On 1 September, Dmitry Endovitsky, Rector of VSU, gave a welcoming speech for the first year students. The public lecture took place in the auditorium of the main building.
Dmitry Endovitsky greeted the first year students and congratulated them on their admission to one of the best universities in the country. The rector also addressed the students’ parents, who were also emotionally involved at this tough time. The head of the university told the students about the important postulates of the VSU charter which govern students’ behaviour within and outside the university.
The rector spoke about the peculiarities and prospects of students’ life. He urged students to make useful contacts and feel free to meet students from other specialisations and faculties. Dmitry Endovitsky spoke about the opportunities for recreation which the university offers to its students: trips to St. Petersburg, Krasnaya Polyana, Crimea, and other cities and their participation in the Students’ Spring and First Year Student festivals. All this creates a wonderful atmosphere since students’ days is a wonderful time when you are young and one remembers it forever and often considers one of the best periods in life. However, the rector urged students to concentrate on obtaining knowledge and experience and to balance different aspects of the university life.
The rector also outlined employment prospects for future graduates. He mentioned the companies with which the university cooperates and which are already looking forward to employing bright and talented graduates. Many organisations have laboratories within the university where students can train their skills. The university's partners include Sberbank, Severstal, Novolipetsk Steel, and Rosatom.
The rector told the audience about the long-term history of the university: its buildings, the Galichya Gora nature reserve and VSU Botanical Garden whose employees delivered flowers for the holiday, which were laid at the commemorative plaque dedicated to the founders of the university.
The head of the university also mentioned that a new apartment-type dormitory is to be built on Friedrich Engels street. The new building will accommodate 700 people.
“You, your family, and children will return to the university. Some of you will become a PhD or a DSc student, others will return to get a second degree. One day, you will understand that it's time to return to the native harbour. University is your alma mater, the ties with which will never be broken,” said Dmitry Endovitsky.
In conclusion, the rector reminded the first-year students of the main motto of VSU: semper in motu (always in motion) and urged them to never stop.
