On the 2nd of September 2022, the campus of the University of Dunaújváros was filled with students, the leaders of the institution, members of the Board of Trustees and strategic partners of the university on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the academic year.

 

The nearly two-hour programme began with the singing of the National Anthem, and then the guests were greeted by name. The event was attended by János Süli, Secretary of State, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the University of Dunaújváros; Dr. Lajos Mészáros, Member of Parliament; Dr. Krisztián Molnár, President of the Fejér County Assembly; Dr. László Simon, Chief Deputy of the Fejér County Government Office; Tamás Pintér, Mayor of the City of Dunaújváros; Dr. Orsolya Mária Pacsay-Tomassich, President of the Hungarian Academy of Diplomacy, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the University of Dunaújváros; Dr. Dr. Béla Palotás, Professor Emeritus of the University of Dunaújváros, member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the University of Dunaújváros; Dr. Péter Ferenc Szilágyi, Deputy State Secretary for National Policy, member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the University of Dunaújváros; Marcell Benkó, Director General of the Foundation for the University of Dunaújváros; Dr. Dr. István Szabó, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the University of Dunaújváros Foundation; Dr. Attila Hugyecz, Chairman of the Public Benefit Supervisory Board of the University of Dunaújváros; Ádám Zölei, Member of the Public Benefit Supervisory Board of the University of Dunaújváros. Following a festive programme by the choir of the Zsigmond Móricz Primary School, the programme continued with a welcome speech by Dr. István András, Rector of the university. The new students of the University of Dunaújváros took a vow, in which they declared that they would do their best related to their studies, acquire the knowledge of science, enhance the reputation of the University of Dunaújváros through their behaviour, and were officially welcomed as citizens of their Alma Mater.

 

János Süli, Secretary of State and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the University of Dunaújváros, also welcomed the freshly admitted students. Based on the decision of the Senate of the University of Dunaújváros, the "Honorary Citizen of the University of Dunaújváros" award was given to Dr. Janus Poła, Rector of Jan Amos Comenius University, and his speech was in both Polish and Hungarian, in which he highlighted the importance of cooperation between universities and common successes.  Tamás István Sófalvi and Erika Mészárosné Horváth received a certificate of appreciation. This academic year, 2 students were awarded with the national education scholarship: Dorina Takács and Laura Kinga Lajtos. The Golden Chalk Award - based on student votes - was given to András Péter Kiss, lecturer at the Institute of Social Sciences. The HASIT Mentor Award was given to Mrs. Anita Irén Mihálovicsné Kollár. Afterwards, the 50-year graduates received their jubilee certificates of honour. The event ended with the Szózat.


 

Dr. István András István, the Rector of the University of Dunaújváros, told in his speech the increase in the number of students, with about 2000 students starting the academic year 2022/23. The participants heard for the first time about the success of the 2022 admission procedure: "there was a significant increase of 7% in the number of admissions, giving the chance for nearly 700 first-year students to start their professional careers at the institution."  The event provided participants with an insight into the opportunities offered by the University, such as the HASIT programme, the Training Career Management Programme or the Sport concept of the Fit University. The development of the institution was also discussed, they told us that the 1.5 billion HUF project of the Paks Competence and Research Centre has been successfully completed, and that the e-DUE project, which is still ongoing, includes 4.5 billion HUF IT developments. In addition, a complete renovation of the main building will start in the near future. According to the Rector, "Students are a central value for our University. Students are collaborative partners in development, value creation and value preservation." This year, there was also an opportunity to present jubilee certificates to students who had graduated 50 years ago, with nearly 100 people receiving them, 69 of whom received them in person at the event. 

 

 

János Süli, State Secretary for the Expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University's Foundation, then addressed the audience. In his speech, he emphasized that he intends to strengthen the base of the Paks II project in view of the decades of common history, in which the University of Dunaújváros plays a key role, during which the Nuclear Training Base could be established. He highligthed the importance of learning and self-development in life and encouraged the students to work hard to use the knowledge they have acquired here to meet essential labour market needs, because "good professionals are always needed". At the end of his speech, he said to the students: "Those present here can witness the creation of a resource centre for professional training and research and development within the walls of the university, on which the companies of the region and the Hungarian national economy can build in the long term. This is what we are working on, and I ask that we work together. I wish you good luck and good health!"