Home Army soldier sent to a labour camp in Siberia, scientist, teacher and educator - the activities of prof. dr Eugeniusz Andrzejewski, which prof. Iwona Sagan described as ‘versatile, but above all deeply humanistic’, are difficult to summarise in a few words. The celebration of prof. Eugeniusz Andrzejewski's 100th birthday took place on January 27 at the University of Gdańsk Library.

The celebration, which is rare not only at the University of Gdańsk - the centenary birthday - was conducted by dr hab. Mariusz Czepczyński, prof. UG, Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Geography and Spatial Management and also a student of prof. dr hab. Eugeniusz Andrzejewski. The laudation was delivered by prof. dr hab. Iwona Sagan - for many years the head of the department where the Jubilarian worked.

‘He belongs to an elite group of teachers who created the foundations of secondary geographical education in the post-war period,' said prof. Iwona Sagan about prof. Eugeniusz Andrzejewski. ‘Thanks to him, the first secondary school in Gdańsk, where he worked from the late 1940s, became a methodological centre radiating to the entire region, using and promoting contemporary achievements in geography.’

Prof. Sagan emphasised the Jubilarian's merits in the field of teaching methodology, his commitment to the organisation of field classes, his contribution to the development of tourism geography ( prof. Andrzejewski was, among other things, the initiator of the creation of a didactic specialisation in tourism issues at the UG geography faculty in the 1970s) and his competence as an academic teacher. ‘One of the important advantages of his way of teaching was the formation in students of the ability to use theoretical knowledge for the purpose of application,’ noted the laudator. Prof. Andrzejewski's contacts with organisations related to tourism helped in this. The Jubilarian was honoured with numerous university and state distinctions and was also awarded the gold badge of the PTTK. ‘Prof. dr Eugeniusz Andrzejewski undoubtedly belongs to the group of founders of the University of Gdańsk as one of the key universities in the country with the status of an internationally recognised centre of science,’ concluded prof. Iwona Sagan.

‘The summary of Professor's achievements draws us a silhouette of an extraordinary person in every respect, from his academic achievements to the unbreakable backbone of a strong man who fought for the freedom of his homeland and beloved Vilnius,’ said the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski. He pointed out how many areas Prof. Andrzejewski was ahead of his time: for example, in the field of educational methodology or the ‘educational formats’ used, which are standard today but were not so in the 1970s. He expressed his joy that two anniversaries coincided: prof. Andrzejewski's 100th birthday and the 55th anniversary of the University of Gdańsk. In recognition of his merits and achievements and of his work for the University of Gdańsk, prof. E. Andrzejewski received the DOCTRINAE SAPIENTIAE HONESTATI medal, awarded to outstanding people of science, which the Rector of the University of Gdańsk presented to the Jubilarian's daughter.

Other representatives of the UG academic community also expressed their appreciation and thanks to Prof. E. Andrzejewski: Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences prof. dr hab. Michał Harciarek, prof. dr hab. Jerzy Rokicki, and Vice-Dean for Education of the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography UG, dr Mirosława Malinowska. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the authorities of the city of Gdańsk and of the Pomeranian Voivodship, the President of the Polish Geographical Society, the Principal of High School No. 1 in Gdańsk, as well as the Professor's alumni and family. The speeches particularly emphasised the Jubilarian's contribution to the development of tourism geography in its broadest sense. - I can boldly say that Eugeniusz Andrzejewski is the nestor of Gdańsk tourism,' said prof. dr hab. Jerzy Rokicki.

The Jubilarian received many gifts from representatives of institutions and units with which he was associated. He was also awarded the medal De nihilo nihil fit, which was handed over to him by a representative of the Marshall of Pomorskie Voivodeship, Jarosław Kumięga.

The ceremony ended with a musical performance by Andrzej Wojciechowski and Paweł Zagańczyk.