“Today, we are making history.” – said Prof. Tadeusz Więckowski, Rector of Wrocław University of Technology to the Gimnazjum and Liceum students that on Monday started their education in the Wrocław University of Technology’s Academic School Complex. 72 students of the Gimnazjum (junior high school) and 76 students of the Liceum (high school) joined the society of our University.
Some anxious and abashed, others smiling and self-confident, but all wearing their Sunday best – in suits, white shirts, and black dresses. In this way, pupils of the Wrocław University of Technology’s Academic Schools Complex inaugurated their school year. These are the first classes at both schools, so during the ceremony in the Main Building Aula, Prof. Tadeusz Więckowski emphasized the historic character of the event.
“On 15th November 1945, about 600 students started their education at Wrocław University of Technology. History was made then and now we are making it too, by opening the University’s Gimnazjum and Liceum.” – said Rector – “In the last few months I was often asked why the University establishes its own academic schools. I admit it was a challenge for us. But we really need qualified young people, prepared for studying, creative, and able to work in groups. We expect much of you.” – Rector addressed the pupils – “And remember, from now on, you are members of the Wrocław University of Technology society. All our equipment is at your disposal. We expect that in the future, you will also choose our Liceum and studies at our University. Especially that we are already working on modern, interdisciplinary fields of study that we are planning to open.”
The inauguration of the school year had a very solemn character. The Polish national anthem was played back, Monika Małek, PhD, from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences delivered the inauguration lecture (“I think. I experience. I feel. About science in a different way.”). Also, important invited guests were present at the ceremony, including Barbara Zdrojewska, President of the Dolnośląskie Provincial Council, Jacek Ossowski, PhD, President of the Wrocław City Council, Małgorzata Bacia, PhD, Director of the Dolnośląskie In-Service Teacher Training Centre, Karol Przywara, Province Marshal’s representative for cooperation with academic and youth societies, Bartosz Ciepluch, Manager of the Nokia European Software and Engineering Centre, and Robert Banasiak, PhD, from the Audiovisual Technology Centre. Later also Leszek Czarnecki, PhD, businessman and our University graduate, joined the guests.
Alicja Benzar, Headmaster of the Academic Schools Complex emphasized that the schools will focus on supporting the hobbies and interests of the pupils, demonstrating practical implementation of knowledge, extracurricular classes, and proprietary curricula.
Therefore, during admission the schools asked candidates about their interests so that an adequate programme of extracurricular classes could be planned.
As their hobbies, the pupils reported, e.g. logical games, chess, duplicate bridge, phantasy stories, sensation novels, crime stories, art, architecture, computer graphics, as well as model building, photography, writing reportages, and playing musical instruments. Thus, the schools will offer them various interest clubs, computer graphics classes at CETA, classes in two robotics laboratories (funded and opened on Monday by Leszek Czarnecki and the Nokia company), workshops at our University’s academic “Styk” TV station and “Luz” radio station, classes run in cooperation with our students’ scientific circles (such as Lab View or Da Vinci), as well as sports and C++, Java, and C# programming workshops.
Although there won’t be a special school bell informing about the beginning and end of lessons, Prof. Tadeusz Więckowski decided to start the school year the traditional way – with the first bell. “This is not a casual bell.” – said Rector – “This is the bell that was used during sessions of the University Senate when the senators talked too much and there was need to discipline them.” – he laughed.
After the inauguration ceremony held in the Aula, the pupils had an opportunity to meet their new classmates and see the interior of the building. They watched, for example, the office cubicles for editors of the schools’ website and magazine, and the two robotics laboratories.
The Academic Schools Complex is located on the third and fourth floor of the “Cheese House” (the C-13 building). Studios, lecture rooms, labs, and cubicles will be at their disposal there, while for sports classes, they will be carried to the facilities of the Department of Physical Education and Sport. Some of the classes will also be organized in other parts of the University campus.
Lucyna Róg
Translation: Dariusz Więcławski