“Let us be a community united by common goals, ambitions, and hope”
There were congratulations from the Prime Minister and many other personalities, and wishes for further development and success. The jubilee Inauguration of the New Academic Year, 2022/2023, was a great celebration for the academic community of Vistula Universities. Distinguished guests, lecturers, and students came to the Polish Theatre in Warsaw. Professor Wawrzyniec Konarski, PHD, Rector of Vistula University, appealed to everyone present – “Let’s be a community united by common goals, ambitions, and hopes.”
With the Inauguration of the New Academic Year, 2022/2023, Vistula Universities began their celebrations of their Jubilees. Vistula University – one of the oldest private universities in Poland, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the Vistula School of Hospitality – a quarter of a century of scientific and didactic work, as well as activities for the socio-economic environment.
Vistula Universities are the precursors of modern education
Many distinguished guests, lecturers, and students came to the Polish Theatre in Warsaw for the great Jubilee Gala. There was a flagship group. The Polish anthem, and the student song, ‘Gaudeamus Igitur’, was performed by the Vistula Choir. Traditionally, there was a solemn Immatriculation Act. Doctoral diplomas were awarded. Congratulatory letters were also read from Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, Speaker of the Senate, Tomasz Grodzki, President of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, and former President of the Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski. There was an outpouring from them of greetings and words of appreciation to the Vistula Universities, for being institutions that are the precursors of modern education. It was emphasised that the rich offers, high quality of scientific research, and excellent, non-scientific research, and dedicated teaching staffs are the key to success. Mariya Gabriel, the EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, wrote in her message, that efforts to innovate and expand knowledge in new strategic areas, such as cybersecurity, chemical safety, and environmental protection deserve special respect.
Deputy Speaker of the Polish Parliament, Piotr Zgorzelski, personally expressed his appreciation for the achievements of the Vistula Universities and their leaders. He emphasised that every university is a space for free speech, free debate, and free thought.
Ambitious goals
The gala was an opportunity to express respect to all those who have been building the success of Vistula over the years, as well as to look into the future. – For a dignified and inspiring life, a school is needed. “We want to be such a school,” – declared the Rector of Vistula University, Professor Wawrzyniec Konarski, PHD, who at the same time, asserted that the university should be a community united by common goals, ambitions, and hopes. He noted that Vistula is constantly developing, and has ambitious plans to open foreign branches. The first is the branch in Bristol. Students will start studying there next year.
– “We are constantly trying to expand our activity”, – stressed the Rector of the Vistula School of Hospitality, Professor Alexander Ronikier, PhD. Addressing the students, he proclaimed: “You’ve made the right choice. You have very good career prospects”.
The tourism industry, which produces 7 percent. GDP, after the tragic period of the pandemic, needs qualified staff, today. Andrzej Gut-Mostowy also discussed this. As the Deputy Minister, responsible for tourism in the Polish government, he thanked the authorities of the Vistula School of Hospitality for educating specialists in this area.
We look to the future
Taavi Rõivas also congratulated the students of Vistula University on their ‘good choice’. The former Prime Minister of Estonia pointed out, during the inaugural lecture, that the offered study programmes focus on the mega-trends of our time. A prime example is the MBA programme of studies on decarbonisation and sustainable finance. Referring to the law of nature, he said that “it is better to be a fast fish than a slow one – so, we must be smarter and smarter, not only to keep up with the pace of changes, but also to change the future ourselves. So, I am very pleased that Vistula Universities are looking to the future and want to face it,” he concluded.
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