Created: 2026.06.17. 11:05
Representatives of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals recently visited the Győr campus of Széchenyi István University. The technical higher education institution has strong programmes in the study of petroleum and mineral resources, as well as in IT and engineering, areas in which it seeks to establish educational and research cooperation with the Hungarian side.
In recent years, Széchenyi István University has significantly expanded its international network and continues to open up to new opportunities. Most recently, the institution welcomed a delegation from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in the hope of fostering a future educational and research partnership. During the professional discussions, the parties identified common points of interest, and the two-member delegation also toured the Győr campus.
At the meeting, Dr Péter Németh, Scientific Secretary of Széchenyi István University, presented the history of the institution, touching upon its internationalisation efforts. As he explained, the University currently has more than 17,000 students, with over one thousand international students. He noted that English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes are continuously being expanded, and that doctoral programmes also warmly welcome young researchers interested in academic work. “Our competence centres – which largely focus on industrial services and research and development projects – are built around STEM fields, meaning science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” he emphasised.
It was also noted during the discussions that the Győr-based University is listed in the global, subject-specific and sustainability rankings of the two leading higher education ranking organisations, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE). Dr Péter Németh highlighted that the institution also maintains several innovation parks – in Győr focusing on IT and engineering, in Mosonmagyaróvár on agriculture, and in Zalaegerszeg on the automotive industry.
Participants in the professional visit included Dr Ferenc Lilik, Vice-Dean for Research and International Affairs of the Faculty of Informatics and Electrical Engineering; Dr Péter Németh, Scientific Secretary; representatives of King Fahd University Dr Ammar Mohammed Adam and Dr Mutasim Sami; Dr Majid Movahedi Rad, Vice-Dean for Scientific Affairs of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Engineering; Professor Gábor Dogossy, Dean of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Engineering; and Dr Szabolcs Szalai, Vice-Dean for Education of the Faculty (Photo: András Adorján)
Professor Gábor Dogossy, Dean of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Engineering, explained that the Faculty has six internal and two external departments and works in close cooperation with its namesake partner, Audi Hungaria, in education, research and third-mission activities. “In addition to our three programmes, we also have three student teams ranked among the world’s best – SZEnergy, SZEngine and the Arrabona Racing Team. Furthermore, we operate numerous laboratories that support not only student development but also university and industrial innovation projects,” he detailed. He also revealed that, as an expansion of their current programme portfolio, their mechanical engineering academic programme will also be available in English-taught form from September.
Representing the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Engineering, Dr Majid Movahedi Rad, Vice-Dean for Scientific Affairs, highlighted the similarities between the two institutions and presented ongoing major international research projects. He added that they already have collaboration topics with a Saudi university and would be pleased to welcome additional partners into their scientific cooperation. The Vice-Dean pointed out that the Faculty offers a double degree programme in civil engineering in cooperation with Jiaxing University in China, and that this model could be extended to other partners.
The Hungarian presentations concluded with Dr Ferenc Lilik, Vice-Dean for Research and International Affairs of the Faculty of Informatics and Electrical Engineering, who spoke, among other topics, about the talent development colleges under their supervision. As he explained, the Neumann János Residential College for Engineering and the SZESAT College for Advanced Studies are important bases for nurturing talent, supporting not only community building but also the promotion of professional knowledge among students.
On behalf of King Fahd University, Dr Ammar Mohammed Adam presented the institution, highlighting its campus-based model, where educational, research, and recreational infrastructure are integrated within a single environment. “Our university defines itself as fully international, with students, academics, and researchers arriving from approximately eighty countries,” he noted. He added that the institution’s efforts are reflected in international rankings, with Times Higher Education ranking it as the leading university in the Middle East and North Africa region, while QS recognises it as the top-ranked Arab university. Dr Ammar Mohammed Adam emphasised that students from Győr are warmly welcomed to participate in the university’s research mobility programmes as well as its scholarship-funded doctoral programmes. The presentation also highlighted that, similarly to Széchenyi István University, the institution places strong emphasis on international scientific cooperation, research and publication activities, as well as innovation. The discussions made it clear that there is considerable potential for cooperation between the two institutions, providing a solid foundation for future collaboration.
