On Wednesday, the traditional Christmas gathering took place at WSEI University in a warm, cordial and festive atmosphere. There were summaries, wishes, sharing of Christmas wafer and reflections on the passing of time.
- The Christmas season and our annual meeting are a good time to reflect on what we have experienced over the past year. It is an opportunity to exchange wishes, but also to highlight our achievements. The year 2025 was a very intense year for our University – a Jubilee Year full of challenges, but also many achievements – began the ceremony Teresa Bogacka, President of the of WSEI University, Dr h.c. - These are 25 years of hard work, the results of which we can be proud of and continue to pursue our goals, develop our educational offer, and strengthen our position as an important centre of science and education in the region and throughout Poland. I would like to sincerely thank the entire academic community for their effort, professionalism and responsibility. I would also like to thank all our friends and guests for their commitment, which helps to build a sense of community and a good atmosphere at our University
She conveyed her Christmas wishes to everyone gathered: - I wish you much joy, peace, new hopes, the warmth of family gatherings and respite from your everyday worries and responsibilities. I wish you all that the magic of Christmas will stay with us throughout 2026.
Rector of the WSEI University, Prof. Marek Opielak, Dr h.c. referred to how quickly the year had passed: - Despite being on the move and undertaking various activities, I am unable to say when this year passed. And it was a very festive year – many people learned about our achievements, opportunities and plans for the future thanks to the fact that we celebrated our 25th anniversary. We awarded two honorary doctorates – to Prof. Leszek Balcerowicz and President Teresa Bogacka, and an honorary professorship to Prof. Maria Ryś – which testifies to the academic nature of our University - said the Rector. Twenty-five years ago, 386 students began their studies at our University, and today there are nearly 12,000. This is a huge increase, which has made us the second largest university in Lublin today. I would like to emphasise that without the commitment of our staff, it would be difficult for us to celebrate this anniversary. I would like to thank them for that and wish everyone a festive season spent in a homely atmosphere, and that our meeting next year will not feel like it was only yesterday. All the best.
Wojciech Wołoch, Deputy Governor of Lublin Province, also shared his reflections: - These holidays are like education: there is hope, there are challenges, there are expectations, we want to build something, create something, but sometimes we don't have enough strength. I wish everyone that our rebirth will be strong and real, that we will be able to share smiles and harmony, because what surrounds us is increasingly difficult to understand for people who want to live, develop and work. The world has become a threat, something that causes anxiety, so I wish us all that this coming year will be a true inspiration of peace, kindness, the ability to reconcile despite differences, the ability to shake hands. And hope - concluded the Deputy Governor.
Mariusz Banach, Deputy Mayor of Lublin, thanked our University community for ‘being Lublin’: - As a local government, we are very grateful to you, because thanks to you we live in an intellectual city - he emphasised.
He also referred to the upcoming Christmas: - We call the one who is to come by many names. There is a saying that the Prince of Peace will come, and we are eagerly awaiting him because we are tired of war abroad and within our homeland. Let us hope that this peace will indeed come, because somewhere deep down we know that we are not people of war - concluded Mayor Banach.
Prof. Józef Wróbel, SCJ, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lublin, also took part in the ceremony: - I am glad that I can be here with you once again, share the Christmas wafer, and prepare for these holidays, which signify friendship, unity, and joy- said the Bishop. - The past year has passed quickly, but the time of waiting for Jesus Christ was very long. This child in Bethlehem is the revelation of man given in the person of Jesus Christ. Man is not rubbish, cannon fodder, a slave or an object. In these difficult times, we are fighting for the dignity of man, which Jesus Christ revealed to us.
The meeting was also an opportunity to award WSEI University the title of Laureate and the Golden Emblem of Quality International 2025 in the category of ‘Highest Quality Management’. The emblem and congratulations were presented on behalf of the ‘Highest Quality Quality International’ Programme Chapter by Magdalena Tułecka from the editorial office of Forum Biznesu, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.