Obuda University has significantly strengthened in recent years, becoming a flagship of practice-oriented Hungarian technical higher education. Today, it ranks among the top 3 percent of universities worldwide and has grown into one of the leading institutions in Central and Eastern Europe – declared Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, at the Senate meeting, which also served as the Carpathian Basin Hungarian Higher Education Opening Ceremony on September 8. The event featured speeches by Dr. András Cser-Palkovics, Mayor of Székesfehérvár and President of the Rudolf Kalman Foundation for Obuda University, and Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz, Deputy State Secretary for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education, and Youth at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. The ceremony was attended by representatives of numerous cross-border partner institutions and high-ranking diplomats. Awards for Honorary Professor, Distinguished Professor, Founding Distinguished Researcher, and Student Union Recognition were also presented at the ceremony.
In the 2025 admissions period, nearly 6,000 applicants selected Obuda University as their first choice – a historic record. This autumn, 4,532 freshmen, including about 300 international students, are starting their studies – emphasized Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács. Among the achievements he listed were: moving up in the Times Higher Education ranking from the 1001–1200 band to the 601–800 category, and in the QS Rankings, doubling its overall score and advancing to a higher category.
He also highlighted the importance of mobility opportunities, underlined by the Pannonia Scholarship Program, in which participation last year was already double compared to the Erasmus program. “The numbers prove that we are able to respond flexibly to international challenges and successfully adapt to changing circumstances,” he noted. He recalled that the Rudolf Kalman Foundation for Obuda University, as the maintainer, is providing nearly HUF 1 billion in support this year. Furthermore, the University will launch its new excellence scholarship program, Excellence Obuda, this autumn, with the aim of supporting the most outstanding talents by offering individual mentoring and customized academic pathways.
Dr. András Cser-Palkovics stressed that stability and security must define the life of a university community, as only then can development take place. The Foundation’s goal is to provide opportunities that support students, lecturers, and researchers alike.
Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz emphasized that the renewal of universities has brought a scientific, competitiveness, and economic turning point. She noted that now 12 Hungarian universities rank among the world’s top 5 percent. Since the operational changes, 6 out of 10 students have been admitted to fields of national economic priority, corporate revenues have increased by 67 percent, university publication performance has risen by 50 percent, and the number of patents has grown by 35 percent in just one year. “Hungarian higher education is living its second golden age,” she underlined, adding that in the coming years, HUF 1,300 billion will be allocated to university development, with the goal that by 2030 at least one Hungarian university will rank among the world’s top 100 and Europe’s top 30 universities. Regarding Obuda University, she emphasized that through renewal the institution has “leapt forward” and continues to strengthen year after year in global competition.
Welcoming First-Year Students
After the oath, Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács officially admitted the students as citizens of Obuda University. András Batta, President of the Student Union, also welcomed the freshmen.
Recognitions
Honorary Professor titles were awarded to:
Prof. Dr. Ferat Sahin, Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology (USA), Head of the Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering, Director of the Multi-Agent Bio-Robotics Laboratory and the Cooperative Robotics Laboratory. He maintains close ties with Obuda University, regularly participates in joint conferences, and actively collaborates in robotics research.
Prof. Dr. Péter Érdi, computational neuroscientist, Professor at Kalamazoo College (USA). His research focuses on reaction kinetics, neuroscience, and complex systems. Founder of several scientific initiatives, including ELMOHA (Theory, Model, Tradition) and the Budapest Semester in Cognitive Sciences program. He also maintains active relations with Obuda University.
Prof. Dr. Almaz Kadyraliev, Rector of Kyrgyz Economic University, Kyrgyz Republic. Through his outstanding academic and leadership activity, he has contributed significantly to the internationalization of higher education, the development of transport economics, and the promotion of sustainable economic models in Central Asia. His academic and organizational activities are exemplary, making him worthy of the honorary professorship.
Dr. Thomas I. Strasser, Principal Scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology. His main research fields include automation and control, electrical and nuclear engineering, and energy systems. He plays an active role in IEEE and conference organization, and has long-standing cooperation with Obuda University through joint research.
Distinguished Professor title was awarded to:
Prof. Guang-Ren Duan, internationally recognized researcher in control science and engineering.
Founding Distinguished Researcher titles were awarded to:
Prof. Dr. habil. Árpád Baricz, internationally recognized researcher in the theory of special functions and applied mathematical analysis.
Prof. Dr. Róbert Rajkó, internationally recognized expert in environmental chemistry and chemometrics.
(More on the Distinguished Professors is available on the University’s website: New Distinguished Professors Join Obuda University – OU )
Civis Academicus Honoris Causa – Honorary Citizen title was awarded to Károly Mátrai, economist and energy expert, with decades of professional experience in energy trade and finance, maintaining a close and active relationship with Obuda University.
Prof. Dr. Rustam Khamdamovich Khamdamov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor in the field of Systems Analysis, Control and Information Processing, with 46 years of professional experience, including 38 in academia and 27 in leadership positions. Currently, he is a senior leader at the Research Institute for Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. As a professional advisor to the Jizzakh regional government, he supported the Science Park cooperation between Obuda University and Jizzakh from its inception.
Ambassador of Obuda University title was awarded to Ergas Alibekovich Saliev, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Honorary Doctor of Kazan University, recipient of several high state awards. Currently a professor and rector’s senior advisor at Sambhram University in Jizzakh, he previously served as Governor of Jizzakh, supporting and overseeing the joint Uzbek-Hungarian Inno-Techno Park investment and actively contributing to the cooperation from the very beginning.
Student Union Recognitions
Athlete of the Year: Dávid Uhrin, professional canoeist, who has represented the University in multiple competitions at university, national, and world level, achieving outstanding results.
Lecturer of the Year in Student Life: Dr. habil. Orsolya Szigeti, Secretary of the Doctoral School of Innovation Management, for her significant contribution to the smooth functioning of the new doctoral school.
Staff Member of the Year in Student Life: László Visnyei, Head of the Operations Group of the Technical and Operational Office, for his years of dedicated support to the Student Union’s activities.
Partner of the Year: Budapest Beer – Urban Beer Ltd., a long-term partner of the BGK Student Union, supporting the organization of numerous high-quality student events.
Acknowledgement Awards were presented to: Dávid Baráz, as President of the Student Union of the Faculty of Keleti. Zsombor Kovács, as President of the Student Union of the Faculty of Bánki. Péter Pató, as Board Member responsible for PR and Events of the Faculty of Bánki Student Union. Gergő Horváth, for years of dedicated service as President of the Faculty of Bánki Student Union. Levente Koppány Barcsa, for his conscientious and precise work as President of the University Student Union.
The program featured a performance by Hungarian pianist Tünde-Ilona Krasznai
Performance by the lecturers and students of the vocal department of the Partium Christian University of Oradea
