What does it really mean to experience another educational culture? Teaching mobility abroad not only provides valuable professional experience, but also offers an opportunity to look at our own familiar practices from a different perspective. In the third part of our series, Dr. Péter Ákos Szilassy, Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Energetic of the Institute of Engineering Sciences at the University of Dunaújváros (UoD), shares his experiences of teaching in China.
In May 2026, Dr. Szilassy spent approximately a week and a half at Qingdao Harbour Vocational and Technical College, where he taught production technology related to the design and construction of electric road vehicles.
Although our partner institution also featured in the previous part of the series, the same environment can reveal very different aspects through each teaching mobility. Qingdao’s immense size and the diversity of Chinese cuisine made a similarly strong impression on Dr. Szilassy, so this time we focus instead on the questions and insights that add further layers to the picture we have already explored.
A journey like this actually begins long before departure. The mobility was preceded by extensive research and preparation. From several thousand slides of collected professional material, Dr. Szilassy eventually compiled a teaching resource of around 400 slides. The aim was not simply to „take” existing course material abroad, but also to consider how the individual topics should build on one another, what prior knowledge could be expected, and how the material could be presented in a way that would allow students to genuinely deepen their understanding.
All of this becomes even more challenging in a foreign-language environment. Explaining technical terminology and complex relationships already requires a high degree of precision, and when an interpreter or language assistant is involved, another question arises: how much of the nuance of the professional content ultimately reaches the students? Translating a technical term does not necessarily mean that the full idea behind it has also been conveyed. This also requires considerable concentration from students as well: if something is not fully understood, it becomes increasingly difficult to follow it attentively, particularly for those who may have had less previous experience of studying in a foreign language.
The educational environment itself revealed a great deal about the daily routines the students adapt to. Stepping outside the classroom, the scale of the institution immediately became tangible in a way that numbers alone can hardly convey. In one four-storey teaching building, with six enormous lecture halls on each floor, several thousand students may leave their classes at the same time. Within moments, the spaces fill up and everyone moves quickly and purposefully. You have to keep up with the pace – as Dr. Szilassy put it, those who fall behind can easily miss out.
Located on the outskirts of the city, the enclosed university campus offers practically everything students might need in their daily lives. Given the significant distances involved, there is a very practical reason for this: anything that is not available on campus may require travelling several dozen kilometres. Consequently, the campus operates with a strong emphasis on functionality, a commitment to ensuring that the system itself provides solutions for as many situations as possible.
From a professional perspective, one particularly interesting aspect of this way of thinking is the ability to turn ideas into reality. Using a deliberately illustrative comparison, Dr. Szilassy noted that while in Hungary perhaps one or two valuable ideas out of a hundred reach the stage of marketable implementation, in China as many as one in two viable ideas may be channelled into processes that can result in an actual product or functioning solution. The ratio itself is not the point; what matters is the background and structure capable of supporting the journey from an idea to its practical application.
The size of the campus and the fact that it functions almost as a self-contained entity also placed the question of language use in a different perspective. In Dr. Szilassy’s view, in large countries such as China, Russia or the United States, where education, work and most aspects of everyday life can function fully within one’s own linguistic environment, the active use of a second language may be less of a practical necessity than in Europe’s smaller, closely interconnected countries. In an international educational environment, however, this makes the deliberate creation of a shared space for communication all the more important.
The impact of the journey did not end upon returning home. His experiences in China also influenced how he thought about Chinese students arriving at UOD and raised new questions. In a system of this size, how are individual needs recognised? How much attention can be devoted to one student?
A short visit cannot, of course, provide comprehensive answers to these questions. It can, however, help us better understand the cultural transition that a Chinese student may experience when coming to Hungary. In everyday life at UoD, it is often natural for us to ask questions, show interest, offer personal support or look for an individual solution to a particular problem. For a student coming from a different cultural background, this kind of directness and personal attention may in itself be a new experience.
All of this demonstrates that the effects of international mobility are never one-way. It is not only a European lecturer arriving in China who encounters a different way of operating; students coming to Hungary also find themselves in a new social and communicative environment. Easier access to personal support may, over time, mean that in certain situations they feel more comfortable turning to others for help, and may do so more frequently than they would have in the past. The encounter changes both sides.
Seen from this perspective, international cooperation itself also takes on a more nuanced meaning. The distance between a European and a Chinese higher education institution is not merely geographical. Institutions may differ in size, educational culture, organisational practices, modes of communication, and in the outcomes and opportunities they see in a partnership. The true value of a relationship therefore cannot be measured solely by the number of mobilities or by the organisational and financial frameworks available. Time and mutual understanding are also needed to identify the professional points of connection that can give genuine substance to the partnership for both sides.
Dr. Szilassy also emphasised that he is very grateful for the opportunity and considers teaching mobilities of this kind extremely important. The journey gave him new perspectives, both professionally and personally, and experiences he could not have gained had he stayed at home.
For us, it is particularly important that our lecturers share these experiences with us. Learning from them helps us better understand different ways of operating, different reactions and cultural differences, and enables us to look at the situations we encounter through international cooperation and in the everyday lives of our international students from a new perspective.
To go, to experience, to share – and, along the way, to gain a deeper understanding of what we see.
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The student community space at the University of Dunaújváros (UOD) is ready to welcome first-year and returning students with a fresh new look.
The B-club is one of the most iconic community spaces for UOD students. The venue, which regularly hosts university parties and smaller traditional student gatherings, underwent a complete interior renovation on 29–30 August. The work was coordinated by the Student Union of the University of Dunaújváros (EHÖK) and the Dunaújváros Valéta Committee (DVB). Several students also volunteered to help with the renovation.
(The coats of arms now stand out in brighter colours after the fresh coat of paint. Photo: UOD)
The renovation of the B-club building began last year, when its roof structure was refurbished. This year, the focus shifted to the interior. Work began with the removal of cobwebs, after which the walls were scraped, filled, sanded and repainted. The coats of arms in the main hall were also refreshed, giving the familiar motifs brighter, more vibrant colours.
The corridor now also features ‘new’ coats of arms reflecting the changes of recent years, including the university logo updated in 2016, the EHÖK logo, the DVB emblem, and the coats of arms of newly established student societies. As a result, the walls of the B-club have not only been given a fresh new look, but continue to preserve and showcase the traditions and history of UOD’s student community.
What makes the renovation particularly special is that it was completed entirely through the participants’ own efforts and resources. The students, EHÖK and DVB themselves provided all the necessary materials and equipment.
The refurbished B-club is ready for the start of the new academic year. By the time Freshman Camp begins, students will once again be able to enjoy the refurbished community space, which will continue to host traditional student gatherings and, of course, unforgettable university parties.
(The B-club before the renovation and during the work. Photo: UOD)
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Apply for the autumn semester of the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP).
Are you interested in innovation, do you have ideas of your own, or would you like to experience working as part of a startup team? There is still time to register for the autumn semester of HSUP, which has already attracted 118 students at the University of Dunaújváros (UOD).
HSUP aims to introduce university students to innovation and the world of startups through a shared educational platform. During the programme, participants not only gain theoretical knowledge but also have the opportunity to develop their own project ideas while working as part of a team.
What is it like to take part in a project like this? Two UOD students from the Smart Trash Bench team, a project developed through HSUP, shared their experiences: Udval Gantumur, the creator of the idea, and Minnatollah Rachida Oubaya, a Communication and Media Science student. Together with a student from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, they developed an innovative concept combining smart waste sorting with a reward-based mobile application and an underground container system.
In an English-language podcast, the team members discuss the personal experience that inspired their idea, the challenges they faced during the programme, what they gained from working together on the project, and why they would recommend HSUP to other students.
If you have an idea of your own, or are simply curious about what it is like to work in a startup team, this is your opportunity to give it a try!
You can still register for the HSUP course starting in the autumn semester during the course registration period.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL18okL_CAw
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Academic Year Opening Ceremony at the University of Dunaújváros
Students, university leaders and graduates celebrating milestone anniversaries gathered at the Sports Hall of the University of Dunaújváros (UoD) on the morning of 4 September 2026, as the official opening ceremony marked the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic year.
The ceremony opened with a performance by the choir of Móricz Zsigmond Primary School in Dunaújváros, conducted by Enikő Juhász. Following the outstanding performance, Dr István András, Rector of the University of Dunaújváros, welcomed the participants.
In his address, the Rector highlighted that the University of Dunaújváros is starting the 2026/2027 academic year with more than 4,000 students. A total of 812 students were admitted to the University through the general admission procedure, while a further 148 students were given the opportunity to begin their studies through the supplementary admission procedure.
“The significant increase in admission scores and the continued strong interest in engineering and business programmes are clear indications that the University of Dunaújváros is highly regarded among prospective students,” emphasised Dr. István András.
Following the Rector’s address, first-year students took their official oath in a ceremonial setting, formally marking the beginning of their university journey.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Tamás Pintér, Mayor of the City of Dunaújváros, welcomed the students to the new academic year. In his speech, he emphasised that Dunaújváros is now also a city that has welcomed the new students and can become a place they consider home during their university years and beyond. He encouraged the students to enjoy their time in the city, create as many memorable experiences as possible, make the most of their studies, and take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the University and the city.
This year, in accordance with Resolution No. 203/2026 of the President of Hungary, three lecturers of the Institute of Social Sciences were appointed university professors. This prestigious professional recognition was awarded to Professor Dr István András, Professor Dr Mónika Rajcsányi-Molnár and Professor Dr Orsolya Fruzsina Falus.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of jubilee diplomas. In 2026, a total of 74 former students received Golden Diplomas, commemorating more than fifty years since they graduated from the University of Dunaújváros or one of its predecessor institutions.
Following the presentation of the jubilee diplomas, István Fődi, a Golden Diploma recipient and former member of the “NMÖ-32” student group, shared his thoughts with the audience. In his lively speech, he recalled the atmosphere of the traditional student events and his university years from five decades ago, sharing memories of their studies, the important role of the so-called “rehabilitation institution”, and their experiences connected to the traditional student customs of Selmec. He emphasised that former students continue to preserve and celebrate these traditions to this day.
To mark this special anniversary, the current generation of students also had a unique cup made, which Mr Fődi presented to Rector Dr István András at the end of his speech, symbolically connecting the University’s past, present and future.
The University of Dunaújváros wishes everyone a successful academic year!
Jó Szerencsét! - Good Luck!
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On 26 June 2026, 440 – 380 Hungarian and 60 international - students received their degrees at the University of Dunaújváros, including 233 who graduated with distinction. Since then, the University’s alumni team has launched several initiatives to ensure that recent graduates remain connected with the institution even after the graduation ceremony.
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In the Seeing to understand article series, the University of Dunaújváros presents the personal and professional experiences of its lecturers who have participated in international mobility programmes. Through their stories, we gain insight into how international cooperation becomes a tangible experience beyond agreements, official visits and institutional frameworks.
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Read more: Seeing to understand: Teaching Experience in China - Part II
