Our University was born from the ideas of Vasile Goldiș, who dreamed of a University for all the young people of Transylvania and Banat, which would give them the possibility to fulfill their destiny.
Vasile Goldiș – the spiritual patron of our University – said that a good school is one that builds character, spreads morals and plants ideals, and that “the Romanian University is for us the superior synthesis of our cultural aspirations”.
Faithful to this credo enunciated by Vasile Goldiș, the founding rector of the “Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, Prof. Aurel Ardelean, fought with ambition and determination his entire life for the promotion of quality higher education. He created from nothing a Transylvanian university, on whose frontispiece he put the name of our great statesman Vasile Goldiș. He fought to the last breath to ensure that the University he created would prosper, grow, develop and be a landmark. On this difficult road he always found himself and continued to move forward. He has worked for an open, cosmopolitan University, a welcoming home for those who discover it.
Founding Rector of the “VASILE GOLDIȘ” Western University of Arad, and later President of the University… this is how the people of Arad know Professor Aurel Ardelean, but he is certainly much more than that. Professor Ardelean was a true “Man of the City”, he was a responsible citizen, a role model for his fellow citizens, sometimes understood by them, sometimes not… If today Arad is recognized as a city of the Great Union – THE POLITICAL CAPITAL OF THE GREAT UNION – it is due to Professor Ardelean, who together with other intellectuals of Arad laid the foundations of the University of Arad which took
the name of VASILE GOLDIȘ – the politician from Arad who proclaimed the GREAT UNION in Alba Iulia.
Professor Aurel Ardelean will always be present here, with us, and the Western University “VASILE GOLDIȘ”, founded on his initiative, will be a testimony of HIS presence… He was a teacher by vocation, a persevering scientist, he got involved in politics being convinced that politicians must be sensitive to the real values of society… you wonder how he managed to do so many things… he was in the office very early in the morning and left the office or the university/college/research centre very late at night. He didn’t spare himself or others. It was very hard to adapt to the pace of life of Professor Aurel Ardelean.
Let’s not forget the family. He was a Man of the Family, trying to gather its members around him… he was the “soul” of the FAMILY, it was the one that gave him the strength to start again – every day – every initiative, idea, project.