The event was organized on the square at 22 Aguonų Street in the city centre of Vilnius, where the new headquarter of the Branch of the University of Bialystok in Vilnius, the Faculty of Economics and Computer Science, will be built. It will be a four-storey building with an underground car park, with an area of over 3 100 square metres. The foundation act was drawn up in two languages: Polish and Lithuanian.
– I am very happy that after so many years we will have a new building – said dr hab. Jerzy Halicki, university professor, Director of the Branch of the University of Bialystok in Vilnius.
Professor Izabela Święcicka, Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation; dr hab. Jarosław Matwiejuk, university professor, Vice-Rector for Development; and Tomasz Zalewski, Chancellor of the University of Bialystok represented the University of Bialystok.
Przemysław Czarnek, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Poland; Gintautas Jakštas, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania; Irmina Szmalec, Consul, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Vilnius; Wojciech Stankiewicz, President of the Association of Polish Scientists of Lithuania; representatives of the European Parliament; members of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania; and local government authorities in Vilnius took part in the ceremony. Also students and workers of the Branch of the University of Bialystok in Vilnius were present.
– We have talked about building the Branch of the University of Bialystok in Vilnius for a long time. Some problems and difficulties caused that this investment was slightly delayed, but now we are here to lay the foundation act. The construction site gives great hope that the building will be erected here shortly – said Przemysław Czarnek.
Minister also reminded that the investment will cost approximately PLN 35 million, of which nearly PLN 30 million will be subsidized from the Ministry of Education and Science budget.
– The University of Bialystok as the only university in Poland has its branch abroad, here in Vilnius, what has a particular importance for the Polish people living in Lithuania. This is why, we are building the branch office in order to educate young Polish people in Lithuania, also in the scope of education – underlined the Minister of Education and Science.
During the speech, Przemysław Czarnek congratulated the authorities of the University of Bialystok and thanked the Lithuanian Ministry for the cooperation – I am convinced that this is a very momentous event in Polish-Lithuanian relations in terms of education and science – said Przemysław Czarnek.
– Lithuania and Poland cooperate in many scopes and one of them is higher education. Education is the highest priority of the Lithuanian Government. Therefore, we are glad that the University of Bialystok invests in education in Lithuania – added Gintautas Jakštas, Deputy Minister.
Also, Professor Izabela Święcicka talked about the importance of cooperation between Poland and Lithuania.
– The Faculty of Economics and Computer Science, the Branch of the University of Bialystok in Vilnius was established in 2007 and it is a very good example of an excellent cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Poland. Since the very beginning our students work in a friendly atmosphere. They can count on scientists and lecturers and pursue their scientific dreams. The students are deeply rooted in Lithuania and frequently they want to associate their future with Vilnius – underlined Professor Izabela Święcicka.
She also reminded that during 15 years of the Faculty existence, over 800 students have graduated the University. Those young people are well prepared to requirements of the contemporary labour market and they constitute a pillar of cooperation between Lithuania and Poland.
– Today is a very special day for the Branch of the University and for the whole community of the University of Bialystok. The construction of the new headquarters officially begins. It will be a modern building with innovative solutions. I am convinced that building the headquarters will provide the basis for extending educational offer, improve working conditions for the Branch's employees and create even better conditions for studying – said Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation.
Construction works are expected to be completed in the second half of 2024.
The plot of land has belonged to the University of Bialystok since 2008. Universitas Studiorum Polona Vilnensis, the organisation supporting the development of Polish education in Lithuania, gave it to the University. The plot of land has been used in a form of tenancy for life. The University of Bialystok acquired the premises (almost 1 400 square metres) from the Treasury in July 2022. However, the building, which was located at 22 Aguonų Street, was not suitable to use. Therefore, the authorities of the University of Bialystok decided to build a new facilty at this location, which will be adapted to students’ educational needs and to conduct research. The tender for the investment was settled in September 2021. The estimated cost of the investment is nearly EUR 9 million.
The Faculty of Economics and Computer Science in Vilnius was the first foreign faculty established by the Polish university. It was also the first branch of a foreign university in Lithuania. The faculty is constantly developing. For the first years of its existence, it was possible to study at two fields of study: Economics and Computer Science. The Faculty has offered the second cycle degree in Economics since 2014/2015 academic year. The next step in the development of the Faculty was to establish another field of study on the first cycle degree in European Studies. The studies are conducted in the Polish language and most of the students are Lithuanian citizens with Polish roots. Overall, more than 840 graduates have left the walls of the Branch so far.
This year the Branch of the University of Bialystok in Vilnius celebrated 15 years of its activity. On this occasion the jubilee conference took place on 19-20 September 2022 in the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius.
