Prof. Univ. Dr. Aurel Ardelean

Our university was born from the ideas of Vasile Goldiș, who dreamed of a university for all young people from Transylvania and Banat, one that would give them the opportunity to fulfill their destiny.

A good school, as Vasile Goldiș — the spiritual patron of our university — stated, is one that builds character, spreads morality, and plants ideals, while “the Romanian university is, for us, the higher synthesis of our cultural aspirations.”

Faithful to this belief expressed by Vasile Goldiș, the founding rector of “Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, Professor Aurel Ardelean, PhD, fought with ambition and determination throughout his entire life to promote quality higher education. He created a Transylvanian university from nothing, placing on its frontispiece the name of our great statesman, Vasile Goldiș. He fought, until his final breath, for the university he created to prosper, grow, develop, and become a landmark. He continually found himself on this difficult path and kept moving forward. He worked for an open, cosmopolitan university, a welcoming home for those who discover it.

Founding Rector of “Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, and later President of the university — this is how the people of Arad know Professor Aurel Ardelean, though he was certainly much more than that.

Professor Ardelean was a true “Man of the City,” a responsible citizen and a model for his fellow citizens, sometimes understood by them, perhaps other times not. If Arad is recognized today as the city of the Great Union — the Political Capital of the Great Union — this is also due to Professor Ardelean, who, together with other intellectuals from Arad, laid the foundations of the university in Arad that took the name of VASILE GOLDIȘ — the Arad political figure who proclaimed the Great Union at Alba Iulia.

Professor Aurel Ardelean will always be present here, alongside us, and “VASILE GOLDIȘ” Western University, founded at his initiative, will stand as testimony to his presence. He was a teacher by vocation, a persevering scientist, and he became involved in politics because he was convinced that political leaders must be made aware of the true values of society. One may wonder how he managed to accomplish so many things. He was in his office very early in the morning and left the office, the university, the faculty, or the research center very late at night. He did not spare himself, nor did he spare those around him. It was very difficult to adapt to Professor Aurel Ardelean’s pace of life.

Let us not forget his family. He was a family man, trying to bring its members together around him. He was the “soul” of the FAMILY, and it was his family that gave him the strength to start again — every day — with every initiative, idea, and project.