Professor Jan Szmidt, the President of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland in 2016-2020, has passed away

It is with deep regret that, on 3 February 2026, we received the news of the death of Prof. Jan Szmidt, PhD, DSc, Eng., Doctor Honoris Causa, the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology in 2012-2020, the President of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland in 2016-2020, and a Honorary President of KRASP in 2020-2024.

He was an outstanding scientist, university teacher, innovator, popularizer of Polish science in the world, who made an invaluable contribution to the development of Polish higher education.
Professor Szmidt was the author and co-author of several hundred scientific publications, conference speeches, patent applications and reports on the implementation of research projects.

He was a respected educator and mentor to many generations of technical science adepts.

For his outstanding achievements, Professor Szmidt received numerous university and ministerial awards, as well as high state decorations: the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Gold Cross of Merit, the Medal of the National Education Commission. He was the recipient of such awards as the Gold Medal of the Polish Success Academy and the Pro Juvenes Award of the Students' Parliament of the Republic of Poland as a pro-student authority.

The Rector, Prof. Jan Szmidt, was a great friend of our University. We met not only at official events, but we also shared new plans for scientific development.

We will miss the wonderful discussions with this outstanding Personality.

We lost a man who was responsible and committed to science, valuing cross-sectoral and inter-university cooperation, supporting innovation and a high level of education. He was an open, kind and passionate person.

We offer our sincere condolences to the family, loved ones and the entire academic community of the Warsaw University of Technology.

The Rector, Senate and the entire community of the Medical University of Warsaw

The funeral will take place on Tuesday, February 17, at 1 p.m. in the Funeral Home at the Powązki Military Cemetery.