A Sustainable Future Through International Teamwork: Joint Programme of SZE and Audi Concludes

Created: 2025.07.22. 14:06

Students from twenty universities sought sustainable solutions to real corporate challenges during the Audi Development Camp, a joint short study programme of Széchenyi István University and Audi Hungaria, held between 7–14 July. The results presented at the international camp’s closing event demonstrated that the participants are ready to face global challenges.

The Audi Development Camp, organised in cooperation between Széchenyi István University and Audi Hungaria, concluded with a closing event. Young students from 20 universities across 17 countries took part in the camp, where they explored sustainable solutions to real-life corporate challenges. Alongside their professional development, students also had the opportunity to gain deeper insight into each other’s cultures. This year’s theme focused on analysing Audi Hungaria’s water management in Győr—which hosts a car factory, engine plant, development centre and service centre—through the lens of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles. Working in teams, the participants applied a design thinking approach centred on creative problem-solving to address challenges in sustainability, ethical operations, and environmental responsibility.

Participants of this year’s Audi Development Camp in front of the Innovation Park of Széchenyi István University in Győr (Photo: Gergely Nagy)

The methodological background of the programme was supported by Krisztián Palócz, a associate professor of the Department of Design at Széchenyi István University, while the ESG expertise was provided by Dr András Torma, Head of the Department of Applied Sustainability and an expert in Audi Hungaria’s Environmental Department. At the event, Dr Torma highlighted that all participants performed excellently. He noted that the instructors received numerous questions from students who brought diverse perspectives and approaches with them.

“The choice of topic aligned with the strategic goals of both Széchenyi István University and Audi Hungaria, was exemplary in that students had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with ESG through a real industrial challenge. Conscious water management in industry is vital, as water is a limited resource. Wasting it poses not only environmental but also economic risks. As one student put it, ‘Now we know that water consumption in an industrial setting is like driving a car without a fuel gauge.’ The transparency and efficiency of such systems are crucial not only for optimising operational processes but also for laying the foundation for future sustainable industries,” he explained.

Dr András Torma, Head of the Department of Applied Sustainability at Széchenyi István University (Photo: Gergely Nagy)

The students unanimously felt that this one-week programme contributed significantly to their personal development. “This programme was a very exciting opportunity for me. Not only did I get to visit a leading industrial city, but I also travelled overseas and participated in an initiative where I could apply my previously acquired knowledge in a real-world setting. There’s a huge difference between classroom learning and practical experience,” said Matthew Pickering, representing Quinnipiac University in the United States, who visited Europe for the first time and is studying to become an automation engineer.

Beyond the professional challenge, participants also found the community experience outstanding. “This project combined everything—it was fun, but it also made us think and work together,” said Kazi Methon, a Bangladeshi student at Széchenyi István University. “Completely different cultures met here, each with its own perspective, and we had to find common ground to solve the problem. We learned a lot from each other.”

At the closing event, the top-performing team was announced. Its members were: Abobaker Bameftah (Yemeni student, Óbuda University), Berat Erol Celik (Turkish student, Istanbul Aydin University), Ovín Rodríguez Guzmán (Spanish student, University of León), Matthew Pickering (American student, Quinnipiac University), Kazi Ibna Sina Methon (Bangladeshi student, Széchenyi István University), and Marit Papke (German student, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt) (Photo: Gergely Nagy)

Five of the most talented students were also awarded: Marit Papke (German student, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt), Matthew Pickering (American student, Quinnipiac University), Edoardo Guglielmi (Italian student, University of Automotive Engineering of Emilia-Romagna), Nina Novoselt (Austrian student, University of Klagenfurt – Alps-Adriatic), and Kiran Vaddi (Indian student, Landshut University of Applied Sciences) (Photo: Gergely Nagy)