“I would like to begin by congratulating the University of Bucharest because it is a center of excellence in Romanian higher education and succeeds in adapting to the demands of society and the economic market, which are becoming increasingly dynamic,” said Nicușor Dan at the opening ceremony of the academic year, hosted by the Faculty of History at the University of Bucharest.
The president spoke about the importance of transforming Romania into a “knowledge-based society,” in which decisions are made based on scientific truths.
“I believe it is important—perhaps the key challenge of this period in our society—whether we succeed in becoming a knowledge-based society. A society in which decisions are made based on scientific truths. A society in which citizens relate to society through truths that are recognized,” said the head of state.
„Each of us must be more present where society is”
Nicușor Dan also emphasized the need for the academic community to be more present in the spaces where public debate takes place—citing social media as an example—and warned that the direction of society could be set by people “without a compass.”
“Each of us, in our respective fields, must be more present where society is. Because, obviously, if we’re in academia, the way we make progress is by attending conferences, discussing with our peers, and exchanging ideas. If we neglect to be where society is—for example, among the 9 million Romanians on TikTok—then we’ll find ourselves in two parallel realities, and a decision or the direction society takes will be influenced by people who lack historical perspective, who lack financial perspective, and I don’t think that’s good for our society,” the President of Romania added.
Addressing the students, the president recalled some advice he received from his doctoral advisor: “You don’t even realize how much time you have.”
“Make the most of these years! Knowledge is one of the greatest joys of human life, if not the greatest. This is a time you have to grow and to learn. Make the most of this time as much as you can, and good luck!” concluded Nicușor Dan.