President Stevo Pendarovski addressed today the ceremonial opening of the 2023/2024 academic year at the International Balkan University in Skopje.
Below is the full text of President Pendarovski’s address.
Dear Students,
Respected Professors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The International Balkan University in Skopje, since its establishment in 2006, until today, 17 years in continuity, has been marking an upward trend in its development, with a constant increase in the number of faculties, research centers and study programs it offers to its students. Moreover, the engagement of a respectable number of hired teaching-scientific staff from various profiles also contributes to the level and relevance of the University within our educational system.
In my opinion, a special added value of this institution is that the lectures are delivered in several languages, which makes me deeply convinced that a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment better prepares students for the globalized world, especially in the scientific-research segment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me say a few words about the new Dental Educational Health Center, which, according to its capacities, is the largest not only in our country, but also in the entire region. First of all, I want to congratulate those who chose dentistry as the science they want to study, because it speaks of their humanity and desire to help people. It is a complex science, it requires a lot of work and efforts to penetrate all its professional secrets, but, in the end, the satisfaction is greatest when you see the faces of the people you have helped.
I am talking about this from personal experience because I have a doctor of dental sciences in the family.
Dentistry is extremely dynamic field that is constantly developing with the advancement of materials and technological procedures, and, through the opening of such a modern center, students will have the opportunity to study and apply the latest technical-technological achievements in that regard.
Dear Students,
As a person who 40 years ago passed through the student amphitheatres, I can tell you that the best years of your life are ahead of you, when you will study, but also make friends with each other. Each of you will remember for the rest of your lives the most difficult subjects, the best professors, but also all the beautiful things, of course the less beautiful ones, which only happen when you are young.
My advice is that you should not understand exams and studying only as an obligation that you should complete as quickly and easily as possible. Try to acquire as much knowledge as possible to be competitive tomorrow not only in the domestic labor market, but anywhere in Europe and the world. Your knowledge and the youthful energy and enthusiasm you have in you, are absolutely necessary for the development of our common country in the world that is becoming more and more competitive.
Respected Professors,
As someone who has been part of this profession for many years, and will be again, who comes from a family of teachers, I have the utmost respect for you and am fully aware of your critical role in the educational process. I know what it means to thoroughly prepare for classes, and then go through what is probably the most difficult part – transferring knowledge to students, helping them realize their potential and attain their visions.
However, I have never thought that it is enough to just pass knowledge on to these young people. It is very important to offer them values and a moral vertical that will be the pivot of their personal and professional integrity. It has been known since ancient times that being someone’s teacher in life is the most noble, but at the same time the most difficult task. However, I am deeply convinced that you have both capacity and motivation to help these young people to more easily achieve their goals both professionally and personally.
In conclusion, allow me to wish you all good health, happiness and success, and to students in all years, studies filled with interesting content, acquisition of new knowledge and skills that will make you better people.
I wish you a successful academic year!
Bacheloral Dilerim!
Ju uroj suksese!
Good luck!
Со среќа!
