CONFERENCE
The ceremonial event took place at the UL Small Hall. Speeches were held by Andris Kangro, UL Study Pro-rector, Dorota Janiszewska-Jakubiak, representative of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Bronislaw Komorowski, President of Poland, as well as by Arkady Janicki and Michal Laszczkowski, the Polish authors of "Polentechnikum" bilingual edition.
Bronislaw Komorowski, whose grandfather once studied in the RP, pointed out in his speech that the UL has been an educational institution for both Latvian and Polish political elites. Referring to the opening ceremony of the UL student punishment cell and emphasizing the invaluable role of independence for each country, the President said: "It is important to acquire not only knowledge and skills to explore the world, but also the ability to have fun and not to be controlled!"
After the event in the Small Hall, the opening ceremony of the renovated student punishment cell was held; there the Polish President hoped to find inscriptions left behind by any of his eight family representatives who studied at the RP between the late 19th and the early 20th century. It would be very much in line with the traditions of his family, since the President, whilst in prison during the times of the People's Republic of Poland, left several inscriptions on his prison walls.
After the official part, the bilingual, Polish and Latvian edition of "Polentechnikum" was presented, and "The Punishment Cell in Riga. Living Heritage" documentary was shown. This film is the story of the punishment cell, isolation place for unruly students, creation in 1875.
Historical background
The RP was founded in 1862 and was the first technical higher education institution in the Russian Empire. It prepared agronomists, chemists, engineers, mechanics, architects and merchants. Among RP’s Polish graduates are well-known personalities, such as Ignacy Moscicki, world famous chemist and president of Poland, General Wladyslaw Anders, and others.
Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
, representatives of the Polish Embassy and Polish delegation to Latvia, headed by Bronislaw Komorowski, President of Poland, visited the University of Latvia (UL) on November 23.){kind=link}