Every summer, a new batch of graduates are welcomed to the higher education institution in the heart of Sūduva. 29 June was a memorable day for the graduates of Marijampolė Institution of Higher Education, as they were presented with their diplomas of higher education. On this day, the 21st batch of graduates graduated, and 102 diplomas were awarded (12 of them with honours). The College community welcomed the graduates of the Childhood Pedagogy, Sustainable Business Management, Business English and Communication, Social Work, Transport Logistics, Information Systems Technology and Cyber Security, Law and Public Procurement, and Accounting degree programmes, who have been studying in their respective fields, and the graduates who are looking for a career in the field of continuous studies.
The graduation ceremony started with the traditional festive procession in the city, which took place from Vytautas Park in Marijampolė to the Marijampolė Culture Centre, where the festivities took place. Graduates and their relatives, friends and members of the Institution community gathered to congratulate them. Alė Murauskienė, the Rector of Marijampolė Institution of Higher Education, together with the administration, solemnly opened the event by saying meaningful and sensitive words, continuing the thought “You are…” and thus making not only the graduates, but also all the participants reflect on who we are to ourselves and to each other, who we are today and who we will be tomorrow…
The graduates were greeted by the Rector of Mykolas Romeris University, of which Marijampolė Institution of Higher Education – Sūduva Academy will become a part from the first of October, Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė. She was glad to take part in the traditional procession and not only to experience all the festive moments together with the graduates and the whole university community, but also to admire the city of Marijampolė, which will soon become a university. “Sūduva has always been famous not only for its strong farmers, but also for its enlightened people,” said the MRU Rector. – “The plains of Suvalkija have produced a whole host of well-known educators, linguists, clergymen, statesmen and public figures who have thrown down mountains in the name of Lithuania.” Noting that MRU alumni are also successfully working in Marijampolė, she wished the graduates not to lack the Suvalkian perseverance to reach professional heights and invited them to take an active part in the creation of the Sūduva Academy.
Also, the members of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Vaida Giraitytė-Juškevičienė, Andrius Vyšniauskas, and the chaplain of the Marijampolė Institution of Higher Education Kęstutis Žemaitis also said a word of congratulations. All of them wished the graduates to be open to changes, to take advantage of the opportunities they open, to always return to their Alma Mater and to continue their university studies at MRU Suduvos Academy.
Graduate Raimonda Geležienė expressed her gratitude to the Institution of Higher Education and the lecturers on behalf of all the graduates and handed over a symbolic thank-you card to the graduates, which symbolises the transformation, greening and flowering of the nature – a deep reflection of the path taken by the Institution of Higher Education of Marijampolė in the promotion of the higher education in the region of Sūdūva.
The moments of the diploma award ceremony and the greetings were interspersed with musical sounds and songs by the chamber ensemble CANTARE of Marijampolė Culture, directed by Margarita Upit, and by the pupils of the Marijampolė School of Art, Milda and Urtė, taught by Laima Lapkauskaitė.
The 21st graduates of Marijampolė Institution of Higher Education discovered the world of higher education and its open opportunities, acquired invaluable knowledge, developed the necessary competences for their specialities, and took with them professional, life and international experience. This is why we believe that this year’s graduates of Marijampolė Institution of Higher Education will be open to new ideas and changes as they take the next steps in their professional careers.
A photo album of festive moments can be found here.
Information from Marijampole Institution of Higher Education
Photo author Indrė Difartaitė
