Recording of the ceremony that marks the official beginning of CEU's 2002/2003 academic year, in the Vigadó Concert Hall on Saturday, October 12, 2002. CEU Pro-Rector Stefan Messmann provides the introductory remarks and welcomes the students as well as Prof. Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, who speaks both as an Alumni (Environmental Sciences & Policy, 1992) and as a Professor at CEU. The speech of Vlatka Butorac, PhD candidate at Legal Studies is followed by the words of the CEU President and Rector, Yehuda Elkana. Next to follow are the speech of the Incoming Student and the musical moment provided by Incoming Student Kinga Szücs. CEU Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, George Soros offers his welcome speech to the new students and then invites Bálint Magyar, the Hungarian Minister of Education to deliver the Opening Address. Next, Stefan Messmann brings into attention new developments within CEU: the Student Exchange Program with BART College and Princeton University and the development of the CEU Business School. Ferenc Pártos (Chief Executive Officer) speaks about the Business School and the MBA degree it offers. The “Plaque of Appreciations” for the 10 years of service in the university is offered by Yehuda Elkana and Stefan Messmann to János Bak (Professor at the Department of Medieval Studies), László Bruszt (Professor at the Department of Political Science) and Gábor Klaniczay (Permanent Fellow of Collegium Budapest - Institute for Advanced Study and Professor at the Department of Medieval Studies at the CEU). The fourth “Plaque of Appreciations” goes to Prof. Susanne Zimmerman who could not attend the ceremony. The ceremony is followed by a small reception at the University. Various Ambassadors, Hungarian Senior Officials, Rectors and Deans from other universities are among the participants.