Our newspaper already wrote that on October 2, the well-known Polish public and state figure, the founder and president of the Polish Educational Foundation "Perspektywy", the true friend of Ukraine Valdemar Sivinski was awarded a diploma "Honorary Doctor of the National Technical the university of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnical Institute named after Igor Sikorsky." According to the tradition Waldemar Sivienski read for members of the Academic Council of the University, at the meeting of which this solemn ceremony took place, nomination lecture. We print its text.
Dear Professor Zgurovsky, members of the Academic Council, ladies and gentlemen!
National technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute named after Igor Sikorsky" is an outstanding institution. The conferment of an honorary doctorate from such a famous University for me definitely has a special meaning.
For many years I was the initiator of the revitalization of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in education and science and actively worked in this direction. I am deeply moved by the fact that the academic Council of the University paid attention to my work and awarded me with a honorary title.
This ceremony could not be, if ten years ago at a conference in Berlin I met Professor Mikhail Zgurovsky. He is a wonderful person, an outstanding scientist and politician, a talented Director and head, people who should be proud of Ukraine.
It was then we came to the conclusion that the first thing to do is to restore the priority nature of relations between the two leading technical universities – the Warsaw Polytechnic and the KPI. This, in our view, should facilitate the further expansion of cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian technical universities and scientific communities of both countries in General. We wanted to make it for the future.
Mikhail Zakharovich!
To our mutual satisfaction and thanks to our efforts and, to a certain extent, a good circumstances, most of our plans were made. Polish-Ukrainian scientific cooperation is expanding, gaining momentum. Of course, we are not alone through this journey. I am grateful to everyone who has helped to bring these plans to life!
Ladies and gentlemen!
My relationship with Ukraine began over 30 years ago. It was connected with the Chernobyl disaster. Before, as a student of the faculty of electronics Warsaw University of technology, I was amazed by the limitless possibilities of science and technology. The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the a radioactive cloud that emanated from the crater of the fourth reactor, shaken my fascination for technical Sciences.
In order to overcome my concern, I visited Chernobyl as one of the few foreign journalists. Several weeks I spent living with the liquidators in the Green Cape, have traveled to many places in the "zone". As a journalist I have covered the judicial investigation in the Chernobyl case.
I mention this event in the best technical University of Ukraine this event because of the Chernobyl disaster has laid a line in the history of the development of science and technology. Came to the end of a long era "of development through a catastrophe."
Best features of this development can be illustrated by the experience of the era of great geographical discoveries. In England and Holland, his personification may be as a captain, who designed and built his ship. The bad designer drowned with his ship, and the beautiful walked by the seas and get the rich. So that was progress.
Before the disaster, little has changed in this philosophy. Poorly designed plane crashes, the best built; poorly designed buildings were destroyed, and new and better houses were built. Be paid with human lives, the process was considered natural.
Chernobyl has shown that man has created such a powerful construction and engineering systems is that their damage can lead to the destruction of all mankind. The nuclear industry and other engineering systems do not need to develop through a disaster! And it requires fundamental changes in engineering education.
There are different definitions of the engineering profession. In this case I want to refer to the English interpretation of the nineteenth century, which defines engineering as the art to control the forces of nature for the benefit of the human race. In other words, an engineer is someone who creates something with the idea that his creation would work and even be useful.
After the Chernobyl disaster we should to educate this engineer who will be responsible for the consequences of their actions and realize what works in society. There is no production for production's sake or technology for technology's sake. Great scholars were humanists, and became deeply understanding the social consequences of their activities.
So I want to express my respect to Professor Zgurovsky and the faculty of KPI named after Igor Sikorsky for the way they educate engineers for the implementation of an interdisciplinary approach and problem-based learning, training of professionals, based on innovation and learning entrepreneurial skills. Such engineers are needed in today's industry.
I am extremely impressed with the focus of KPI named after Igor Sikorsky on the concept of sustainable development. I am sure that after the Chernobyl disaster that is the only right way in education.
Dear members of the Academic Council!
The landscape of higher education in both countries is changing rapidly. In Poland only two weeks ago at the National Congress of science in Krakow was announced a new education act. I note that the speeches of all the speakers at the Congress included three aspects: internationalization, autonomy and mastery. I am sure that these words are also the key to higher education reform in Ukraine.
In this context, I want to say a few words about the ratings. It is a challenge for both our countries. I have considerable experience in this area. Over the past 25 years I have published ratings of schools and universities, and the last 10 years I am a Vice-President of the International expert group on ranking.
Ukrainian universities, as well as Polish, in international ratings underestimated. They are classified lower than they should really. To boost ratings, they lack one key component – the element of internationalization. This is especially true of the faculty. Just one example: it is known that the joint publication involving authors from different countries, on average, cited four times more often than an article which is jointly written by authors from the same country.
I am convinced that our joint efforts at internationalization will lead to concrete result in improving the position of our universities in the rankings.
Ladies and gentlemen!
I want to sincerely thank you for your attention. But before concluding, let me wish Professor Zgurovsky success and good health, because the duties he performs that requires great fortitude.
I promise to support your efforts close combination of Ukrainian science and higher education with the European education system, its standards and procedures.
Both our countries should always work to integrate Ukrainian higher education into the European system, so that no obstacles have broken these ties.
Thanks again to the Academic Council for awarding me an honorary doctorate and bringing me thus to the scientific community of KPI named after Igor Sikorsky.
Thank you for your attention!