On 15 November in Beijing, representatives of Széchenyi István University, Zhejiang Jiaxing University and the Chinese International Education Foundation signed the agreement establishing a joint Confucius Institute at the Győr-based institution. The initiative marks a new milestone in Hungarian–Chinese cultural, educational and economic cooperation, offering significant support in the fields of language teaching, research and academic mobility.

Artificial intelligence, online court platforms and automated legal procedures are fundamentally reshaping the legal professions of lawyers and judges – these were the topics focused on by the international conference recently held by the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Széchenyi István University. At the event, Hungarian and foreign experts, lecturers and practising lawyers discussed how technological developments are transforming the perception of the legal role and everyday professional practice.

A new community space called Study Lunch has been inaugurated at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Széchenyi István University, which offers students a calm and inspiring environment for studying, conversation and collaboration. The investment, costing approximately 40 million HUF, was realised with a 13 million HUF contribution from Agrofert Hungária Kft., strengthening the partnership between the university and economic stakeholders.

Széchenyi István University has recently contributed to the successful organisation of two major domestic cycling races. The emerging cooperation between the University and the Brigetio Cycling Sports Club aims both to expand sporting opportunities for students and to strengthen the presence of cycling in Győr.

Bernadett Vida, a second-year master’s student in orchestral conducting at the Faculty of Design and Performance Arts of Széchenyi István University, achieved excellent results at the 4th Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition. The talented young conductor advanced to the semi-finals as the only Hungarian among the top six participants, earning her the opportunity to conduct performances in both Budapest and Győr during the next cultural season.

The Library and Archives of Széchenyi István University has won first place in the Library Challenge competition organized by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, in the category of higher education and specialized libraries, earning a grant of ten million forints. During the competition period, the institution not only increased its visitor, reader, and lending numbers, but also promoted library use among younger generations through numerous community programmes.

Tamara Lehoczky from Törökbálint is studying simultaneously at Harvard University in the United States and Széchenyi István University. In America, supported among others by the Pannónia Talent Programme, she studies Political Governance and East Asian Studies at one of the world’s best higher education institutions, which she complements in Győr with an English-taught undergraduate degree in International Relations. The programmes pursued on two continents serve the same purpose: the talented young woman would like to work in international diplomacy in the future.

An album recorded in collaboration with the Győr Symphonic Band, the wind orchestra of Széchenyi István University, has made it onto the nomination list for one of the world’s most prestigious music awards, the Grammy. The recording, created together with British clarinettist Peter Cigleris, was entered in the Classical Instrumental Solo category by the UK-based label SOMM Recordings.

For the past four years, the Széll Kálmán Residential College of Economic and Data Science at Széchenyi István University has been building a scientific forum that offers students a valuable professional network, in-depth knowledge, and diverse opportunities. Members of this talent development community have achieved remarkable results in recent years, and most recently they participated in a professional study visit to the logistics centre of Amazon—one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies—in Vienna.

The Széchenyi István University team, Uni Győr Sharks, recently triumphed in the Hungarian University and College National American Football Championships (MEFOB). The team achieved a resounding victory despite the absence of three key players, who could not take part as they were selected for the Hungarian national team.

For the first time in Hungary, typography – the art of letterforms and text composition – has been given a national platform. The Typoflow Biennale, focusing on the art of the letter, was held at the Design Campus of Széchenyi István University, attracting more than 1,300 entries. An exhibition showcasing the 200 best works, selected by an international jury, opened at the University’s Győr Innovation Park.

With her sensory-motor training programme designed for young children, a researcher from Széchenyi István University has won the Gold Award in the lower primary school category of the OTP Fáy Educational Innovation Prize. Dr Erzsébet Stephens-Sarlós’s playful and widely accessible development sessions aim to support children’s neurological maturation through movement, thereby promoting the development of fundamental abilities essential for learning, attention, and behaviour regulation.

The motorsport division of the Széchenyi István University Sports Club, Uni Győr WMS, concluded an exceptionally successful season. Eszter Németh, the best female speed car racer of 2024, finished in second place in the international classification of the Swift Cup Europe and third place in the overall standings of the Hungarian Championship. Furthermore, the institution's team became the team champion of the National Karting Championship, with two of its drivers winning individual championship titles and earning the right to participate in the World Championship.

Two new catering establishments have added colour to the gastronomic map of Győr’s city centre. The Mankosha Palestinian bakery, located in Dr Kovács Pál utca, and the neighbouring 6Dogs American hot dog bistro were both founded by graduates of Széchenyi István University, who prepare their culinary specialities in the spirit of tradition and quality.

The third International Danube Cup Conference was held in Győr, focusing on research related to the challenges of entrepreneurship, particularly those faced by small businesses. The two-day event, co-organized by Széchenyi István University, brought together domestic and international experts from countries along the Danube. Over thirteen thematic sessions, participants discussed topics including the situation of female entrepreneurs, family businesses, technological innovation, and entrepreneurship education at universities.

Scholarships, internationalisation, the value of degrees and the practical nature of education were the main topics raised at the forum where students of Széchenyi István University had the opportunity to ask questions directly to Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation.

With funding of HUF 1.7 billion from the Rural Development Programme and more than half a billion HUF of its own resources, Széchenyi István University has established pig and poultry demonstration plants, a smart garden, and modernised the laboratory of its cheese production facility at the Albert Kázmér Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.
At the ceremony, it was emphasised that these projects serve both practice-oriented education and research.

The establishment of the Hungaroring Automotive and Motorsport External Department by Széchenyi István University in Győr and Hungaroring Sport Zrt. serves multiple purposes: nurturing young talent, advancing engineering expertise, and promoting joint research and development with industry partners. This new organisational unit will contribute to Hungary’s emergence as the motorsport innovation hub of the Central European region.

Mooncakes, lantern making, and a collective poetry recital marked the celebration of one of the most significant events in Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival, at Széchenyi István University. Alongside visitors, the University’s students and staff, as well as participants of the Chinese language courses launched this autumn, took part in the event, which revolved around themes of togetherness, family and friendship, and the symbolism of the moon.

The Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics at Széchenyi István University recently organised its international business and economics conference, which this time explored the theme “Transforming Global Challenges into Opportunities.” The event focused on the economic, social, and corporate impacts of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Lecturers from the Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences at Széchenyi István University recently held a micro-credential further education programme for teachers. The special two-day event, hosted by the Hungarian Consulate General in Manchester, attracted participants from countries including Switzerland, Sweden and Scotland. The focus of the programme was on developing methodological skills, story and drama pedagogy, and playful identity formation.

For the first time this year, Széchenyi István University’s Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences organised its Creative Week together with the Design Week of the Faculty of Arts. The new joint initiative encouraged collaboration, teamwork, exploring new perspectives, and interdisciplinary thinking among students.

A strategic cooperation agreement has recently been signed in Budapest between 4iG Space and Defence Technologies and Széchenyi István University of Győr. The partnership aims to strengthen the long-term supply of skilled professionals for Hungary’s space and defence sectors, promote joint research and development projects, and support both domestic and international competitiveness through innovation and academic programmes.

For the third consecutive year, Széchenyi István University has been listed among the world’s top higher education institutions in one of the most prestigious global university rankings, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, published on 9 October this year. The result demonstrates that the institution continues to rank among the best universities worldwide.

Transitioning from engine supplier to car builder, the SZEngine student team of Széchenyi István University is embarking on a new chapter by developing its own vehicle and competing independently in the Formula Student series. At their latest event, the team revealed that it will continue its trademark powertrain development while also experimenting with hybrid technologies. The change of era is further symbolized by the fact that, departing from its previous approach, SZEngine will enter its first independent season with a turbocharged power unit based on the KTM 450.

Széchenyi István University recently hosted a delegation from North-West University, South Africa, on its Győr and Mosonmagyaróvár campuses. Over the course of the two-day visit, the institutions explored potential avenues for collaboration in fields such as food science, engineering, economics and management sciences.

Waberer’s, a company listed in the premium category of the Budapest Stock Exchange, has reached another important milestone with the ceremonial opening of its expanded service hall in Mosonmagyaróvár. This investment, worth nearly HUF 1 billion, not only supports the efficient and reliable operation of the company’s fleet of more than three thousand vehicles, but, in cooperation with Széchenyi István University, also contributes to the training of future professionals, as the facility will serve as a practical training workshop.

Dr István Peták, cancer researcher and research professor at Széchenyi István University, together with his colleagues, was the first to develop an artificial-intelligence-based medical software that supports the selection of molecularly personalised, targeted anti-cancer therapies. The Digital Development Centre of Széchenyi István University also took part in the development, with its experts contributing to speeding up data entry. The internationally recognised physician gave a lecture to a packed audience on this healthcare technology innovation at the University’s Győr Innovation Park.

The goal of the Doctoral School of Law and Political Sciences at Széchenyi István University, besides ensuring a high-quality supply of researchers and lecturers, is to encourage research that requires cooperation across scientific disciplines and to strengthen scientific activity and international embeddedness. According to its new head, Professor Dr Gábor Sulyok, the institution in Győr provides excellent opportunities for all of this.

Since 1994, Academic Day has been the most important celebration of Széchenyi István University, organised in connection with the anniversary of the birth of its namesake, Baron István Széchenyi. In keeping with tradition, this year’s event also saw the conferring of doctorates, as well as the presentation of prestigious awards to those whose work has significantly contributed to the development of the University and the strengthening of its community.