TBU Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary by Opening the Renovated Assembly Hall
14. April 2022Tomas Bata University in Zlín celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment on 13 April 2022. To mark this occasion, a festive gathering of the academic community was held in the renovated TBU Assembly Hall. The festivities could not take place last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 400 guests including students, employees and other significant figures, such as Rectors of Czech higher education institutions, representatives of the Czech Academy of Sciences, partner companies and public institutions attended the ceremony.
“I am very happy to meet you all after such a long time, especially in such beautiful renovated premises,” said Professor Vladimír Sedlařík, Rector of TBU in Zlín. “I would like to point out that despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic and the current crisis in Ukraine, we are making an effort to stick to our original vision – be an internationally acclaimed educational institution, and we are constantly working on it,” he commented.
The ceremony was attended also by Professor Eva Jiřičná, renowned architect and Zlín native, who personally participated in the renovation project of the Assembly Hall, and is the author of the architectural study.
“The most important thing is that the people who will be seated here and listening to a speaker or a performance feel good. I think we have managed to create a very pleasant and representative environment; after all, very important moments in the lives of students and their families take place here during graduation ceremonies,” said architect Eva Jiřičná.
The original Assembly Hall, which is nearly thirty years old, has been transformed into an attractive and modern facility. It has undergone a complete renovation from the roof to the basement. It has been equipped with new seats, state-of-the-art audio technology, newly rebuilt lobby and sanitary facilities.
“The renovation works began in 2021. The renovation costs totalled almost CZK 90 million. The costs were covered from the TBU’s own resources,” commented Alexander Černý, Bursar of TBU.
The Rector of TBU has also conferred awards on significant figures who have contributed to the development of the University over the past twenty years. Among them was Professor Petr Sáha, Rector Emeritus of TBU, who was highly instrumental in the establishment of the University twenty years ago.