Memorable Graduation Ceremony for the 100th Generation of Graduates at Politehnica University Timișoara

Memorable Graduation Ceremony for the 100th Generation of Graduates at Politehnica University Timișoara

If Politehnica University Timișoara has earned its reputation as the best in the country and the only one recognized abroad long ago, it is primarily thanks to its graduates who have created the prestige the institution enjoys today, both nationally and internationally. A new generation, the class of 2023, which is also the 100th generation of graduates from Politehnica University Timișoara (the first one being in 1924), joins the ranks of UPT graduates after 3, 4, or 6 years spent in amphitheaters and laboratories, attending courses, seminars, and exams. To thank and reward their efforts, the management of Politehnica University Timișoara wanted to offer them a memorable celebration - the Graduation Ceremony 2023.

The event began on July 1, 2023, at Victoriei Square, on the plateau in front of the Rectorate of Politehnica University Timișoara, with a flash mob and an artistic moment followed by the Graduates' Parade, accompanied by the band SuperChill, as well as parents and friends, heading towards Știința Stadium, where the ceremony took place, hosted by the beloved actor Pavel Bartoș.

At the beginning of the ceremony, after the UPT academic anthem was performed by the renowned musician Horia Crișovan, composer of the anthem, the rector of Politehnica University Timișoara, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Florin Drăgan, Ph.D., recalled that "The first generation of graduates of Politehnica University Timișoara was in 1924, which means that this year, in 2023, we celebrate the 100th generation of our university. In 1923, when King Ferdinand inaugurated the first building of the Timișoara university campus, the Pavilion of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, it defined Politehnica as 'a nest of Romanian thought and feeling.' Considering that the construction of the Metropolitan Cathedral began in 1936, we can say that the year 1923 was an important year for the modern history of our city. Following that, there have been 100 years with 100 generations of Politehnica graduates, over 140,000 engineers and more, who have stayed in Timișoara or have taken the tolerant spirit of Banat with them all over the world. Politehnica has not only meant Timișoara, but also generations of engineers in Hunedoara, Arad, or Reșița, thus completing the picture of regional and national development," after which he congratulated the graduates, stating, "If the generation of 1956 or that of 1989 faced the totalitarian system, I am convinced that you, the 100th generation, who have also gone through a challenging period, are not afraid of anything anymore."

Representatives of the business sector then took the stage, companies with which Politehnica University Timișoara probably has the best relationship among Romanian universities. Christian von Albrichsfeld, the General Director of Continental Romania, Diana Năstase, HR Director at Flex, and Sabin Totorean, General Director of Nokia Romania, congratulated the graduates for their success, wished them success in their careers and lives, mentioning that in today's technology-driven and rapidly changing world, challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. They added that employers are waiting for them, and today's Timișoara offers extraordinary job opportunities, expressing their hope that perhaps the future unicorn of Romania will emerge from here.

The student representative on the Administrative Board of Politehnica University Timișoara, Paul Stiegelbauer, presented the students' greetings to the 100th generation, also recalling the community that Politehnica University Timișoara creates, a community that will build the world of tomorrow and make it better.

The President of the Senate of Politehnica University Timișoara, Prof. Univ. Dr. Eng. Radu Vasiu, Ph.D., reminisced about his own experience as a student and later as a faculty member at Politehnica University Timișoara, with all the changes that have occurred, from the Revolution and the reform of the educational system to internationalization and integration into the European higher education system, stating, "For you, this is the end of the student period, but also a new beginning, with a new status, that of an engineer."

Representatives of the ten faculties of Politehnica University Timișoara then took the stage, thanking the professors who guided and expanded their knowledge, as well as their parents, who have supported them continuously. They spoke about their beautiful student life, even though they were a generation that faced previously unseen challenges, but they have overcome all obstacles with their heads held high and have reached the moment of graduation. They talked about the friendships formed during their student years, the dreams they brought to Politehnica, and the skills they are leaving with to build their future and shape their careers, as Politehnica has provided them with the GPS and passport to the future.

To demonstrate once again that Politehnica University Timișoara has always encouraged and rewarded excellence, the management of Politehnica University Timișoara decided to continue the tradition established a few years ago – to highlight and reward exceptional students who have achieved a perfect 10 grade average throughout their undergraduate studies, by awarding them "Magna Cum Laude" diplomas during the Graduation Ceremony. This year, three such diplomas were awarded "in appreciation of remarkable academic results, dedication, and consistency in achieving performance standards in educational activities throughout the entire undergraduate study period, materialized in an overall grade average of 10," to graduates Sonia Anamaria Tuculia, from the Faculty of Automation and Computers, Computers and Information Technology specialization, Karla Elisabeth Lovasz, from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Robotics specialization, and Andreas Marko Farkas, from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering specialization.

Pavel Bartoș encouraged the graduates to follow their dreams, not to fear mistakes but to learn from them, to cherish every moment, to trust themselves, and to be happy in life.

The impressive fireworks that followed crowned the student period, and the performance of the band Zdob și Zdub had everyone on their feet, ending an electrifying ending to a memorable graduation ceremony.