The 8th inauguration of the academic year in the Faculty of Economics and Informatics in Vilnius

It is the 8th academic year and 145 new students in the 1st year. In the full room of the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius on Monday on the 6th of October, there was the inauguration of the academic year of the Faculty of Economics and Informatics of the University of Białystok in Vilnius. The dean Prof. Jarosław Wołkonowski PhD welcomed the students of the first year of first and second cycle studies. This year, 62 students of economics, 33 of information technology and 50 students of (something new) second cycle studies started a study in Polish language.

“The strategy of the Faulty in Vilnius are efforts for continuous development,” said the dean prof. Jarosław Wołkonowski PhD. “This year, we got all necessary permits from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Lithuanian Ministry of Education and Science and Lithuanian Accreditation Committee and we have the second cycle studies in economics in our Faculty. It is a great success.

391 students of economics and information technology have graduated during the seven years of the Branch in Vilnius. Many of them continues education. They start second cycle studies in Poland and Lithuania. From this year, they also have the possibility to get master degree in economics in the Faculty of Economics and Informatics of the University of Białystok in Vilnius. As the dean said, the majority of graduates finds a job and establishes their own companies in their country, in Vilnius Region. They run transport companies, shops, beauty parlours or they work as financiers and accountants. It is important as Lithuania had the highest rate of emigration among the European Union countries. During 10 years, 10 per cent of the population emigrated.

Rector of the University of Białystok prof. Leonard Etel PhD revealed that he has his roots in Kresy. “I was born near Grodno. My family moved to Białystok in Poland in 1965,” said the rector. “I want to help families that stayed here. I perceive it as my mission. Since the beginning, I have tried to support the functioning of this Faculty that tries hard but often fails, for instance the need to purchase a plot and build a building thanks to which there would be normal conditions for the education in Vilnius. We hope that we will manage to solve this problem (…). We are able to make any field of study available to you. Give us suggestions and we will help. We want to be helpful in order to enable you to obtain education in Polish language.”

The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Vilnius Jarosław Czubiński thanked the dean for the existence of the Branch in Vilnius and for the possibility to fulfill the needs of Poles living there for learning in Polish institutions at all levels of education. He also congratulated students. “I congratulate you because you chose this university although the whole Europe is open to you. It is important to develop and care for this element of Poland in Vilnius Region.

On the behalf of the member of Parliament from Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania Waldemar Tomaszewski, Renata Cytacka passed best wishes on the occasion of the inauguration of new academic year. “Every year, this is the 8th one, fills us with pride. Every year it fills us with pride that we can participate in such an important event,” said Renata Cytacka. “First of all, because you can obtain education in your mother tongue, second cycle studies are available now and education in the mother tongue is available since pre-school. On the behalf of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania Waldemar Tomaszewski, Renata Cytacka assured us that the best student in the Faculty in Vilnius will get the possibility to have a 1-month traineeship in Brussels.

The member of Parliament from the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania, the Vice-Marshal of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian Parliament) Jarosław Narkiewicz, who will speak in the inauguration lecture on the 10th of October at the University of Białystok, also congratulated students in Vilnius. “When Lithuania has been affected by emigration and we struggle with the lack of people qualified professionally and intellectually, we found a solution. Almost 500 young people study here in Vilnius Region. It means that they will be able to use their knowledge and competence everywhere but most of them will use their abilities here.

There were also words of gratitude from graduates. The representative of students’ union Justyna Skinder thanked for the possibility of gaining knowledge. “We have the reason to be proud of our university – of its class, openness and understanding,” said Justyna Skinder very touched. “Thanks to you, some potential, open-mindedness and a different way of of looking at the world will remain in us.” “I like studying at this university. It has good lecturers and I am very satisfied,” said Robert Rackiewicz to “Kurier”. He got bachelor degree in economics and has started second cycle studies. “The university offers good scholarships and I decided to start second cycle studies because I like the time of classes that I can go to in the evening after work.

On the stage, bachelor diplomas were given to another 30 graduates in the Faculty of Economics and Informatics of the University of Bialystok in Vilnius (46 students of this year obtained their diplomas earlier in July). In the last academic year, 76 students graduated and 145 students started the new year 2014/2015. The rector of the University of Białystok, prof. Leonard Etel PhD marticulated students, that is, students ceremoniously entered the University. The inauguration lecture “Białystok and Vilnius together in history“ was given by prof. Adam Dobroński PhD.

At the end of the inauguration cemerony, “Gaudemius” hymn was sang.