Rector prof. Andrzej SOBKOWIAK, DSc

   A warm and cordial welcome to all prospective students. The University has appointed me Rector for the current term of office. It will be a challenging time, as new financing regulations will result in nationwide competition for funds among universities. Nevertheless foreign students will find it very affordable to live here.

   The beginnings of the University date from 1951 and both its development and impact have ensued gradually. Presently, the University has an enrolment of 13,000 students, and is staffed by 1,400 employees – a medium-sized university by Polish standards – but undoubtedly the largest technical university in southeast Poland, an area of unspoilt beauty with many areas for hiking, skiing, cycling, mountain-biking, boating, kayaking, and even hang-gliding.

   Sixteen areas of study and over 50 specialisations are on offer among six faculties. The range of and research being done are related to the main industries in the province of Podkarpackie: heavy industry, electrotechnical, aviation, chemicals and the construction industry – a plan following the establishment of the Central Industrial Region in the 30s of 20th C. The breadth of subjects however, is continuously being tailored to keep pace with trends occurring in the Polish and world economy.

   The University is located on two campuses which together encompass a total of 33 hectares in the vicinities of Wincentego Pola St. and Poznańska St. in Rzeszów, which is experiencing the first stages of a revival in architectural aesthetics.

   The University has the honour of being the only polytechnic in the country which trains civil aviation pilots, and does so primarily at its aviation centre located on the outskirts of Rzeszów. The University has the University Gliding Centre in Bezmiechowa at its disposal, as well as biotechnological labs in Albigowa, near Łańcut. It should be mentioned that over the last 15 years, a considerable undertaking has been manifest in modernising the labs with the latest research equipment. The number of published papers and patents placed by the faculty has grown year-on-year. The esteem of the University's profile in the region has been enhanced due to its role as a Centre of Advanced Technology and its involvement in “Aeronet” – the Aviation Valley.

   The University has taken the lead in coordinating the Regional Strategy for Innovation in Podkarpackie Province 2005-2013, a plan which seeks to benefit the region's economic development.

   As a final note, in this line of work the opinion is oft suggested that only enormous academic centres with overwhelming research potential should be supported. This idea is in flat contradiction to the principle of sustainable development, an approach which many people are deeply convinced directly contributed to the rise of Western Europe. Different people from various regions should thus be supported in order to facilitate scientific progress – as it is a well-known fact that new solutions require new perspectives – in the struggle against the insidiousness of Man’s stagnation and ignorance. It is therefore crucial that we develop our exposure to a wide range of different perspectives, finance numerous research institutes and support scientists from various schools of thought. Deep integration between a significant number of institutes and among scholars ought to be ensured of and welcomed, in order that the healthy exchange of ideas and concepts may always be fostered.

   The University authorities will make every effort to realize and further those principles.

Andrzej Sobkowiak