OU Strengthens Strategic Partnership and Celebrates with Quinnipiac University
Led by Rector Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, an Obuda University delegation attended the events marking the 10th anniversary of Quinnipiac University’s School of Computing & Engineering, as the only foreign higher education institution invited. The visit focused on preparing the dual-degree programme planned for September 2027, developing the joint research programme, and extending the partnership to new fields, including cyber-medical systems, hospital engineering and health sciences.
The anniversary celebrations were also attended by Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator for Connecticut, who welcomed the participants. During the visit, Rector Kovács took part in the meeting of the School of Computing & Engineering’s Advisory Board, where he represents Obuda University as its only international member. A key topic of the meeting was the future of the partnership between the two universities.
The two universities are jointly developing a dual-degree programme planned to start in September 2027. An important milestone was reached recently, when the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) approved Quinnipiac University’s plan to offer the programme with Obuda University. The visit provided an opportunity to review the remaining academic and organisational questions.
In September 2026, the universities launched their 1+1 research cooperation programme, in which three researchers from each institution take part. The delegation met the American research team to review the experience so far. The partners also discussed the preparation of joint research projects and funding opportunities in the United States and Europe.
The delegation held strategic talks with QU President Dr. Marie Hardin, Provost Dr. Debra J. Liebowitz and the deans of several schools, including communications, law, medicine and nursing. The partners agreed to extend the cooperation beyond engineering and computing through an interdisciplinary framework. Cyber-medical systems emerged as a new strategic priority, with Quinnipiac showing strong interest in hospital engineering. Obuda University’s hospital engineering programme and the complementary expertise of the two institutions can form the basis for joint education and research initiatives in healthcare innovation. The partners are also exploring mobility and capacity-building opportunities under Erasmus+.
Quinnipiac University’s growth is reflected in U.S. rankings: it placed 156th among National Universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 rankings, up from 179th in 2026, and 51st in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 ranking.
The visit was a significant step in deepening the strategic partnership. Progress on the dual-degree programme, the launch of the joint research programme and the identification of new areas of cooperation provide a solid foundation for further developing the relationship between the two universities.
Dual-degree programme
The two universities are jointly developing a dual-degree programme planned to start in September 2027. An important milestone was reached recently, when the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) approved Quinnipiac University’s plan to offer the programme with Obuda University. The visit provided an opportunity to review the remaining academic and organisational questions.
Joint research
In September 2026, the universities launched their 1+1 research cooperation programme, in which three researchers from each institution take part. The delegation met the American research team to review the experience so far. The partners also discussed the preparation of joint research projects and funding opportunities in the United States and Europe.
New areas of cooperation
The delegation held strategic talks with QU President Dr. Marie Hardin, Provost Dr. Debra J. Liebowitz and the deans of several schools, including communications, law, medicine and nursing. The partners agreed to extend the cooperation beyond engineering and computing through an interdisciplinary framework. Cyber-medical systems emerged as a new strategic priority, with Quinnipiac showing strong interest in hospital engineering. Obuda University’s hospital engineering programme and the complementary expertise of the two institutions can form the basis for joint education and research initiatives in healthcare innovation. The partners are also exploring mobility and capacity-building opportunities under Erasmus+.
Quinnipiac University’s growth is reflected in U.S. rankings: it placed 156th among National Universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 rankings, up from 179th in 2026, and 51st in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 ranking.
The visit was a significant step in deepening the strategic partnership. Progress on the dual-degree programme, the launch of the joint research programme and the identification of new areas of cooperation provide a solid foundation for further developing the relationship between the two universities.
