Home of Knowledge and Value Creation: Academic Year Begins with Ceremony at SZE

Created: 2025.09.09. 14:15

More than 15,000 students began their studies at Széchenyi István University this September. First-year students took their oath at the opening ceremony of the academic year, thereby officially becoming members of the community. A number of scholarships were also awarded at the event.

As a closing of the summer, the informal programmes of the Fresher’s Week provided opportunities for new acquaintances, and on 8 September a festive atmosphere filled the Győr City University Hall, where the opening ceremony of the academic year at Széchenyi István University was held. The venue was filled with students, lecturers and staff members who gathered together to celebrate the beginning of the new Academic Year.

In his address to the first-year students, Rector and Vice-President for Scientific Affairs Dr Ferenc Friedler emphasised: “You can be proud of having been admitted, as only the very best have been able to gain entry, given the popularity of our University. An increasing number of international students are also choosing our institution, which is featured on the most prestigious global rankings, confirming its place on the map of higher education worldwide. This international presence is further strengthened this semester by four Fulbright visiting professors who have joined our high-quality education programmes and research activities.”

The Rector underlined that the fundamental mission of the institution is to ensure that students acquire knowledge and experience, enabling them to build a successful professional career and achieve their long-term personal goals. “In this, they are supported by our excellent lecturers, our extensive corporate relations, our internationally competitive infrastructure, our scholarships, and the opportunities for study and professional experience abroad. All this is made possible by the financial and organisational background provided by the operational model of our University,” he added.

Dr Ferenc Friedler, Rector and Vice-President for Scientific Affairs, encouraged students to work with commitment and to take responsibility for one another. (Photo: Máté Dudás)

In her speech, Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary for Higher, Vocational and Adult Education and Youth Affairs, highlighted: “We now have twelve universities among the top five percent worldwide, compared to the previous seven. Our universities are dynamic, rapidly developing, with a strong identity, excellent students and teachers. The nation is rightly proud of them.” She declared that an access revolution had taken place in higher education, as for the third year running more than 100,000 students had been admitted to domestic education programmes, with the number of state-funded places continuously increasing. The national economy is further strengthened by the fact that six out of ten students start their studies in engineering, IT, agricultural or health fields. “This also represents a scientific turning point, as publication output in leading international journals has increased by fifty percent, while the number of patents has risen by thirty-five percent in just a year,” she added.

The State Secretary elaborated that this revolution had brought new opportunities for Széchenyi István University as well. “In recent years, the institution has exponentially increased the number of scientific publications, and has also entered the world rankings of the two most influential rating organisations, Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds. Its innovation performance and corporate revenues have doubled, while its attractiveness among applicants has grown by eighty percent,” she detailed.

State Secretary Veronika Varga-Bajusz emphasised that Széchenyi István University has advanced in international rankings, with scientific and innovation achievements steadily expanding. (Photo: Máté Dudás)

At the opening ceremony, Zsolt Barna, former student of Logistics Management, member of the Board of Trustees for the Széchenyi István University Foundation, and CEO of Waberer’s Group, also gave a welcome speech. “I began my studies here in 1993, and although more than three decades have passed since then, I am still proud to consider myself part of the Széchenyi University community,” he stressed. In his speech he pointed out: “As members of Széchenyi, our shared values are humanity, respect for one another, courage and willingness to act. These are the pillars on which graduates can build their careers and futures.” He emphasised that the University is a new home where young people are welcomed with lifelong experiences, and where they are invited back even as alumni — for professional discussions, further education or community events.

Zsolt Barna, CEO of the Waberer’s Group, highlighted as a former student that the values gained at Széchenyi István University form a solid foundation for building the future. (Photo: Máté Dudás)

Each year the University awards Student and Elite Athlete Scholarships to those whose outstanding scientific work or sporting achievements serve as an example for the student community. For the Academic Year 2025/2026, the following students received the Student Scholarship:
Borbála Boda (Classical Musical Instrument Performance –Piano), Dorina Bosits (Law, undivided programme), Ádám Dávid Dancs (Business Informatics, Master’s), Lola Fülöp (International Relations, Bachelor’s), Rafiul Hasan (Vehicle Engineering, Bachelor’s), Réka Hruby (Law, undivided programme), Intan Tawaddada Ilaiha (International Economics and Business, Master’s), Emese Inczédy (Architecture, undivided programme), Emese Juhász (Environmental Engineering, Bachelor’s), Benedek Botond Kállay (Vehicle Engineering, Master’s), Anasztázia Margaréta Máté (Law), Áron Ákos Németh (Computer Science, Bachelor’s), Dorina Brigitta Pup (Law, undivided programme), Sára Leona Simon (Commerce and Marketing, Bachelor’s), Márk Szalay (Management and Leadership, Master’s), Ákos Török (Electrical Engineering, Bachelor’s), Réka Varga (Logistics Engineering, Bachelor’s), Eszter Éva Vigh (Law, undivided programme).

The Elite Athlete Scholarship was awarded to: Luca Ács (Architecture, undivided programme), Csanád Bakon (Management and Organisation, Master’s), Kata Biró (Commerce and Marketing, Bachelor’s), Ádám Csizmadia (Civil Engineering, Bachelor’s), Dániel Dula (Architecture, Bachelor’s), Fanni Fazekas (Commerce and Marketing, Bachelor’s), Kristóf Bence Friedl (Structural Engineering, Master’s), Gellért Gergácz (Vehicle Engineering, Bachelor’s), Szabolcs Halmos (Vehicle Engineering, Bachelor’s), Rebeka Horváth (Special Education, Bachelor’s), Petra Kocsán (Marketing, Master’s), Kata Kondor (Recreation and Lifestyle, Bachelor’s), Balázs Kovács (Vehicle Engineering, Bachelor’s), Bálint Köcse (Tourism and Catering, Bachelor’s), Alexandra Lintz (Recreation and Lifestyle, Bachelor’s), Dorina Mezei (Recreation and Lifestyle, Bachelor’s), Katalin Anna Pataki (Business and Management, Bachelor’s), Lola Ritter (Recreation and Lifestyle, Bachelor’s), Nándor Róth (Supply Chain Management, Master’s), Lilla Anna Rozmán (Sociology, Bachelor’s), Rebeka Sali (Business Administration and Management, Bachelor’s), Brigitta Linda Sándor (Architecture, undivided programme), Ambrus Schubert (Vehicle Engineering, Bachelor’s), Szebasztián Stampf (Architecture, undivided programme), Tamás Tóth (Vehicle Engineering, Bachelor’s), Bálint Tóth-Erdei (Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor’s), Géza Márk Wührl (Technical Management, Bachelor’s).

The awards for the Good Student – Good Athlete competition were also presented at the event. The first place went to Balázs Kovács (Technical Management), the second to Ádám Csizmadia (Civil Engineering), and the third to Petra Kocsán (Marketing, Bachelor’s).

Students of the Széchenyi István University Dance and Fine Arts Secondary School and Dormitory also performed at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Máté Dudás)

Széchenyi István University is committed to supporting its staff in creating new intellectual property and in bringing such results to market. For the first time this year, the Innovation Scholarship was awarded to Balázs Baráth, research engineer at the Zalaegerszeg Innovation Park; Péter Hudacsek, executive officer at the Higher Education and Industrial Cooperation Centre; Dr Renátó Kalocsai, associate professor at the Albert Kázmér Mosonmagyaróvár Faculty; Róbert Magai, research engineer at the Zalaegerszeg Innovation Park; Dr Attila Schweighardt, research fellow at the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Engineering; and from the Faculty of Architecture Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences: Dániel Gosztola (assistant lecturer), Dr János Szép (Dean), Dr Richárd Nagy (Head of Laboratory), Dr Kitti Ajtay-Károlyfi (associate professor), and Péter Grubits (doctoral student).

At the event it was also announced which students had been awarded the National Higher Education Scholarship, based on their outstanding academic results, professional achievements and community engagement. The recipients were: András Aschenbrenner (Management and Leadership), László Aschenbrenner (Computer Engineering), Zita Bariska (Architecture), Fanni Biró (Teaching), Gergely Biró (Vehicle Engineering), Dorina Bosits (Law), Barnabás Böröndi (Human Relations and Social Insurance Administration), Ádám Csizmadia (Civil Engineering), László András Csutorás (Mechanical Engineering), Máté János Dere (Classical Musical Instrument Performance – Piano), Bálint Dobos (Business Informatics), Enikő Erhardt (Law), Patrik Eszes (International Business), Kitti Farkas (Vehicle Engineering), Máté Farkas (Vehicle Engineering), Dávid Fehér (Business Administration and Management), Péter Frazon (Vehicle Engineering), Lola Fülöp (International Relations), Fanni Griezer (Management and Leadership), Virág Herold (Law), Réka Hruby (Law), Csaba Huszta (Vehicle Engineering), Emese Juhász (Environmental Engineering), Erik Juhász (Electrical Engineering), Benedek Botond Kállay (Vehicle Engineering), Adrián Zsolt Kazda (Computer Science Engineering), Kíra Dominika Kolozsvári (Architecture), Máté Kónya (International Relations), Emese Kővári (Classical Musical Instrument Performance – Violin), Patrik Lukács (Transport Engineering), Sára Luxl (Law), Donát Magda (Computer Engineering), Botond Ákos Mecséri (Mechanical Engineering), Marcell Meilinger (Computer Engineering), Natália Mészáros (Health Care and Prevention), Tamás Mocsáry (Music Education – Piano Teaching), Panna Molnár (Business Administration and Management), Berill Muszik-Szakács (International Relations), Kristóf György Nagy (Architecture), Áron Ákos Németh (Computer Science Engineering), Zsófia Pájka (Business Administration and Management), Katalin Anna Pataki (Business and Management), Gábor Pék (Mechanical Engineering), Vivien Pollreisz (Logistics Engineering), Csenge Szabó (Human Relations and Social Insurance Administration), Georgina Szabó (Teaching), Gyula Richárd Szakál (Computer Engineering), László Szörényi (Vehicle Engineering), Attila Tatai (Agricultural Engineering), Dóra Tóth (Special Education), Bence Tuboly (Vehicle Engineering), Nóra Karolina Varga (Food Engineering), Gábor Vas Botár (Mechatronics Engineering), Viktória Vass (Business Administration and Management), Veronika Végső (Commerce and Marketing), László Szörényi (Management and Leadership), Attila Tatai (Computer Engineering), Dóra Tóth (Architecture), Nóra Karolina Varga (Vehicle Engineering), Gábor Vas Botár (Law), Viktória Vass (Human Relations and Social Insurance Administration), and Veronika Végső (Civil Engineering).

The Győr City University Hall was filled to capacity for the celebration. (Photo: Máté Dudás)