The inauguration of the academic year in the University of Bialystok department in Vilnius

”Quod bonum, felix, faustum fortunatumque sit” (May it be for good, happiness and prosperity of all)” – thus started the vice-rector Dariusz Kijowski the new academic year at the University. The Faculty of Economics and Information Technology of the University of Bialystok department in Vilnius has begun the sixth year of its existence. During the ceremony the bachelor’s degrees were awarded and the first year students were matriculated.  

The dean of the faculty Prof Jarosław Wołkonowski started the ceremony. In his speech summarising the five years of the faculty activity the dean pointed out that none of the graduates was registered with the job centre after graduation i.e. each of them has found job, which in turn proves that we fulfill our mission with dignity. ”Industries in which our graduates are employed are very diverse: from logistics companies to the director of the marriage bureau”- said Wołkonowski.

Then bachelor’s degrees were awarded to 25 students who defended the bachelor’s thesis during the resit period.

Polish ambassador  in Vilnius Janusz Skolimowski wished further fruitful years of work. The ambassador presented the awards: Silver Cross of Merit to vice-dean Dr Alina Grynia and Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland to the dean Prof Jarosław Wołkonowski.

Then the first year students have been matriculated. The students with the highest notes in the recruitment procedure were invited on stage where they made a solemn vow dictated by the university vice-rector habilitated doctor Dariusz Kijowski.

With greetings and words of encouragement appeared the representative of the student government Barbara Kitkowska. ”In my opinion the motto of the first year should become the saying: do not be afraid of  active participation in the student life” – said Kitkowska inviting the students ipso facto to students research circles and to the theatre group.

”I am glad that the department has managed to come to an agreement with the Ministry of Education and to receive grants. To prove that it is not a gift or an exception for the department but a European standard. Even though there are only three of us in the parliament and some institutions did not want to acknowledge these standards we were still able to defend our positions in a joint effort” – said the parliamentary representative Jarosław Narkiewicz wishing successful studying.

The punch line of the ceremony was the inaugural lecture of the associate professor Jerzy Wilkin from the University of Warsaw ”The financial crisis or the crisis of capitalism?”. In the professor’s opinion, the financial crisis which we have the ”honour” of participating in is a crisis of capitalism and its values. In the finance era finance is driven by finance. Banks take over the most expensive real estates or even cultural monuments but the statistics do not know any mercy. Banks go bankrupt whereas some of the oldest universities have survived throughout centuries. The university is the most stable institution.

“The life of students and lecturers cannot be easy if this civilization is to survive,” – concluded his speech the associate professor Jerzy Wilkin of the University of Warsaw.

“We enter into the sixth year of our existence in very optimistic mood. We have been promised specific help as to solve the problem with the department headquarters. The lack of the headquarters does not allow us to develop and improve the quality of teaching. I hope that we will make a step forward in the matter” – said Alina Grynia to PL DELFI.

The vice-dean’s statement has been confirmed by the vice-dean of the University of Bialystok, habilitated doctor Dariusz Kijowski. ”The standpoint of the University of Bialystok will for sure not change for the worse, just the opposite. The priority is the development of the department and not just a continuation. We expect significant support from the state budget (Polish – PL DELFI) for the construction of the department headquarters in Vilnius. It is almost certain, “- assured the UK DELFI the habilitated doctor Dariusz Kijowski. 

Source: http://pl.delfi.lt/kultura/kultura/inauguracja-roku-akademickiego-w-filii-uwb-w-wilnie.d?id=59618715

Tłumaczenie Milena Jajkowska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Milena Jajkowska the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.