Dear colleagues and students,
Have you ever asked yourself what the point of studying at university is? I admit, I did not bother as a student; but now - 30 years after - I feel it as a bit of a shame. As the Rector of University, I often think about it and discuss it with my colleagues. I am sure that if I had considered it in my student days, it would have helped me compare and make decisions. But at least now I appreciate how important it is to ask seemingly simple questions: Why am I doing this? What do I want from this? What is it good for? Is that right?
These questions are tricky, since there is no single/correct answer or solution once and for all. Besides, more important than the response is the discussion such questions challenge, since it is the discussion that makes us know each other better, make friends and teams. It is especially important for university to form a community of close people who want to understand each other.
Therefore, let me invite you to write me any time if you find an answer to that simple question. I am very serious about it and I will appreciate it very much.
And what would be my response today? The point of studying at university, university of technology in particular, dwells in the joy of discovering the world, in understanding how things work. You just must enjoy it. It involves perseverance and the ability to concentrate, and definitely also friendships and discussions, including important exchange of opinions within the community.
You may recognise it: you are facing a problem that looks like a knot which cannot be untangled - but you get on with it because you simply must. Student life is precious because you have enough time for it. There is also time for awake nights and gradual discovery of your hidden abilities. It takes some time and it is annoying sometimes, because the problem poses resistance, but you do not lose patience and curiosity, especially if there is a friend, fellow-student, or teacher at hand to help you. And gradually, step by step, you make it. The feeling of having mastered a "tricky" problem is unique. In my opinion, this is what study is about, this is what makes sense, and this is the nature of science. It means working on yourself, expressing how you see matters and knowing what you expect from them.
Dear friends, may your days and awake nights during the study be full of discovery and full of life.
Yours,
Prof. Ing. Miroslav Fikar, DrSc., Rector
P.S. I look forward to your responses to: rektor@stuba.sk