service that the Polish Armed Forces rely on as they adapt to evolving security needs. He noted that the collaboration between the university and the military ensures programs stay aligned with real-world requirements, spanning engineering, cyber defense, logistics, and strategic thinking. The gathering underscored a shared commitment to education, discipline, and applied research as engines for national resilience and capable, dependable forces that can respond decisively to change.
The president explained that the new academic year is about shaping the next generation of officers who, after graduating from the Military University of Technology, will assume positions of responsibility within the Polish Armed Forces. This vision rests on a curriculum that blends demanding engineering disciplines with military science, hands-on laboratories, field exercises, and partnerships with industry and defense agencies. It is a path where scientific insight informs leadership practice, where reliable systems depend on sound technical understanding, and where graduates contribute to both command decisions and operational effectiveness. In his view, WAT stands at the intersection of theory and practice, producing officers who can translate knowledge into action on the ground and in planning rooms alike.
The president added that such beginnings lay the groundwork for leadership across the Polish Armed Forces. He highlighted mentorship programs, practical drills, and collaborative projects with the defense sector as vital elements that cultivate judgment under pressure, ethical responsibility, and a steadfast sense of service. He stressed that success in today’s security landscape depends on graduates who can apply advanced science to real-world defense challenges, coordinate with civilian partners, and uphold Poland’s international commitments. Students are encouraged to think creatively, test ideas through rigorous experimentation, and learn from setbacks as part of a disciplined march toward improvement.
Difficult tasks
He spoke of the role of research conducted at the Military University of Technology, noting that the projects and innovations emerging from this environment are intended to spur modernization of the armed forces and to improve the daily service conditions for soldiers. He cautioned that today’s dynamic landscape, marked by rapid shifts and unpredictable developments, presents exceptionally demanding challenges for military universities. For this reason he welcomed the establishment of additional units at WAT focused on innovative fields, believing that dedicated teams can explore new approaches to technology, doctrine, and operational support. The aim, he suggested, is to keep Poland’s defense posture capable, resilient, and ready to respond to evolving threats while maintaining high professional standards.
Enrollment at the Military University of Technology carries genuine prestige, a status earned through decades of rigorous scholarship, practical training, and a track record of contributing to defense and allied security endeavors. The university’s lineage traces back to a period of expansion in technical education for the armed services, and its graduates have consistently taken on roles in command, design, and oversight across various military branches. The prestige is reinforced by modern facilities, cutting-edge laboratories, and a culture that prizes precision, inquiry, and service. This recognition is not merely about tradition; it reflects a persistent commitment to excellence that resonates with students, faculty, and partners in national defense and civil industry alike.
The president underscored this point, noting that the opportunity to study at WAT is a doorway to influence within the defense community and, by extension, to contribute to Poland’s strategic resilience on the international stage.
WATT
The Military University of Technology, founded in 1951 by statute, operates as a public academic university under the supervision of the Minister of National Defense. As an open technical university, it serves the Polish Armed Forces, science, the economy, and society by educating students, developing researchers and teaching staff, and conducting scientific research and development across the exact, technical, and social sciences. Its mission blends defense readiness with educational excellence and public impact, ensuring that innovations from its laboratories translate into practical improvements in military systems, infrastructure, and broader technology sectors.
The full remarks by President Duda were shared publicly for those who wish to hear them in their entirety.