The anniversary reunion, organized in Aula Magna of Babeş-Bolyai University (BBU), gathered representatives of the leadership of BBU, universitaries, students, graduates and journalists. The ceremony was opened and moderated by prof. univ.dr. Sanda Tomescu Baciu, the initiator and coordinator of the Norwegian Language and Literature Lectorate in Cluj-Napoca. In his speech, prof. univ.dr. Toader Nicoară, Prorector of International Relations, focused on the important place held by the Lectorate both at national and European level.
H. E. Ambasador Øystein Hovdkinn expressed his pleasure of meeting again the leaders of BBU especially that 2011 is the year of a triple anniversary: 20 years since the creation of the Norwegian Lectorate (1991), 10 years since the creation of the Scandinavic Department (2001) having the Norwegian Lectorate at its heart and also 20 years since the reopening of the Norwegian Embassy in Bucharest. His Excellency underlined the remarkable achievements of the Lectorate and in connection to this, he expressed his gratitude to the leadership of BBU and especially to prof. dr. Sanda Tomescu Baciu for her extraordinary pedagogical, scientific and managerial performances. “It is just inspiring to see how much can be done with the perseverance and strive like that proven by prof. dr. Sanda Tomescu Baciu! In my opinion prof. Sanda Tomescu Baciu is a true ambassador for Norwegian culture in Romania.”
Other speakers at the anniversary reunion were prof. univ.dr. Ioana Both, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Ms. Irina Petraş, president of the Cluj Branch of the Romanian Writers Union and also Ms. Alexandra Columban, student of the first promotion, graduating in June 2011with main specialization at level of licence Norwegian Language and Literature. Towards the end, Norwegian prof. Thor Henrik Svevad from Carol University in Prague, wished to express his admiration and to congratulate prof. Sanda Tomescu Baciu for such successful promotion of Norwegian culture in Romania.
The anniversary reunion was followed by the vernisage of the photo exhibition Polar Light. A Trip in the Mountains from North of Norway. The photos were taken by Vladimir Donkov, an outdoor photographer with a passion for shooting wild areas. Most of the shots were taken on the Lofoten Islands. The exhibition can still be admired in the hall of the University, until the 17th of May, the National Day of Norway.
The series of manifestations occasioned by the 20th anniversary of Norwegian studies in Cluj ended with the premiere of Elling, a theatre play directed by Vlad Massaci, on the scene of „Lucian Blaga” National Theatre in Cluj- Napoca. In the opening speech, H. E. Ambasador Øystein Hovdkinn thanked the actors and the technical team from the Comedy Theare in Bucharest, the owner of the play, for their effort in bringing this play to Cluj.
Links to articles from newspapers
http://www.nineoclock.ro/two-decades-of-norwegian-studies-in-cluj/
http://www.ziarulfaclia.ro/Eveniment-aniversar-la-Universitatea-8222-Babe%C5%9F-Bolyai-8221-20-DE-ANI-DE-STUDII-NORVEGIENE+53331
http://www.ziarulfaclia.ro/Gratulerer-med-dagen-STUDIILE-NORVEGIENE-la-20-de-ani+53504
http://www.observatorcultural.ro/20-de-ani-de-studii-norvegiene-la-Universitatea-Babes-Bolyai*eventID_1958-agenda.html