UPT Centenary Anniversary, for now only with the family

UPT Centenary Anniversary

Given that the pandemic has led to postponing the official celebration of the Centenary of Politehnica University Timisoara, the management of the institution decided, however, to mark November 11, 2020, when 100 years have passed since the signing by King Ferdinand, of the Decree establishing the Polytechnic School in Timisoara, through an online event in an intimate setting, with all the university staff: teachers, students, administrative staff.

The celebration began with the launch of the Centennial academic anthem, composed by a friend of Politehnica, Horia Crișovan. The actual opening was made by the rector of Politehnica University Timișoara, associate professor engineer Florin Dragan, Ph.D., who mentioned the steps and efforts made by the forerunners for the establishment of the first higher education institution in Timisoara and Western Romania. He also underlined the decisive role that Politehnica played in the construction of today's Timișoara University Center, by supporting the establishment of other higher education institutions in our city. Last but not least, the rector spoke about the current challenges, about the future, about Politehnica of the new century, emphasizing that we are stepping on a path in which the dynamics of change is completely different, in which we look back with gratitude to the forerunners whose performance brought The Timișoara Polytechnic among the perennial institutional values ​​of Romania, we do not forget that we were pioneers in a series of fields, throughout history, we will be from now on, with all the challenges of today, because Politehnica must carry forward the banner of excellence, innovation, and performance, both in the educational process and in research. Even if, in the current context, it is not easy, the ambitions regarding the evolution of Politehnica remain unchanged, namely to consolidate this academic edifice that was the foundation of the modern construction of Timisoara, to redefine the involvement of the academic community in the life of the Citadel, of the guiding role for so many generations of students, by opening their horizon to the challenges of the future.

Anniversary messages were also sent by prof. eng. Radu Vasiu, Ph.D., president of the Senate of Politehnica University Timișoara, acad. Dan Dubină, the president of the Timiș branch of the Romanian Academy and, at the same time, a teacher of UPT, and Alexandru Iliescu, a student representative in the Board of Directors of UPT.

The 10 faculties sent messages from the deans - prof. architect Ioan Andreescu, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Architecture and City Planning, prof. eng. Marius Marcu, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Automation and Computers, associate professor eng. Mihai Medeleanu, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, prof. eng. Raul Zaharia, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, prof. eng. Dan Lascu, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies, associate professor eng. Ciprian Șorândaru, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Power Engineering, associate professor eng. Gelu Ovidiu Tirian, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Engineering in Hunedoara, prof. economist Marian Mocan, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Management in Production and Transport, associate professor eng. Virgil Stoica, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, prof. Daniel Dejica-Carțiș, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences - but also from the student organizations - Asociația de la 4, Liga AC, Liga Studenților Chimiști din Timișoara, Liga OSTL, Liga Studenților din Facultatea de Electronică și Telecomunicaţii, Liga Studenților din Facultatea de Electrotehnică şi Electroenergetică, Liga Studenților - Facultatea de Inginerie din Hunedoara, Liga Studenților din Facultatea de Management în Producţie şi Transporturi, Liga Studenților din Facultatea de Mecanică, Liga FSC.

The online event ended, like any anniversary, with the traditional cake and raising a glass of champagne.

The entire event can be viewed on the Facebook page of Politehnica University Timisoara (https://www.facebook.com/UPTimisoara/) or here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPzpytAIbE8.

The time capsule

A soul moment was when the former rectors of the university transmitted their messages for the academic community: prof. eng. Marin Rădoi, Ph.D., (rector during 1957-1962), prof. eng. Coleta de Sabata, Ph.D., (rector during 1981-1989), prof. eng. Radu Vlădea, Ph.D., (rector during 1990-1992), prof. eng. Ioan-Gheorghe Carțiș, Ph.D., (rector during 1996-2004), prof. eng. Nicolae Robu, Ph.D., (rector during 2004-2012), prof. eng. Viorel-Aurel Șerban, Ph.D., (rector during 2012-2020). They also sent written messages, which were sealed and placed in a time capsule to be opened 50 years ago, on November 11, 2070, to give the descendants a taste of the challenges and achievements from the period when they led the destinies of the Timișoara Polytechnic. A short video about this moment can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMeeqpc-Y18.

Monographs Collection

Rector of UPT Florin Dragan, Ph.D., thanked the representatives of Politehnica Publishing House for the work done in order to edit the scientific monographs dedicated to the Centenary, a project that promotes the publication of landmark works in the technical-scientific field. These were included in the Monographs collection, and the first four volumes were presented during the anniversary, an official launch of which will take place next year when the epidemiological situation allows it. The first works are “Electric Machines”, academic author Ioan Boldea, “Electric Drives”, under the coordination of professor Sorin Mușuroi, vice-rector of UPT, “100 Scientific Books in Highlight”, of professor Daniel Dejica-Carțiș, and "Teachers' Trilogy", signed by Professor Sabin Ionel.

BNR silver coin dedicated to the UPT Centenary

Despite the pandemic, which blocked most numismatic issues this year, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) decided to include in the numismatic program for 2020 a numismatic issue dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of Politehnica University Timisoara - a silver currency -, thus proving the appreciation enjoyed by the university and the role it played in Timisoara becoming Civitas Academica, which led, over time, to the development of not only the city but the entire region.

The silver coin, launched by the BNR a few days ago, looks like a birthday present, 3.7 mm in diameter, and weighs about 31 grams (one ounce). The obverse of the coin displays the portrait of King Ferdinand I, a quote from him: "It is not the walls that make a school, but the spirit that reigns in it", the inscription "ROMANIA" in a circular arc, the year of issue "2020", the face value "10 LEI" and the Romanian coat of arms. The reverse of the coin shows the image of the building of the first pavilion of the Polytechnic School in Timișoara, inaugurated in the presence of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria and the inscriptions "UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA TIMISOARA" and "100 YEARS".

The silver coins, packed in transparent methacrylate capsules, are accompanied by certificates of authenticity with the signatures of the BNR governor and the central cashier, written in Romanian, English, and French.

Video images from the presentation of the anniversary coin can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEEW_kuU1xM.

RockIng anniversary concert

For Politehnica University Timișoara, the day of November 11, 2020 ended with a concert by a unique band, which brought to our screens famous hits, which we remember nostalgically, but also a new song, "100 years", created especially for this occasion.

To celebrate the Centenary of Politehnica University Timișoara, a series of renowned musicians from bands that have made history, all UPT graduates, came together to form a super-band - RockIng.

The project, coordinated by music director Bogdan Puriș, also a graduate of UPT, involved the preparation and on-stage performance of 15 famous hits of the groups in which the band members sang (Mugur de fluier, Vremuri, Ploaia, Brigadierii, Doi pași, Doina, Spre stele, Pasărea ”P”, Timișoara, Un sfârșit e un început, Dacă vrei, Iarbă prin păr, Vara la țară, Pisica neagră, Andrii Popa), plus a new song, “100 de ani" (100 years), dedicated to the UPT Centenary. The lyrics of the new song are composed by another graduate of the Timisoara Polytechnic, poet and writer Robert Șerban. The video for this song was made by Ovidiu Novac, also a graduate of UPT, as well as the sound engineer, Uțu Pascu.

The RockIng band consists of Mircea Baniciu - voice, guitar (Phoenix, Pasărea Colibri, Pasărea Rock); Călin Pop - voice, guitar (Celelalte Cuvinte); Tiberiu Bako - bass (Cargo, Pro Musica); Teodor Pop - keyboards (Jazzybit); Valentin Potra - battery (Abra, Blazzaj, Impact, Arca), Octavian Horvath (Implant Pentru Refuz).

The concert given by the RockIng band at the Centenary of Politehnica University Timișoara can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbHoySVDAkE&fbclid=IwAR2nx36c-yilRdvOh6B9vf5JbXkjJg09.