The oldest university in Romania celebrated on the 27th of October 150 years since its foundation. In the Mihai Eminescu Aula Magna of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University took place, starting at 10 a.m, a festive ceremony called Dies Anniversarius, at which participated over 450 guests from Romania and abroad. Among the personalities who were present at the celebration some especialy are worth mentioningHer Royal Highness, Princess Margareta of Romania, Prince Radu, His Excellency, President Ion Iliescu, His Excellency, President Emil Constantinescu, the President of the Romanian Academy, acad. Ionel Haiduc, the Mayor of Iaşi, Gheorghe Nichita and Constantin Simirad, President of the County Council.
The ceremony has been inaugurated by professor Vasile Işan, the Rector of the University, who shared a few institutional and personal „lessons” regarding the 150 years existence of the University.
Rector Vasile Işan subsequently read the Message of the Presidency of Romania: Alexandru Ioan Cuza is the most performant centre of higher education in Romania, and its efforts of becoming an European reference point deserve our appreciation, mentioned in its message President Traian Bãsescu.
The Rector’s speech was followed by Her Royal Highness Princess Margareta’s discourse, as a message on the behalf of the Royal House, highlighting that „the King and the Queen have always felt at home among the students. They were our compass and our conscience, reminding us what we have to fulfill”. Her Highness ended by pointing out that „Your triumph is the triumph of all Romanians and represents the history of the entire country reflected in the academic environment”.
His Excellency, President Emil Constantinescu emphasized the necessity of building a „cultural project, because only a profound cultural project can lay the foundation of a political project in a society based on knowledge”. In his opinion, the academic environment is the only one which can build surch a project, and „Alexandru Ioan Cuza University can be the starting point”.
About a future project reffered in His Excellency, President Ion Iliescu as well, who noticed that „without such a project our evolution is chaotic”, and the answer is to be found in education. „The foundation of Alexandru Ioan Cuza in Iaşi”, stressed out Ion Iliescu, „was a recognition act of this city’s capacity to sustain an university centre”. The former president of Romania concluded by pointing out the danger of abandoning educational activities in traditional fields which are less and less demanded, reffering expecially to science disciplines.
Reverend Ion Vicovan transmitted the message of the Metropolitan Reverend TEOFAN, Archbishop of Iaşi and Bucovina and the audience also listened to His Excellency Petru Gherghel – Bishop of Roman-Catholic Church of Iaşi.
The Mayor of Iaşi, Gheorghe Nichita asserted that the „University is the capital of Iaşi and its most priceless defining element”. The ceremony continued with the speech of the President of the County Council, who offered a medal and a diploma to Rector Vasile Işan.
After a short artistic moment, performed by Cantores Amicitiae Chorus and a brief break, the ceremony carried on with the messages of the academic community, opened by professor Klaus Dicke, Rector of the University of Jena, the oldest international partner of UAIC.
The University of Iaşi was inaugurated on the 26th of October 1860, by a princely decree. In the same day the solemn inauguration of the university took place in a joyful atmosphere which reminded, according to historians, of the voting of the Union and the election of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza. An impressive procession went through the city at that time, having as ending point the new building of the University, where the ceremony took place. 21 cannon shots announced it. The event hosted distinguished guests, such as Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Mihail Kogãlniceanu who was minister of education at that time and representants of districts (deputees). The press presented the foundation of the University of Iaşi as a national celebration, and the Ministry received several congratulation letters from the schools in the country which saluted the foundation of the new institution.
