The series of events of the University Day of our institution’s centenary academic year was concluded by a Formal Senate Sitting on 13 November 2021. It is a tradition that on the occasion of the University of Szeged’s Day, the governing body of the institutions awards the title of Doctor Honoris Causa, as well as prestigious university prizes and certificates of recognition to prominent personalities who support the work of higher education institution.
The SZTE celebrates the 440th anniversary of its founding and the 100th anniversary of its admission to Szeged. Between November 11 and 13, 2021, the University of Szeged commemorated its predecessors with a series of events, greeted the university’s supporters and organised interactive programmes for students.
The closing event of the University of Szeged’s Day, the Formal Senate Sitting, was honoured with the presence of several prominent personalities and public dignitaries as guests of honour, as well as the leaders of the sister universities, including Prof. Dr. Anna Soós, Vice-Rector of the Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca and Prof. Dr. Sandrine Lacombe, Vice President for International Affairs of Université Paris-Saclay.
The Formal Senate Sitting of the University of Szeged was held in English - as is tradition - until the presentation of the Honoris Causa awards.
“We are guided by the idea of science.”
“The University of Szeged, as the University of Albert Szent-Györgyi, is proud of all its University Citizens who create lasting value. We are exceptionally proud of Katalin Karikó, who received her honorary doctorate at the opening ceremony of the academic year of the University of Szeged, because unfortunately she could not attend today’s Senate Sitting of the institution.
The University of Szeged is a progressive alma mater, a safe workplace, a clinical centre offering the best chance of cure, an excellent training centre and a successful research laboratory - as the results achieved in international rankings in 2021 prove.” - Said Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged.
Professor Sylvie Retailleau, President of the Université Paris-Saclay, said she was delighted that the university, which is 100 years old this year, is a member of the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH), as it strengthens the community with its knowledge and its historical roots. Thanks to two years of cooperation, more than 600 students have already been involved in the joint research. The universities of Munich, Lund, Porto, Paris and Szeged have already shown what the future of higher education looks like, as they are building the ecosystem needed to develop by reinforcing each other. She also said that Szeged is now famous not only for its paprika and vitamin C, but also for its world-renowned scientists, such as Albert Szent-Györgyi and Katalin Karikó.
Doctor Honoris Causa for 11 Researchers
The honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Szeged may be awarded to internationally renowned researchers who have performed outstanding scientific work and have a fruitful relationship with our institution. On the occasion of the University Day 2021, 9 scientists were awarded honorary doctorates of the University of Szeged.
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Bauer, Professor at the University of Graz (Austria),
Prof. Dr. David A. Eisner, Professor at the University of Manchester (UK),
Prof. Dr. David Moore Glover, Professor at the University of Cambridge (UK),
Prof. Dr. Johanna Laakso, Professor at the University of Vienna (Austria),
Prof. Dr. György Marko-Varga, Professor at Lunds Universitet (Sweden),
Prof. Dr. Bertrand Mathieu, Professor at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (France),
Prof. Dr. Gerard Mourou, Professor at the École Polytechnique (France),
Prof. Dr. Andrea Varró, Professor at the University of Liverpool (England),
Prof. Dr. Josiane Zerubia, Professor at Inria Sophia Antipolis-Méditerranée (France).
Among the honorees, Prof. Dr. Richard Shusterman, Professor at Florida Atlantic University (USA) will receive the award at a later date. Prof. Dr. Katalin Karikó of the University of Pennsylvania and Vice President of BioNTech has already received the award at the opening ceremony of the centenary academic year.
Prof. Dr. Bertrand Mathieu, one of the recipients of the award, expressed his gratitude. In his speech, he stressed that it is an honour to be awarded the title of Honorary Doctor, which is always the result of years of joint work. The very origin of the word “university” suggests that collaboration is necessary for the development of science. Cooperation is also needed between universities, professors, teachers and students. Such cooperation can be particularly fruitful if it brings together knowledge from different cultures, just like the University of Szeged, which is already a well-known research university across Europe.
The Ceremony Began with Anthem and Ended with a Speech
At the reception following the Sitting, Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged, said in her toast that; “like Kunó Klebelsberg, the goal of the current university leadership is to create.” She also added that our most prominent partners in this work are our colleagues and laureates here. It requires resources, background and infrastructure. The Chancellor summarised the improvements that have been made over the past five years and the plans for laying the foundations for the next 100 years. Among the developments in the near future, she highlighted that in 4-5 years, the Science Park will be a site for innovative education, development and manufacturing based on the university-industry link, serving the region. This and the other investments and developments also serve the purpose of ensuring that the best of the present and the best of the future’s researchers continue to create, research, heal and learn here.
SZTEinfo
Translated by: Réka Szaniszló
