Today, October 1, the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) hosted a commemorative scientific and technical conference marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Energy Construction (FES).
Students, staff, veterans, and alumni from various years gathered to celebrate this significant milestone. Ksenia Yakushenko, BNTU Vice-Rector for Research, along with representatives from various ministries, government agencies, and partner enterprises, paid their respects to the faculty.
"Today is a special day, for it was forty years ago—on October 1, 1986—that our faculty was officially established. We have gathered here to look back on the path we have traveled, pay tribute to those who laid the foundation, and look toward the future of our school of engineering. In reality, the faculty's history runs much deeper—dating back to 1920 and the very founding of the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute," said Dmitry Livansky, Dean of FES, addressing the audience.
The faculty head added that the warmth in people's homes, clean water, and reliable urban energy supplies are today largely ensured by the work of this faculty's graduates.
The event featured many warm words, a review of four decades of work, and the outlining of new directions for future development. Representatives from industrial organizations highlighted the high level of specialist training, while former deans fondly shared memories of the faculty's formative years. In addition, FES alumni and veterans expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the faculty for providing them with a solid professional foundation.
Ksenia Yakushenko addressed the audience on behalf of the BNTU administration. She highlighted the faculty's significance to the university as a whole:
"I would like to note that the Faculty of Energy Construction plays a vital role in the university's structure. This school of engineering trains professionals for the energy, water management, and construction sectors. A huge thank you to the staff for their years of dedicated work, for preserving unique expertise, and for passing it on to the next generation. Your achievements represent not only educational success but also a tremendous contribution to the scientific and technical development of the entire republic."
A highlight of the conference was the awards ceremony, where Ksenia Yakushenko congratulated Dmitry Livansky and presented him with a BNTU Certificate of Honor. The faculty head received this prestigious award in recognition of his many years of conscientious service, excellence in his work, and the high-quality training of engineering professionals for the Republic of Belarus.
Following the productive conference sessions, the program continued in the assembly hall. There, the BNTU Department of Cultural Affairs had prepared a grand celebratory concert for the guests, titled "40 Years Together: Preserving Traditions, Living in the Present, Building the Future."
Any major anniversary is defined, first and foremost, by the people behind the notable successes; for this reason, the celebratory program began by honoring the evening's key figures—the faculty's teaching staff and employees. Ksenia Yakushenko presented BNTU Certificates of Honor to Vladimir Romanyuk (Professor, Department of Heat and Gas Supply and Ventilation), Galina Savchuk (Associate Professor, Department of Physics), Olga Kobyak (Deputy Dean for Ideological and Educational Work), Natalia Khrustova (Leading Specialist, Dean's Office), and Svetlana Komova (Specialist, Dean's Office). In addition, the university and faculty leadership presented certificates of merit and letters of appreciation to a number of faculty and staff members in recognition of their significant personal contributions to science and education. Special awards were also presented to members of the student leadership team, who work tirelessly every day to help the faculty grow and move forward.
Vibrant artistic performances created a festive atmosphere in the hall, with the audience enjoying acts by vocalists and dance troupes. The most touching moment of the concert was the presentation of a special "Book of Wishes." Throughout the anniversary celebration, attendees wrote messages of gratitude and hope for the future in the book, which was then ceremoniously handed to the dean as a message for future generations of students.
Forty years represents a time of full maturity, yet it is far from the limit of potential growth. This day offered the faculty a wonderful opportunity to look back with pride at the scale of their achievements and to look boldly toward the future. We wish the FES team new, ambitious projects, boundless energy to bring them to life, and talented students who will carry on the proud engineering traditions of BNTU!
