AI-Native, Future-Ready and Prepared for What Comes Next – Obuda University Opens the Academic Year with Record Student Numbers and an Enhanced Strategy
In recent years, Obuda University has become a leading institution of Hungarian technical higher education. “Today, we rank among the top 3 percent of more than 30,000 universities worldwide, and are recognized as one of the youngest, best-known and most dynamically developing higher education institutions in Central and Eastern Europe,” said Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, at the University’s Opening Ceremony on 7 September. The event featured speeches by Ernő Baráth, Deputy State Secretary for Human Resources Strategy at the Ministry of Defence; Dr. Gábor Küzdy, newly elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rudolf Kalman Obuda University Foundation; Gyula Cserényi, trained research astronaut; and Tibor Kapu, crew member of the HUNOR – Hungarian to Orbit Program. Diplomatic representatives of countries actively involved in the University’s international strategy, as well as leaders of partner institutions from the Carpathian Basin, were also present. The ceremony also saw the presentation of Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor titles, the Foundation Researcher awards, and Student Union awards.
This year, 4,549 first-year students were admitted to Obuda University, joined by nearly 300 international students from 59 countries. Over recent years, the University’s student population has increased by an average of 8.5–9% per semester. A record number of more than 6,000 young people listed Obuda University as their first choice. Over the past five years, twice as many applicants selected the University as their first choice for bachelor’s programmes, nearly 2.5 times as many for master’s programmes, and three times as many for doctoral programmes.
Today, our students come from 113 countries, and this year we crossed the milestone of 1,000 international students for the first time. “These figures speak for themselves: we have been able to increase our popularity despite setting exceptionally high admission thresholds compared to the national average,” said Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University.
He added: “In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, we have advanced by nearly 1,500 places over six years and are now consistently ranked among the world’s top 800 universities, currently in 719th place.
“Our academic community is experiencing a true renaissance. Our international partnerships now span numerous parts of the world, with the number of partner institutions across five continents increasing from 87 to 202.
“The Rector also announced that, as part of the resolution of the Erasmus-related processes, the Magna Charta Observatory accepted Obuda University’s legal and autonomy guarantees in the summer of 2026. As a result, the University will officially become a member of the organization this October.
“It is also a source of great pride that, in June, we became the first Hungarian higher education institution to gain membership in the newly established global organization of fourth-generation universities.
“Our achievements also include our growing role within the European University Association (EUA). I consider it a historic success that no Hungarian rector or senior university leader had previously reached the third and final round of the EUA leadership election.
“As a unique higher education institution in the region, we are developing an innovative investor university model based on the fourth-generation university concept. Within this model, we address the social needs of the quadruple helix – university, government, industry and society – by investing in innovative ideas. In other words, we are building a regional innovation ecosystem organized around social and economic missions.”
Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács also spoke about the University’s achievements in space research and the development of civilian and defence industry research. He highlighted that Obuda University was the first and, for the past five years, the only Hungarian higher education institution to launch bachelor’s and subsequently master’s programmes specifically designed to support and develop the defence industry.
Addressing the students, he stated: “We aspire to become an AI-native university! This is why we have developed our comprehensive AI strategy, AI Campus.”
At the same time, he emphasized that traditional knowledge remains indispensable. Addressing the first-year students, he encouraged them to “make the most of the opportunities offered by Obuda University! Take part in the vibrant student life, research activities, innovation projects, international programmes and community initiatives.”
Recalling his own personal experiences, Dr. Gábor Küzdy said that, as a former student of the University, he had stood in the same institution with similar excitement 54 years ago. Since then, the University has undergone enormous technological and infrastructural development while preserving its strong sense of community and family-like atmosphere.
He emphasized that engineering, information technology, economics and technical sciences at the University are shaping the future, while its education is practice-oriented, dynamic and innovative. He stressed that the Foundation’s goal as the University’s maintainer is to create a stable, flexible and modern environment that provides internationally recognized degrees and supports teaching and research at the highest level.
Gyula Cserényi encouraged students to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities available to them at Obuda University and use them to build a strong foundation for their future. He advised them to set goals for themselves and, despite challenges, never lose their momentum or curiosity for learning.
“The future engineers, researchers and astronauts are all sitting among you today,” he said, emphasizing that success is all the sweeter when it is earned through hard work.
In his speech, Ernő Baráth praised the excellent cooperation between Obuda University and the Ministry. He pointed out that technical sciences play a fundamental role in maintaining security and preparing for modern warfare, particularly in light of technological developments and geopolitical changes.
He highlighted that five years ago, Obuda University pioneered defence industry programmes within its mechanical engineering education, offering specializations in weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and military aircraft technology. These programmes provide the foundation for the University’s master’s programme in defence industry engineering.
He also presented the cooperation agreement signed in 2024, which covers recruitment, education, research and the introduction of a course on national defence studies. He also highlighted the defence industry research and development achievements of the Kaposvár Science and Innovation Park.
Tibor Kapu focused his speech on the most important values of university life and the strength of community. He emphasized that the engineering mindset, problem-solving skills and the right attitude acquired during university are ultimately more valuable than the factual knowledge gained within the classroom, as these skills remain with students long after graduation.
He highlighted the importance of student solidarity, teamwork and the close friendships developed during university years, all of which are essential for personal development and future professional success.
As an example of cooperation extending beyond individual institutions, he highlighted the collaboration between student teams from BME and Obuda University. Rocket development communities and Formula Racing teams, among others, work together, share their experiences and jointly contribute to the development of Hungarian engineering and space research projects.
He noted that Hungary is a small country, but that success in technological challenges, space research and engineering development can only be achieved through cooperation.
András Batta, President of the Student Union, pointed out that university life is about much more than studying: it is also about making friendships, building professional networks and gaining experiences that last a lifetime. He encouraged students to be open-minded, ask questions and make the most of new opportunities.
As he put it, university is about experiencing, learning and developing. He assured students that the Student Union would support them with any questions or difficulties they may encounter.
Prominent Guests
Diplomatic representatives of countries actively involved in the University’s international strategy, leaders of partner institutions from the Carpathian Basin and representatives of international partner institutions attended the ceremony.
Among the distinguished guests were Botir Usmanov, Rector of the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology in Uzbekistan; representatives of Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland and University North in Varaždin, Croatia.
Among Obuda University’s Honorary Professors were Professor Nikola Kasabov, Professor at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand and a globally recognized researcher in neural networks; Philip Chen, Chair Professor at South China University of Technology; and Professor Péter Érdi, a world-renowned Hungarian-born neuroscientist based in the United States.
Also present were Professor Jozsef Kövecses of McGill University in Canada and Professor Ivana Stajner-Papuga of the University of Novi Sad in Serbia.
Oath Ceremony
Distinguished Professors
Professor Seyedali Mirjalili is an internationally recognized researcher in artificial intelligence whose pioneering contributions have significantly advanced the fields of optimization, machine learning and computational intelligence.
As the creator of several widely used optimization algorithms and one of the world’s most highly cited scientists, his work has had a profound impact on the development of modern artificial intelligence. His distinguished career is reflected in more than 180,000 academic citations, numerous prestigious international awards and prominent leadership roles within the global scientific community.
As a Distinguished Professor at Obuda University, he will continue contributing to scientific excellence, innovation and international cooperation, inspiring generations of researchers and students around the world.
Professor Amir H. Gandomi is an internationally recognized researcher in artificial intelligence and data science whose pioneering work has made significant contributions to predictive analytics, evolutionary computation and scalable artificial intelligence.
As a Professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a Distinguished Professor at Obuda University, he successfully bridges fundamental research and practical innovation across numerous fields. Through his outstanding research, scientific leadership and international engagement, he continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence and inspiring the international scientific community.
Professor Andrea De Gaetano is an internationally recognized researcher who uniquely combines the fields of biomedicine and mathematical modelling through his expertise as a physician, applied mathematician, statistician and lawyer.
As Director of the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation of the Italian National Research Council and a Distinguished Professor at Obuda University, he plays a significant role in advancing modern biomathematics and medicine. His research has had a major impact on the modelling of glucose metabolism, diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular processes, as well as the application of advanced statistical and computational methods in healthcare.
Foundation Researcher Award
Professor Ali Safaa Sadiq is an internationally recognized researcher and scientific leader in cybersecurity, trustworthy artificial intelligence and critical infrastructure protection.
As Director of the Cyber Security Research Group at Nottingham Trent University, his research focuses on innovative applications of post-quantum security, cyber-physical systems, autonomous vehicles and trustworthy AI. A Stanford Top 2% researcher and multiple award recipient, his work makes a significant contribution to improving the security and resilience of digital systems worldwide.
Prof. Dr. Lászlo Szilágyi is an internationally recognized researcher in artificial intelligence, medical image processing and bioinformatics whose work has had a significant impact on intelligent data processing and the modelling of biomedical systems.
As a professor at Obuda University and Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, his research focuses on pattern recognition, machine learning, biometric and medical applications, and explainable artificial intelligence. Through his scientific achievements, teaching and research community-building activities, he plays a significant role in advancing AI research in Hungary and internationally.
Professor Yo-Ping Huang is an internationally recognized researcher and scientific leader in artificial intelligence, intelligent control systems and AI-enabled IoT technologies.
As Chair Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at National Taipei University of Technology and President of the Chinese Automatic Control Society, he plays a leading role in the development of research into intelligent systems and automation. His research focuses on deep learning, machine learning, intelligent control and AI-enabled IoT systems. His achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Research Award of Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council.
Young Excellence Research Award
Dr. Fahime Khozeimeh, who will receive the award at a later date.
Dr. Dániel Drexler, an internationally recognized Hungarian researcher in control engineering, robotics and cybermedicine, is Associate Professor at the John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics at Obuda University and Head of the Computational Therapy Optimization Research Group.
His research focuses on physiological regulation, nonlinear systems control, and modern medical technology and engineering applications. As a researcher and project leader, he has contributed to the success of numerous national and international programmes while also playing an important role in supporting young researchers and doctoral students.
Dr. habil. Zsombor Zrubka is Head of the HECON – Health Economics Research Center at Obuda University.
His research focuses on health technology assessment, patient-reported outcomes, and the economic and social impacts of digital health solutions. Another important area of his research is the application of artificial intelligence-based research methods.
His scientific output includes 225 publications, including 27 D1 and 20 Q1 international publications. His publications have a combined impact factor of more than 234, while his Google Scholar citations approach 1,800. Through his interdisciplinary research, international scientific collaborations and work as Chair of the ISPOR Digital Health Special Interest Group, he contributes to the advancement of health economics, digital healthcare and AI-based healthcare innovation.
The Student Union awards were presented by András Batta, President of the Student Union.
Student Union Awards
Patrik Lajos received the title of Sportsman of the Year after making sports history in Georgia. He became European Champion in Shinkyokushin karate, one of the world’s strongest full-contact karate organizations. No Hungarian athlete had previously won the European title in the 90 kg category, and Hungary had not won a men’s gold medal at the European Championships for 13 years. Despite his young age, he is currently the most successful Hungarian male competitor in the sport.
Mikolt Toth received the Public Life Employee of the Year Award for her years of dedicated work to ensure that the University’s athletes can represent Obuda University at as many competitions as possible and demonstrate their talents. Through her continuous cooperation with the Student Union and her contribution to the success of the University Sports Day and numerous other events, she has thoroughly earned this recognition.
Awards for Outstanding Contribution
Kevin István Lucz, a long-standing and influential member of the Student Union community, was recognized for his dedicated work as a member of the Student Union leadership responsible for dormitory affairs and, previously, as President of the dormitory student union. His helpful attitude, solution-oriented approach and active participation have always been appreciated at Student Union events.
Virág Fehér has been an active member of the Student Representative Council of the Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering since 2023. Over the years, she has served in several leadership positions, representing the student community with responsibility and dedication. Her work has played an important role in supporting the day-to-day operation of the Student Representative Council.
Ágota Lina Sebestyén began her work with the Student Representative Council of the Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering in early 2023. During her time in several leadership positions, she represented her fellow students with outstanding commitment and dedication, while also playing an important role in building the faculty community and implementing the Council’s objectives.
Ádám Serege served for nearly three years as a member of the leadership of the John von Neumann Faculty Student Union responsible for PR and events. During his tenure, he played a significant role in renewing and developing faculty student events. He introduced numerous new elements to the NIK Student Union’s events and helped revive several events that had been discontinued since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through his work at faculty events, dedication and active involvement in the community, Ádám made a significant contribution to improving the quality of student life.
Today, our students come from 113 countries, and this year we crossed the milestone of 1,000 international students for the first time. “These figures speak for themselves: we have been able to increase our popularity despite setting exceptionally high admission thresholds compared to the national average,” said Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University.
He added: “In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, we have advanced by nearly 1,500 places over six years and are now consistently ranked among the world’s top 800 universities, currently in 719th place.
“Our academic community is experiencing a true renaissance. Our international partnerships now span numerous parts of the world, with the number of partner institutions across five continents increasing from 87 to 202.
“The Rector also announced that, as part of the resolution of the Erasmus-related processes, the Magna Charta Observatory accepted Obuda University’s legal and autonomy guarantees in the summer of 2026. As a result, the University will officially become a member of the organization this October.
“It is also a source of great pride that, in June, we became the first Hungarian higher education institution to gain membership in the newly established global organization of fourth-generation universities.
“Our achievements also include our growing role within the European University Association (EUA). I consider it a historic success that no Hungarian rector or senior university leader had previously reached the third and final round of the EUA leadership election.
“As a unique higher education institution in the region, we are developing an innovative investor university model based on the fourth-generation university concept. Within this model, we address the social needs of the quadruple helix – university, government, industry and society – by investing in innovative ideas. In other words, we are building a regional innovation ecosystem organized around social and economic missions.”
Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács also spoke about the University’s achievements in space research and the development of civilian and defence industry research. He highlighted that Obuda University was the first and, for the past five years, the only Hungarian higher education institution to launch bachelor’s and subsequently master’s programmes specifically designed to support and develop the defence industry.
Addressing the students, he stated: “We aspire to become an AI-native university! This is why we have developed our comprehensive AI strategy, AI Campus.”
At the same time, he emphasized that traditional knowledge remains indispensable. Addressing the first-year students, he encouraged them to “make the most of the opportunities offered by Obuda University! Take part in the vibrant student life, research activities, innovation projects, international programmes and community initiatives.”
Recalling his own personal experiences, Dr. Gábor Küzdy said that, as a former student of the University, he had stood in the same institution with similar excitement 54 years ago. Since then, the University has undergone enormous technological and infrastructural development while preserving its strong sense of community and family-like atmosphere.
He emphasized that engineering, information technology, economics and technical sciences at the University are shaping the future, while its education is practice-oriented, dynamic and innovative. He stressed that the Foundation’s goal as the University’s maintainer is to create a stable, flexible and modern environment that provides internationally recognized degrees and supports teaching and research at the highest level.
Gyula Cserényi encouraged students to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities available to them at Obuda University and use them to build a strong foundation for their future. He advised them to set goals for themselves and, despite challenges, never lose their momentum or curiosity for learning.
“The future engineers, researchers and astronauts are all sitting among you today,” he said, emphasizing that success is all the sweeter when it is earned through hard work.
In his speech, Ernő Baráth praised the excellent cooperation between Obuda University and the Ministry. He pointed out that technical sciences play a fundamental role in maintaining security and preparing for modern warfare, particularly in light of technological developments and geopolitical changes.
He highlighted that five years ago, Obuda University pioneered defence industry programmes within its mechanical engineering education, offering specializations in weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and military aircraft technology. These programmes provide the foundation for the University’s master’s programme in defence industry engineering.
He also presented the cooperation agreement signed in 2024, which covers recruitment, education, research and the introduction of a course on national defence studies. He also highlighted the defence industry research and development achievements of the Kaposvár Science and Innovation Park.
Tibor Kapu focused his speech on the most important values of university life and the strength of community. He emphasized that the engineering mindset, problem-solving skills and the right attitude acquired during university are ultimately more valuable than the factual knowledge gained within the classroom, as these skills remain with students long after graduation.
He highlighted the importance of student solidarity, teamwork and the close friendships developed during university years, all of which are essential for personal development and future professional success.
As an example of cooperation extending beyond individual institutions, he highlighted the collaboration between student teams from BME and Obuda University. Rocket development communities and Formula Racing teams, among others, work together, share their experiences and jointly contribute to the development of Hungarian engineering and space research projects.
He noted that Hungary is a small country, but that success in technological challenges, space research and engineering development can only be achieved through cooperation.
András Batta, President of the Student Union, pointed out that university life is about much more than studying: it is also about making friendships, building professional networks and gaining experiences that last a lifetime. He encouraged students to be open-minded, ask questions and make the most of new opportunities.
As he put it, university is about experiencing, learning and developing. He assured students that the Student Union would support them with any questions or difficulties they may encounter.
Prominent Guests
Diplomatic representatives of countries actively involved in the University’s international strategy, leaders of partner institutions from the Carpathian Basin and representatives of international partner institutions attended the ceremony.
Among the distinguished guests were Botir Usmanov, Rector of the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology in Uzbekistan; representatives of Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland and University North in Varaždin, Croatia.
Among Obuda University’s Honorary Professors were Professor Nikola Kasabov, Professor at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand and a globally recognized researcher in neural networks; Philip Chen, Chair Professor at South China University of Technology; and Professor Péter Érdi, a world-renowned Hungarian-born neuroscientist based in the United States.
Also present were Professor Jozsef Kövecses of McGill University in Canada and Professor Ivana Stajner-Papuga of the University of Novi Sad in Serbia.
Oath Ceremony
Distinguished Professors
Professor Seyedali Mirjalili is an internationally recognized researcher in artificial intelligence whose pioneering contributions have significantly advanced the fields of optimization, machine learning and computational intelligence.
As the creator of several widely used optimization algorithms and one of the world’s most highly cited scientists, his work has had a profound impact on the development of modern artificial intelligence. His distinguished career is reflected in more than 180,000 academic citations, numerous prestigious international awards and prominent leadership roles within the global scientific community.
As a Distinguished Professor at Obuda University, he will continue contributing to scientific excellence, innovation and international cooperation, inspiring generations of researchers and students around the world.
Professor Amir H. Gandomi is an internationally recognized researcher in artificial intelligence and data science whose pioneering work has made significant contributions to predictive analytics, evolutionary computation and scalable artificial intelligence.
As a Professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a Distinguished Professor at Obuda University, he successfully bridges fundamental research and practical innovation across numerous fields. Through his outstanding research, scientific leadership and international engagement, he continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence and inspiring the international scientific community.
Professor Andrea De Gaetano is an internationally recognized researcher who uniquely combines the fields of biomedicine and mathematical modelling through his expertise as a physician, applied mathematician, statistician and lawyer.
As Director of the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation of the Italian National Research Council and a Distinguished Professor at Obuda University, he plays a significant role in advancing modern biomathematics and medicine. His research has had a major impact on the modelling of glucose metabolism, diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular processes, as well as the application of advanced statistical and computational methods in healthcare.
Foundation Researcher Award
Professor Ali Safaa Sadiq is an internationally recognized researcher and scientific leader in cybersecurity, trustworthy artificial intelligence and critical infrastructure protection.
As Director of the Cyber Security Research Group at Nottingham Trent University, his research focuses on innovative applications of post-quantum security, cyber-physical systems, autonomous vehicles and trustworthy AI. A Stanford Top 2% researcher and multiple award recipient, his work makes a significant contribution to improving the security and resilience of digital systems worldwide.
Prof. Dr. Lászlo Szilágyi is an internationally recognized researcher in artificial intelligence, medical image processing and bioinformatics whose work has had a significant impact on intelligent data processing and the modelling of biomedical systems.
As a professor at Obuda University and Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, his research focuses on pattern recognition, machine learning, biometric and medical applications, and explainable artificial intelligence. Through his scientific achievements, teaching and research community-building activities, he plays a significant role in advancing AI research in Hungary and internationally.
Professor Yo-Ping Huang is an internationally recognized researcher and scientific leader in artificial intelligence, intelligent control systems and AI-enabled IoT technologies.
As Chair Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at National Taipei University of Technology and President of the Chinese Automatic Control Society, he plays a leading role in the development of research into intelligent systems and automation. His research focuses on deep learning, machine learning, intelligent control and AI-enabled IoT systems. His achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Research Award of Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council.
Young Excellence Research Award
Dr. Fahime Khozeimeh, who will receive the award at a later date.
Dr. Dániel Drexler, an internationally recognized Hungarian researcher in control engineering, robotics and cybermedicine, is Associate Professor at the John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics at Obuda University and Head of the Computational Therapy Optimization Research Group.
His research focuses on physiological regulation, nonlinear systems control, and modern medical technology and engineering applications. As a researcher and project leader, he has contributed to the success of numerous national and international programmes while also playing an important role in supporting young researchers and doctoral students.
Dr. habil. Zsombor Zrubka is Head of the HECON – Health Economics Research Center at Obuda University.
His research focuses on health technology assessment, patient-reported outcomes, and the economic and social impacts of digital health solutions. Another important area of his research is the application of artificial intelligence-based research methods.
His scientific output includes 225 publications, including 27 D1 and 20 Q1 international publications. His publications have a combined impact factor of more than 234, while his Google Scholar citations approach 1,800. Through his interdisciplinary research, international scientific collaborations and work as Chair of the ISPOR Digital Health Special Interest Group, he contributes to the advancement of health economics, digital healthcare and AI-based healthcare innovation.
The Student Union awards were presented by András Batta, President of the Student Union.
Student Union Awards
Patrik Lajos received the title of Sportsman of the Year after making sports history in Georgia. He became European Champion in Shinkyokushin karate, one of the world’s strongest full-contact karate organizations. No Hungarian athlete had previously won the European title in the 90 kg category, and Hungary had not won a men’s gold medal at the European Championships for 13 years. Despite his young age, he is currently the most successful Hungarian male competitor in the sport.
Mikolt Toth received the Public Life Employee of the Year Award for her years of dedicated work to ensure that the University’s athletes can represent Obuda University at as many competitions as possible and demonstrate their talents. Through her continuous cooperation with the Student Union and her contribution to the success of the University Sports Day and numerous other events, she has thoroughly earned this recognition.
Awards for Outstanding Contribution
Kevin István Lucz, a long-standing and influential member of the Student Union community, was recognized for his dedicated work as a member of the Student Union leadership responsible for dormitory affairs and, previously, as President of the dormitory student union. His helpful attitude, solution-oriented approach and active participation have always been appreciated at Student Union events.
Virág Fehér has been an active member of the Student Representative Council of the Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering since 2023. Over the years, she has served in several leadership positions, representing the student community with responsibility and dedication. Her work has played an important role in supporting the day-to-day operation of the Student Representative Council.
Ágota Lina Sebestyén began her work with the Student Representative Council of the Donát Bánki Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering in early 2023. During her time in several leadership positions, she represented her fellow students with outstanding commitment and dedication, while also playing an important role in building the faculty community and implementing the Council’s objectives.
Ádám Serege served for nearly three years as a member of the leadership of the John von Neumann Faculty Student Union responsible for PR and events. During his tenure, he played a significant role in renewing and developing faculty student events. He introduced numerous new elements to the NIK Student Union’s events and helped revive several events that had been discontinued since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through his work at faculty events, dedication and active involvement in the community, Ádám made a significant contribution to improving the quality of student life.
