Building the future at Obuda University
Innovation and investment in knowledge is the breakthrough point that can make our future secure even in crisis situations, emphasised Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, at the opening of the academic year. Addressing the first-year students, Mihály Varga, Minister of Finance and President of the Rudolf Kalman Foundation for Obuda University, described Obuda University as one of the most significant institutions of technical higher education, whose teachers and researchers provide students with high-quality knowledge. This year, 3,225 first-year students were admitted to the university's seven faculties in Budapest and in the countryside. Despite the fact that fewer students applied to higher education institutions nationwide, the number of students admitted has increased," said Balázs Hankó, Deputy State Secretary for Higher Education.
According to the admission data, Obuda University is once again the 8th most sought-after higher education institution in Hungary, which confirms the positive reception of our education strategy," said Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács. He said: for years our university has been one of the most important institutions of higher technical education in Hungary, and in technical terms the most practice-oriented. Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács highlighted the significant salary increase introduced on 1 January this year, and the strengthening of the academic life of the university: the distinguished professorship programme has enabled foreign scientists with a very high academic performance to join the university. In addition, five university professors of Hungarian nationality and citizenship, who had worked at international universities, were recruited.
Speaking about measures to shape the future, the Rector highlighted the development of training sites in rural areas - Székesfehérvár, Kaposvár and Salgótarján - the launch of the planned fourth doctoral school, the creation of a new curriculum to reform the bachelor and master's degrees in engineering, and the creation of science and innovation parks. The emerging new role of universities worldwide is to market the results of scientific work, alongside the core functions of teaching and research. It is in response to this challenge that Obuda University and Széchenyi Funds Zrt. have decided to set up a university venture capital company with a budget of HUF 1.5 billion.
Talent. Success. Community. - Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács summarised the most important values of Obuda University, encouraging the first-year students who have just taken their vows to make use of the opportunities offered by the institution and to successfully use the marketable knowledge they have acquired here.
"The world is in a difficult situation, as are the countries of Europe," said Mihály Varga, who said that despite the changed circumstances, learning and work remain the path to prosperity. He said that working together is the way out of the current difficult situation, when we need new ideas, new solutions and new ways of solving problems. We must continue to keep pace with the enormous scientific progress that is taking place in the world. The depth and complexity of this process - in our scientific and educational work - has been a tangible reality for our universities for many years.
Among the changes affecting higher education, Balázs Hankó first mentioned the planned changes to the admissions procedure from 2024. The government will give universities greater freedom to select students and to set training and language requirements. Quality education is one of the most important guarantees for our survival, he said. He stressed that Obuda University is one of the most dynamically developing universities in Hungary, which also performs well in international rankings. After the first year of model change, it has fulfilled 100 percent of its research and academic commitments, and has been awarded the silver medal in training commitments, which means that it has been ranked second in the competition of higher education institutions. This year, 3225 first-year students were admitted to the university's seven faculties in Budapest and in the provinces. Despite the fact that fewer students applied to higher education institutions nationally, the number of students admitted increased.
