The Celebration of Wrocław University of Science and Technology is already past us. On this occasion, Prof. Arkadiusz Wójs, the university’s Rector, addressed the whole WUST community in a special speech and awards and distinctions were awarded to employees.

On November 15, 1945, at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Prof. Kazimierz Idaszewski delivered the first lecture in the history of Wrocław’s Polish post-war tertiary education. In remembrance of that event, we celebrate the Celebration of Science in Wrocław, and since 1984, also the Celebration of Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

The ceremonial events involved in the Celebration are traditionally held in the main building’s assembly hall. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic prevented a meeting from being held on this exceptional day. The day was doubly special as it was planned this year to conclude the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of WUST.

On Sunday morning, Prof. Arkadiusz Wójs, the Rector of WUST, Professor Andrzej Rokita, the Rector of the Academy of Physical Education in Wrocław and the President of CRWOU, and Jacek Sutryk, the President of Wrocław, only placed flowers at the Monument of Martyrdom of the Lviv Professors, located in Prof. Idaszewski Square. 

To mark the celebration,  Professor Arkadiusz Wójs addressed the academic community in a special speech. He referred, among other things, to the discussions that have been taking place in recent days among employees of Wrocław University of Science and Technology on the protests following the judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal.

– We are facing a very serious internal division that has emerged recently. A division which is inconclusive in a discussion using arguments, because it concerns values, and when we talk about values, perhaps different for each of us but fundamental to our lives, emotions come to the fore, hindering a level-headed academic dispute – said the Rector. – I myself was surprised by the depth of these divisions and how heated this dispute is, so I appeal to all its participants and observers (...) – let us not give up, when engaging in disputes, on building our common great University, where instead of attacking, we show respect, we talk, and we get to know about each other. Our University at which, even if we fail to understand or convince each other, we not only tolerate each other, but – although we differ a lot – we make up a common, academic family, and – most importantly – we unconditionally support each other outside. At our University, we talk about the University, its future, its path to becoming a research-oriented university, ways to give our students a solid and complete education in this difficult time.

Professor Wójs reminded us that although the university has had difficult moments in its history, such as the year '68 or the beginning of martial law, its people, “except cases of evident opportunism”, have behaved courageously and with dignity.

– At the end of this strange anniversary year, which has been unusual, if not bad, for the life of our institution (...), we must have the courage to make a great leap into the future, because now we, like our predecessors over the last 75 years, are responsible for the University. It is our responsibility to govern it in such a way as to leave its legacy to our successors, who will come in 10, 20 or 50 years' time, so that they, too, will remember us with pride – said the Rector.

Prof. Wójs pointed out that to build a great university, it is necessary to have a community and an understanding of the changing world, for example, that women in science today are equal to men.

– Remembering Hypatia and admiring Maria Skłodowska-Curie, who had to live and create under the patriarchy, let us draw conclusions and simply make the world a better place. Even today, someone is fighting for rights that may one day become natural – he said. – We are all lucky that women already won their right to study and conduct scientific research years ago, and together we are all lucky to be working in a unique place where hope is built by creating science. (...) It is science that lays the foundations for the development of our civilisation, but it is also in science that there is hope for solutions that may be able to save our planet from the excessive and immodest expansion of this civilisation. Let us respect the privilege to work for science, the place where we create it, and the people with whom we work here – he added.

The Rector also called for our appreciation of the university – its splendour, tradition, and academic freedom in this difficult time. – Let us see this as a commitment to mutual respect and solidarity, without which, after all, it would be difficult for us to develop it and pass it on to our successors – he concluded.

As always during the Celebration of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, the winners of the Rector's awards and grants as well as those awarded with the “Lion of the University of Science and Technology” award were announced. Also, special badges were awarded to 22 WUST graduates of merit and those who wrote the best engineering and master's theses in the past academic year.

The entire #WUST community joined the #togetherWUST #razemPWr action, including international students, graduates and IRO's staff. Each card and photo has shown that we are strong and united.