Tradition and Innovation – Obuda University Celebrates its 15th Anniversary
Obuda University, a technical higher education institution, celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, marking 145 years since the founding of its predecessor institutions. The university has achieved a remarkable milestone, ranking in the 601-800 range in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. During the jubilee event held on November 22, Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, László Bódis, Deputy State Secretary for Innovation, and Dr. András Cser-Palkovics, Chair of the Rudolf Kalman Foundation for Obuda University, highlighted the institution's impressive leap of nearly 1,400 places on the international rankings. At the event, Prof. Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, was conferred the title of Honorary Doctor, and the university’s newly appointed professors were also honored.
Obuda University has become increasingly visible on the international stage, advancing significantly in nearly every field over the past five years. It now ranks in the 601-800 range in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, representing a climb of approximately 1,400 places. This achievement secures Obuda University the second position among Hungarian higher education institutions. Rector Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács emphasized that "we are building a globally rare example of an entrepreneurial university approach with our newly established innovation ecosystem. Our academic prestige is significantly enhanced by the fact that 63 professors now teach and conduct research at our institution. This year saw the highest number of doctoral degrees conferred and new students enrolling in the university’s history."
"Our goal is to make the university increasingly attractive to young people. Innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility will always play a central role in our mission," the Rector stated.
Dr. András Cser-Palkovics commended the university's achievements made possible by the collaboration of educators and researchers. He identified the development of institutional infrastructure as a key goal, noting that the university’s foundation provides all the legal and financial opportunities necessary for further advancement.
László Bódis underscored the alignment of the university's plans with the government’s innovation strategy, aiming to strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions, the corporate sector, and research institutes—an essential component for a successful innovation ecosystem. He added that the government prioritizes fostering research and development and will increase funding and expand grant opportunities in the coming year.
Prof. Dr. Béla Merkely emphasized the inseparability of technical advancements and progress in medical sciences. He expressed optimism about further collaboration between Obuda University and Semmelweis University.
The event also celebrated the university’s new professors:
Prof. Dr. Ervin Rácz, Prof. Dr. Zoltán Vámossy, Prof. Dr. Tamás Ferenci, Prof. Dr. Ágnes Teréz Csiszárik-Kocsir, Prof. Dr. Edit Ludányi-Laufer, Prof. Dr. Zoltán Balogh, Prof. Dr. Tamás Jancsó, Prof. Dr. Mónika Garai-Fodor, Prof. Dr. Tünde Kovács, and Professor Emerita Márta Kisfaludy.
Prof. Dr. Béla Merkely, a Széchenyi Prize-winning Hungarian physician, Budapest’s honorary citizen, interventional cardiologist, sports medicine specialist, university professor, doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, director of the Semmelweis University Citymajor Heart and Vascular Clinic, and chair of both the Department of Cardiology and the Department of Aviation and Space Medicine at Semmelweis University, was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in recognition of his outstanding, internationally recognized scientific work over many years and his contributions to the university.
He is the president of the Cardiovascular Division of the Health Professional College, co-chair of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, and has served as the president of the Cardiological and Sports Medicine Professional Panel since 2008. Professor Merkely has conducted significant scientific research, with his publications appearing in prestigious Hungarian and international journals. In 2021, a book detailing his career, Healing with Heart and Soul, was published by Lexica Publishing. His primary research areas include non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure, new techniques in interventional cardiology, invasive and non-invasive imaging in heart failure, arrhythmias, acute coronary syndromes, sports cardiology, and the cardiovascular development of elite athletes.
He was the vice president of the European Society of Cardiology and the honorary president of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology. He is the author of five books, 71 book chapters, and nearly 1300 articles in international and Hungarian medical journals, with a cumulative impact factor of over 6700 and nearly 82,000 independent citations. His Hirsch index exceeds 100. Throughout his career, he has received more than 20 research grants, totaling nearly 100 million Euros. In recognition of his exceptional scientific and teaching work in cardiology, as well as his exemplary humanitarian contributions, Obuda University has awarded him the Doctor Honoris Causa distinction. Professor Dr. Béla Merkely delivered his inaugural lecture titled "How to Build a Career in Clinical Research? – The Role of Mentors and Students at the University."
The IEEE Hungary Section and Obuda University Senate awarded the Kalman Rudolf Professorial Title to Prof. Dr. Péter Arató, Professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and Dr. Péter Magyar, researcher.
Dr. Péter Magyar earned his engineering degree from the Budapest University of Technology in 1967 and his doctorate in 1975. From 1967 to 1991, he worked as an adjunct professor and research associate at the university's Department of Automation. He led the Microprocessor-Controlled Drives Laboratory from 1982, focusing on the teaching and industrial R&D of digitally controlled power electronic systems. Dr. Magyar has authored and co-authored technical articles and books and filed over 30 patents. His research area includes the control and mathematical modeling of electric drives and power converters. He is the coordinator of the IEEE chapters in Germany and the leader of the IEEE Life Member Group.
The Obuda University Senate awarded the Cívis Academicus Honoris Causa (Honorary Citizen) title to Béla Kató, Dr. István Szászi, and Akmal Abdumuminovich Savurbaev.
Béla Kató has been a dedicated and authentic representative of Hungarian national politics, working tirelessly to support the Hungarian community in Transylvania. He has been a key figure in establishing the Illyefalva Children’s Village and the Christian Youth and Diaconal Foundation. He believes that only through community experiences can Transylvanian Hungarians be kept at home. In recognition of his decades of service to the Hungarian community, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit in 2021 and the Honorary Citizen title by Óbuda University.
Each year, more and more of Obuda University’s researchers appear in the citation ranking of Stanford University in California. The most recent list includes 11 members of Obuda University. In 2024, Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, Prof. Dr. Tamás Haidegger, CEO of Initium Zrt., Prof. Dr. János Fodor, former Rector of Obuda University, Prof. Dr. László Szilágyi, Dr. Amir Mosavi, faculty members of the John Von Neumann Faculty of Informatics, Dr. Mónika Garai-Fodor, Dean of the Keleti Károly Faculty of Business and Management, Dr. Ágnes Csiszárik-Kocsir, Vice Dean of the Keleti Károly Faculty of Business and Management, Prof. Dr. Judit Telegdi, Professor Emerita of Obuda University, and Dr. Ildikó Horváth were included in the list of most cited researchers.
In addition to the most cited researchers of 2024, another list takes into account researchers’ entire careers and evaluates their cumulative impact until the end of 2024. This ranking considers all their publications and citations accumulated over time. Seven scientists affiliated with Obuda University appear on this list: Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Prof. Dr. Imre Rudas, the founding Rector of OU, Prof. Dr. Tamás Haidegger, Prof. Dr. Annamária Várkonyi-Kóczy, Prof. Dr. János Fodor, Prof. Dr. László Szilágyi, and Dr. Amir Mosavi.
The event was attended by leaders of the university's domestic and international partner institutions and companies.
The ceremony featured a festive program with a performance by János Balázs, Kossuth Prize-winning pianist, and the Obuda University Mixed Choir.
"Our goal is to make the university increasingly attractive to young people. Innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility will always play a central role in our mission," the Rector stated.
Dr. András Cser-Palkovics commended the university's achievements made possible by the collaboration of educators and researchers. He identified the development of institutional infrastructure as a key goal, noting that the university’s foundation provides all the legal and financial opportunities necessary for further advancement.
László Bódis underscored the alignment of the university's plans with the government’s innovation strategy, aiming to strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions, the corporate sector, and research institutes—an essential component for a successful innovation ecosystem. He added that the government prioritizes fostering research and development and will increase funding and expand grant opportunities in the coming year.
Prof. Dr. Béla Merkely emphasized the inseparability of technical advancements and progress in medical sciences. He expressed optimism about further collaboration between Obuda University and Semmelweis University.
Recognitions
The event also celebrated the university’s new professors:
Prof. Dr. Ervin Rácz, Prof. Dr. Zoltán Vámossy, Prof. Dr. Tamás Ferenci, Prof. Dr. Ágnes Teréz Csiszárik-Kocsir, Prof. Dr. Edit Ludányi-Laufer, Prof. Dr. Zoltán Balogh, Prof. Dr. Tamás Jancsó, Prof. Dr. Mónika Garai-Fodor, Prof. Dr. Tünde Kovács, and Professor Emerita Márta Kisfaludy.
Prof. Dr. Béla Merkely, a Széchenyi Prize-winning Hungarian physician, Budapest’s honorary citizen, interventional cardiologist, sports medicine specialist, university professor, doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, director of the Semmelweis University Citymajor Heart and Vascular Clinic, and chair of both the Department of Cardiology and the Department of Aviation and Space Medicine at Semmelweis University, was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in recognition of his outstanding, internationally recognized scientific work over many years and his contributions to the university.
He is the president of the Cardiovascular Division of the Health Professional College, co-chair of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, and has served as the president of the Cardiological and Sports Medicine Professional Panel since 2008. Professor Merkely has conducted significant scientific research, with his publications appearing in prestigious Hungarian and international journals. In 2021, a book detailing his career, Healing with Heart and Soul, was published by Lexica Publishing. His primary research areas include non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure, new techniques in interventional cardiology, invasive and non-invasive imaging in heart failure, arrhythmias, acute coronary syndromes, sports cardiology, and the cardiovascular development of elite athletes.
He was the vice president of the European Society of Cardiology and the honorary president of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology. He is the author of five books, 71 book chapters, and nearly 1300 articles in international and Hungarian medical journals, with a cumulative impact factor of over 6700 and nearly 82,000 independent citations. His Hirsch index exceeds 100. Throughout his career, he has received more than 20 research grants, totaling nearly 100 million Euros. In recognition of his exceptional scientific and teaching work in cardiology, as well as his exemplary humanitarian contributions, Obuda University has awarded him the Doctor Honoris Causa distinction. Professor Dr. Béla Merkely delivered his inaugural lecture titled "How to Build a Career in Clinical Research? – The Role of Mentors and Students at the University."
The IEEE Hungary Section and Obuda University Senate awarded the Kalman Rudolf Professorial Title to Prof. Dr. Péter Arató, Professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and Dr. Péter Magyar, researcher.
Dr. Péter Magyar earned his engineering degree from the Budapest University of Technology in 1967 and his doctorate in 1975. From 1967 to 1991, he worked as an adjunct professor and research associate at the university's Department of Automation. He led the Microprocessor-Controlled Drives Laboratory from 1982, focusing on the teaching and industrial R&D of digitally controlled power electronic systems. Dr. Magyar has authored and co-authored technical articles and books and filed over 30 patents. His research area includes the control and mathematical modeling of electric drives and power converters. He is the coordinator of the IEEE chapters in Germany and the leader of the IEEE Life Member Group.
The Obuda University Senate awarded the Cívis Academicus Honoris Causa (Honorary Citizen) title to Béla Kató, Dr. István Szászi, and Akmal Abdumuminovich Savurbaev.
Béla Kató has been a dedicated and authentic representative of Hungarian national politics, working tirelessly to support the Hungarian community in Transylvania. He has been a key figure in establishing the Illyefalva Children’s Village and the Christian Youth and Diaconal Foundation. He believes that only through community experiences can Transylvanian Hungarians be kept at home. In recognition of his decades of service to the Hungarian community, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit in 2021 and the Honorary Citizen title by Óbuda University.
Each year, more and more of Obuda University’s researchers appear in the citation ranking of Stanford University in California. The most recent list includes 11 members of Obuda University. In 2024, Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, Prof. Dr. Tamás Haidegger, CEO of Initium Zrt., Prof. Dr. János Fodor, former Rector of Obuda University, Prof. Dr. László Szilágyi, Dr. Amir Mosavi, faculty members of the John Von Neumann Faculty of Informatics, Dr. Mónika Garai-Fodor, Dean of the Keleti Károly Faculty of Business and Management, Dr. Ágnes Csiszárik-Kocsir, Vice Dean of the Keleti Károly Faculty of Business and Management, Prof. Dr. Judit Telegdi, Professor Emerita of Obuda University, and Dr. Ildikó Horváth were included in the list of most cited researchers.
In addition to the most cited researchers of 2024, another list takes into account researchers’ entire careers and evaluates their cumulative impact until the end of 2024. This ranking considers all their publications and citations accumulated over time. Seven scientists affiliated with Obuda University appear on this list: Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Prof. Dr. Imre Rudas, the founding Rector of OU, Prof. Dr. Tamás Haidegger, Prof. Dr. Annamária Várkonyi-Kóczy, Prof. Dr. János Fodor, Prof. Dr. László Szilágyi, and Dr. Amir Mosavi.
The event was attended by leaders of the university's domestic and international partner institutions and companies.
The ceremony featured a festive program with a performance by János Balázs, Kossuth Prize-winning pianist, and the Obuda University Mixed Choir.
