Esteemed ecclesiastical and secular dignitaries, dear colleagues, distinguished guests, and above all, dear first-year students!
It is with great affection and respect that I welcome you to the academic year opening ceremony of the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University.
We are gathered here today to open a new chapter in the history of our institution and in your lives. However, the start of this academic year signifies far more than a mere date on the calendar; it stands as a renewed testament to our steadfastness, perseverance, and faith in the future. We stand here in times when pursuing education and acquiring knowledge in our homeland is not simply a matter of choice, but a courageous and principled stand.
Dear First-Year Students,
I extend a special welcome to you, who are now crossing the threshold of the university to become the youngest citizens of our institution. You truly make all of our efforts worthwhile. You have dared to dream big and, despite the hardships, have chosen progress and intellectual enrichment. By enrolling here, you have not merely chosen a degree program; you have committed yourselves to the future of Transcarpathia, guided by the motto of our namesake, Ferenc Rakoczi II: “Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate” — “With God for the Fatherland and Liberty.” This has always been, and remains today, our guiding principle.
Your domain and your freedom now reside in the intellectual space that you will conquer here at the university. Make the most of the years ahead of you: ask questions, conduct research, engage in debates, and forge lifelong friendships.
Esteemed Faculty and Dear Colleagues,
Once again, you are entrusted with the profound responsibility of not merely imparting knowledge, but also providing a point of stability, an intellectual sanctuary, and a vision of the future for our youth. I thank you for your dedicated work, through which you maintain the high standards of education and research even amidst ever-changing and trying circumstances. You are the guarantee that the name of the University of Rakoczi remains synonymous with quality and the sustaining power of our community.
Many of us are longing for peace, but life—neither ours nor our students’—cannot simply be postponed or rescheduled like a booked service appointment, delayed for the post-war years or for easier times. We must live our lives in the present circumstances, making the absolute most of ourselves and the situation within the bounds of our possibilities. This university has demonstrated its capacity to do exactly that. Even during a time of war, it has proven able to grow, to develop, and to stand its ground in a manner worthy of its university status, even in the midst of the fiercest historical storms. Let this remain our shared goal. This applies to those at the lectern and to the students alike—indeed, to every citizen of the university in this academic year as well.
I sincerely hope that this academic year will finally bring us all peace, and that it will grant us the strength, perseverance, creative spirit, and much success.
May God bless every citizen and supporter of the University of Rakoczi!
I hereby officially open the academic year at the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University!
