Within the educational approach of Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, programmes that provide students with practical experience through real professional situations, international cooperation, and a strong local context play a key role. The CASA.17 international architecture student design competition fits well within this approach. This year\u2019s opening event took place in the University\u2019s concert hall, located in the former Gy\u0151r synagogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe course began nearly twenty years ago in Cluj-Napoca as a student initiative. The goal was to allow young people to try themselves in a more flexible, project-based environment alongside traditional design assignments, working in teams of two. A unique aspect of the programme is that each year one of the participating institutions \u2013 this time Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University \u2013 announces the design task. Students of architecture from all participating universities work on the same brief, and the submitted projects are evaluated by an international jury at the end of the semester,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0explained Dr Tam\u00e1s Szentirmai, head of the Department of Architectural Design at the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Tam\u00e1s Szentirmai, Head of the Department of Architectural Design<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: Adorj\u00e1n Andr\u00e1s)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis year\u2019s task is related to the University\u2019s Faculty of Design and Performance Arts. The building to be designed will include accommodation, rehearsal rooms, musical spaces, as well as community and cultural functions. The aim is for students to develop architectural solutions that both respond to the specific needs of music education and strengthen the University\u2019s integration into the urban fabric,\u201d <\/em>detailed Ferenc Friedler, Rector and Vice-President of Scientific Affairs at the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe project\u2019s special value lies in the international perspective that participants bring with them. New viewpoints and fresh ideas often lead to inspiring and innovative solutions. These concepts may even contribute to the future development of Gy\u0151r,\u201d\u00a0<\/em>emphasized Dr J\u00e1nos Sz\u00e9p, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the opening ceremony, Dr J\u00e1nos Sz\u00e9p, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transportation Engineering, emphasized that project-based education connected to real-world challenges plays a key role in the faculty\u2019s academic programmes. (Photo: Adorj\u00e1n Andr\u00e1s)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The collaboration also offers valuable professional experience for Universities\u2019 instructors. Zolt\u00e1n Major, associate professor at the University of Debrecen, has joined the programme several times to support the teams\u2019 work. \u201cEach university has its own educational concept, so this initiative provides an opportunity to learn about one another\u2019s methods and perspectives. We have even incorporated some of these experiences into our own curriculum, which clearly shows how much we as instructors have benefitted from the results so far,\u201d<\/em> he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University, the project involves students and instructors from the University of Debrecen, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, the University of Oradea, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, the Politehnica University of Timi\u0219oara, and the T\u00e2rgu Mure\u0219 extension of the \u201cIon Mincu\u201d University of Architecture and Urban Planning in Bucharest. According to Larisa Fanea, a second-year architecture student at University of Oradea, the programme offers particularly valuable experience: \u201cIt is a rare opportunity to work in teams during our studies while simulating a real design competition. It will certainly be useful for our future careers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n During the semester, nearly 150 design proposals will be prepared for the selected site. The submission deadline is the end of May. The international jury will evaluate the entries in early June, while the award ceremony and the opening of the exhibition will take place on 19 June at the FUGA Budapest Center of Architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAround 260 students and 35 instructors from seven universities are participating in the initiative.\u201d (Photo: Adorj\u00e1n Andr\u00e1s)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Created: 2026.03.16. 13:29 The opening event of the CASA.17 international architectural student design competition was recently hosted by Sz\u00e9chenyi Istv\u00e1n University. The initiative brings together around 260 students and 35 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":9826,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alumni.sze.hu\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/zsini-1024x683.jpg\")
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