Professor Osman Achmatowicz, Rector of TUL 1948-52
Prof. Stefanowski was an outstanding engineer. A professor of the old academic school in Warsaw. A very tough, consistent man. You couldn't say to him - “ let's do it this way”. He did not let himself be guided. He was in charge. He was, in addition to having organizational skills, full of energy. He was dedicated and had knowledge of the university, its structure, its tasks, its operation and the position of the engineer. Prof. Stefanowski had a lucky hand. He picked his people, and easily convinced his team to his ideas. Stefanowski was the founder of the first Textile Faculty in Poland. He is inextricably linked with it.
A unit of horror – one Achmat’, - I required knowledge of things. Preparation, even mediocre preparation. One day the head of the ministry department came to me and said:’ Professor, with you 70% of the students do not pass. This is worrying, it's not right.’ I replied that everything was fine with me, just not with the students, and I would not change my tactics. He left upset.
As rumours spread about me asking horrible things at the face-to-face exam, so I called the party secretary at the faculty and said: ‘You will be present at the exams.’ His and my grade was a student's two, so nothing changed. But this was not sufficient. I announced a public exam – everyone could come, there was a show, but that didn't do anything either, the same grade. There were two exams like that and I gave up. One other way I proposed – four students were given questions and they could go to the library next door for half an hour to consult the books to verify the answers.
Actually, TUL was born in Częstochowa, because there were professors there, secret teaching. When the Soviet Army entered, the Deputy Minister of Education arrived. He got in touch with Stefanowski to whom he suggested that he should set up a university. Stefanowski then started looking around, and asked me if I would join. I agreed. A week later I was living in Schreiber Palace. I came to Łódź for the first time. I didn't like Łódź, but I was totally absorbed in the creation of the university.
I was very fortunate and helped by having good students throughout my time as an academic: well-educated, capable, hard-working, scientifically ambitious and talented, utterly devoted to my beloved research work. Each one was a strong individual. We all demanded a lot from each other, no one was looking for an easy ride, we were tough and strict with each other, but despite everything, or perhaps because of it, together we made a good team and worked in an atmosphere of loyalty and friendliness, without irritation or personal interference. And these are the most important conditions for team research.
Without the students, I would not be able to do much in science. I want to strongly emphasise this here and add that “my” work is our collective achievement.