The Faculty of Electrical Engineering celebrated its 80th anniversary
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering celebrated its 80th anniversary at Education and Congress Centre of the Silesian University of Technology with the participation of the authorities of the University and the Faculty, students, scientists, and graduates, as well as friendly companies and institutions. The ceremony was combined with the Faculty inauguration of the new academic year.
The ceremony was attended by the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology Prof. Marek Pawełczyk and the faculty authorities:
- Dean of the Faculty - Prof. Marian Kampik.
- Vice-Dean for Infrastructure and Organization Dr Eng. Marcin Szczygieł.
- Vice-Dean for Student Affairs and Education Dr Eng. Rafał Setlak
- Vice-Dean for Science and Cooperation Dr Hab. Eng. Erwin Maciak, Prof. of the Silesian University of Technology.
The guests were welcomed by the Dean Prof. Marian Kampik and Vice-Dean for Infrastructure and Organization Dr Eng. Marcin Szczygieł.
- Today’s anniversary is not just an opportunity to go back to the past. It is also a great commitment and responsibility toward those who created this Faculty, built science and industry not only in Silesia, but also throughout Poland - said the Vice-Dean Marcin Szczygieł.
– It is also an opportunity to talk about what is ahead of us, what challenges await us and how to meet them. We look at and adapt to what is happening on the market, what are the requirements of modern electrics, electrical engineering, and power engineering - added Dr. Eng. Marcin Szczygieł.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering was one of four faculties that in 1945 formed the Silesian University of Technology. The history, but also the present day of the Faculty, was presented by the Dean Prof. Marian Kampik.
- The Faculty of Electrical Engineering consisted of 12 departments, in which 45 academic teachers taught. The study program was based on the program of Lviv Polytechnic. Pre-war professors and assistant professors came to Gliwice from this university to start their studies at the newly established Faculty. Among the first professors were distinguished specialists in the fields of electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, such as Prof. Stanisław Fryze (from the Department oof Foundations of Electrical Engineering ), Prof. Zygmunt Gogolewski (Department of Electrical Equipment) and Prof. Edward Niwiński (from the Department of Electrical Measurement) – said the Dean.
From the beginning of its existence, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering took care of the practical training of future engineers.
- Today we are also conducting intensive cooperation with many companies from the electrical engineering industry and related fields, both in the field of student internships and engineering works, which are solutions to real research problems of a given company. Modern laboratories help our students to learn about devices present on the domestic and foreign markets – said Prof. Marian Kampik.
After the Dean’s speech, the distinctions of “Distinguished for the Faculty of Electrical Engineering” were presented in the form of the “Amper” statuette. The award honours people who have contributed in a special way to the development of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
This year the distinctions were awarded to:
- Rector of the Silesian University of Technology Professor Marek Pawełczyk for supporting the research activities and professional development of scientists at the Faculty.
- Professor Tadeusz Skubis for the development of the Gliwice School of Metrology and the education of many generations of scientists.
- Jarosław Kaźmierczak President of “Amister” and Artur Sarosiek President of “Energy Solution” for the entire industrial cooperation with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
- This award is a great honour for me and an appreciation of my cooperation with the Faculty – said the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, receiving the award.
– The Faculty of Electrical Engineering was one of the four faculties forming the Silesian University of Technology. It also gave rise to the faculty I graduated from and with which I am associated, that is, the Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science. Many of our professors came from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering - said Prof. Marek Pawełczyk.
The awards and diplomas “VOLT” were awarded to industrial partners, who have recently demonstrated effective cooperation with the Faculty. During the ceremony, the title of Honorary Professor of the Silesian University of Technology was also awarded. This title was given to Prof. Tadeusz Skubis, a long-time scientist and lecturer.
- I have been associated with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering for 61 years I started my studies in 1964, it was the nineteenth inauguration of the academic year at the Silesian University of Technology, then still a young University. In 1970, I received a degree of a Master of Electrical Engineering, then a doctorate, this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of obtaining a doctoral degree. Then came habilitation and next the title of professor. I spent my entire professional life at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Today, I believe that I am a fulfilled person, both professionally, scientifically and in my family – said Professor Skubis.
The professor also referred to the history and connection of our University and Faculty of Electrical Engineering with the Lviv Polytechnic.
- Gliwice was lucky that many professors of the Lviv Polytechnic remained here, creating this University. One of them was Prof Stanisław Fryze, a visionary, a scientist, an academic teacher – he said.
Prof. Skubis also recalled the words of Professor Fryze, who once referred to his students, saying: “You guys don’t know that yet, but I’m telling you that in the future electricity will be everywhere, even in your pocket.”
Prof. Fryze spoke these words when electricity was already entering homes, and no one had ever heard of cell phones. At the time, these words seemed abstract, but today they are obvious to us, after all, everyone has a mobile phone. So, this is the fulfilment of one of the many visions of Professor Fryze – noted Prof Tadeusz Skubis
After awarding the title of Honorary Professor, the first-year students were sworn in. The President of the Student Self-Government of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bartłomiej Grzyśka, addressed his younger colleagues.
- I wish you to study for yourselves, so that you can find your passions here, develop them, and in the future you can use all the skills you will acquire at our Faculty – said the chairman, who then presented the Golden Chalk award to distinguished lecturers. The award was granted to:
- Dr Hab. Eng. Łukasz Majka, Prof. SUT
- Dr Eng. Piotr Kałużyński.
The inaugural lecture entitled “Dilemmas of Power Engineering” was delivered by Dr Eng. Marcin Fica from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and President of the Gliwice Branch of the Association of Polish Electrical Engineers.
The 80th anniversary and the inauguration of the academic year at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering ended with a concert of the Orchestra of the Silesian University of Technology.
Photo by Jan Szady
