Future Cooperation: Delegation from South African University Visits SZE

Created: 2025.10.08. 11:23

Széchenyi István University recently hosted a delegation from North-West University, South Africa, on its Győr and Mosonmagyaróvár campuses. Over the course of the two-day visit, the institutions explored potential avenues for collaboration in fields such as food science, engineering, economics and management sciences.

An eight-member delegation from North-West University—one of the most prominent higher education institutions in the Republic of South Africa—visited Hungary. At Széchenyi István University’s Győr and Mosonmagyaróvár campuses, the guests were introduced to the institution’s educational, research, development and innovation activities, with particular emphasis on academic disciplines of mutual importance.

The visitors were welcomed at the Győr campus by Dr Árpád Tóth, Chief Financial Officer; Dr Sándor Remsei, Dean of the Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics; Dr Gábor Dogossy, Dean of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Engineering; and Dr János Szép, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences. The University was presented by Réka Orosz-Barczi, Head of the Centre for International Programmes and Alumni, who highlighted the main milestones of Széchenyi University’s internationalisation process, its portfolio of English-language programmes, and the opportunities offered to students.

“Our University has nearly 16,000 students and approximately 1,200 academic teaching staff, researchers and administrative staff. Of our more than 250 study programmes, over 50 are offered in English. We currently welcome 1,000 international students from nearly 80 countries,” the Centre’s manager explained. She emphasised that the institution’s growing global presence is evidenced by its position on the prestigious Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education world university rankings.

During the discussions, the delegation was also introduced to the University’s innovation parks in Győr, Mosonmagyaróvár and Zalaegerszeg. Dr Tamás Kolossváry, Director of the Győr Innovation Park, presented its operations. “Our strategic objective is to place the knowledge that exists within our institution at the service of industry and the economy, and to ensure that the intellectual products we generate are put to practical use through our own enterprises or our partnerships with companies. An essential arena for this process is provided by our competence centres and innovation parks, which we are continuously working to develop further,” he noted.

The delegation from North-West University was welcomed by representatives of Széchenyi István University on the Győr campus (Photo: Máté Dudás)

North-West University was introduced by Professor Linda du Plessis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning. “Our institution has operated in its current structure since 2004, with three campuses located in the north-western region of the country. We have eight faculties, and in four disciplines—agriculture and forestry, medicine, physics, and environmental sciences—we are ranked among the top 850 universities worldwide according to QS,” she stated. Further presentations were delivered by Professor Liezel van Dyk on engineering education and research, Professor Hazel Mufhandu on biological sciences, Professor Ellen Rungani on management sciences, Professor Helgard Raubenheimer on business mathematics and informatics, Dr Patience Kovane on the midwifery programme and Duncan Raftesath on the university’s innovation and corporate engagement activities. Professor Du Plessis also highlighted a platform developed for students and staff focussing on artificial intelligence, stressing the importance of encouraging the responsible use of new technologies in higher education.

On the second day, the delegation visited the Albert Kázmér Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences in Mosonmagyaróvár, providing an excellent opportunity to strengthen international ties and discuss future collaboration. The guests were introduced to the Óvár campus, explored the institution’s historical exhibition and library, and gained insight into the faculty’s more than 200-year-old traditions and infrastructure. A particular highlight was the presentation of the Department of Food Science’s state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, which clearly illustrated the practice-oriented teaching and research activities carried out there.

The South African guests were also given an insight into the operations of the University’s Albert Kázmér Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences in Mosonmagyaróvár