The 2025 University Day celebration series opened on November 15 with a wreath-laying ceremony, followed by the University of Szeged’s official ceremonial session, where honorary doctorates and distinguished university awards were presented. This year’s festivities carry special significance, marking both the 25th anniversary of the merger that led to the formation of today’s unified University of Szeged and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kuno Klebelsberg, the statesman whose efforts were instrumental in establishing the university in Szeged.
November 11 holds a special place in the life of the University of Szeged. On November 11, 1872, the university opened its doors to students at the University of Cluj, regarded as the institution’s predecessor. November 11, 1940, in turn, marks the opening ceremony of the newly established Horthy Miklós University in Szeged. In recognition of these milestones, each year the University of Szeged honors its distinguished predecessors on the Saturday closest to this historic date. By preserving its traditions and recognizing outstanding contemporary figures, the university pays tribute to its past while celebrating those who continue to shape its future.
Wreath-laying at the memorial plaque of István Báthory, founder of the university
This year’s series of celebrations began on November 15 with a wreath-laying ceremony at Rerrich Béla Square, where Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Public Relations, delivered welcome remarks on behalf of the university. He emphasized that the name of István Báthory – Prince of Transylvania and, at the same time, King of Poland – is closely intertwined with the history of the University of Szeged. Báthory founded the Jesuit college in Cluj, one of the key predecessor institutions of today’s University of Szeged.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar recalled the organizational achievements and military successes that made Báthory renowned across Europe. He stressed, however, that Báthory’s legacy is significant not only because of his statesmanship and military leadership, but also due to his enduring commitment to scholarship and education.
On behalf of the university, Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, and on behalf of the City of Szeged, Dr. Tamás Kovács, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, laid a wreath at István Báthory’s memorial plaque at Rerrich Béla Square. The attendees then proceeded to the University Founders’ relief, where they paid tribute with a second wreath.
25 years of the unified University of Szeged
The celebrations continued in the ceremonial hall of the University’s Main Building at Dugonics Square, where honorary doctorates and other university distinctions were presented during the University Day Senate session. In his festive address, Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of SZTE, noted that 2025 is a particularly significant year for the university for two reasons:
First, it marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kuno Klebelsberg, former Minister of Religion and Public Education – the statesman credited with Szeged’s second renaissance and its transformation into an economic, cultural, and scientific center, turning it into a true university city.
“The second reason the 2025–2026 academic year is so important is that it marks 25 years since we took a major step toward Klebelsberg’s dream by establishing the integrated University of Szeged,” said Professor Rovó.
“It was this unification that transformed our university into a single, cohesive whole – one that functions much like a living organism. Indeed, its complexity enhances, rather than hinders, its efficiency. Since 2000, our individual strengths have not only been combined but have also continually reinforced one another. And the resulting synergy is palpable in many ways,” the Rector added.
Viribus unitis! With United Strength!
The Rector also highlighted the outstanding collaboration between the University of Szeged and Shaanxi Normal University, adding that SZTE continues to strengthen its partnerships with the WHO and the Pasteur Network. He also noted that, as a founding and leading member of EUGLOH, the university reaffirmed its commitment to this unique European alliance for global health at a meeting in Porto just a few weeks ago.
At the same time, the Rector emphasized that the University of Szeged is enhancing its infrastructure. He pointed out that the state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment concentrated in the Science Park now enable the university to participate in additional national and international research networks.
“To paraphrase Kennedy’s famous inaugural address: Ask not what the University can do for us – ask what we can do for the University. Those who pursue their vocation in this spirit can be certain that the University of Szeged will, in turn, honor and reward their efforts,” said Prof. Dr. László Rovó, closing his remarks with the motto chosen for the 25th anniversary of the university’s integration: Viribus unitis! – With United Strength!”
Honorary Doctor (Doctor Honoris Causa) titles
At the ceremony, the University of Szeged conferred honorary doctorates on Prof. Dr. Csaba Pléh, psychologist and linguist, full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Eugenio Picano, Italian cardiologist from the University of Belgrade; Prof. Mihai G. Netea, immunologist from Radboud University in the Netherlands; Prof. Róbert Vajtai, chemist and research professor at Rice University in Houston; and Prof. Hom-Lay Wang, dentist and faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
Prof. Dr. Csaba Pléh – psychologist and linguist
Prof. Eugenio Picano – cardiologist
Prof. Mihai G. Netea – immunologist
Prof. Róbert Vajtai – chemist
Prof. Hom-Lay Wang – dentist
According to the decision of the Senate of the University of Szeged, the title of Doctor Honoris Causa may be awarded to scholars who have carried out outstanding, internationally recognized scientific work and who have maintained a long-term, ongoing relationship with SZTE – a collaboration that has resulted in joint, internationally acknowledged achievements and has contributed to strengthening the university’s reputation and prestige.
Prof. Mihai G. Netea – immunologist, speaking on behalf of the honorary doctors
On behalf of the newly appointed honorary doctors, Prof. Mihai G. Netea expressed his gratitude for the appointment. He remarked that receiving this recognition from an institution that inspires both humility and motivation is truly exceptional.
“All of us who received this honor today come from different fields, yet we have united with our dear colleagues in Szeged, which clearly demonstrates the power of collaboration – that people and institutions can achieve far more together than the sum of individual efforts. Whether in engineering or the humanities, the synergy with researchers at the University of Szeged profoundly shapes our work and influences the future of knowledge,” said Mihai G. Netea.
At the ceremony, the Council of the Doctoral School of Educational Sciences at the University of Szeged awarded the Csengery János Memorial Medal to Prof. Dr. Tamás Freund, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The medal itself may be awarded to researchers – not necessarily from the field of educational sciences – who have made significant contributions to advancing education research or teacher training. The distinction was established by the Doctoral School to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of János Csengery, who played a key role in the development of education research in Hungary. Csengery first taught at the University of Cluj and, after the university relocated to Szeged, was elected Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and later served as Rector of the University.
This year, the Minister’s Certificate of Recognition was awarded to Dr. Csaba Farkas, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of SZTE. The Minister’s Certificate of Recognition may be granted to individuals who have carried out professional work at a consistently high standard over an extended period within a ministry or an institution under the minister’s sectoral supervision – and who have demonstrated outstanding merit in doing so.
At the ceremony, five instructors received the Teaching Service Medal, which may be awarded to retired college or university faculty members in recognition of outstanding teaching activity carried out over a period of at least 25 years. The recipients were: Prof. Dr. István Bíró, University Professor at the Faculty of Engineering; Dr. Zoltán Blázsik, Senior Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science and Informatics (TTIK); Prof. Dr. Zoltán Fülöp, Professor Emeritus at TTIK; Dr. Edit Hermesz, retired Associate Professor at TTIK; and Prof. Dr. Gábor Szabó, Professor Emeritus at TTIK, Széchenyi Prize-winning physicist and former Rector of SZTE.
The Pro Universitate Awards were also presented – to individuals who have made significant contributions to enhancing the university’s reputation: Hideya Ishikura, former President of the Foundation of Hungarian Medical Universities; Prof. Dr. Zoltán Gyenge, University Professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (BTK), former department head, Deputy Dean, and Dean from 2017 to 2025, philosopher and Chair of the University Doctoral Council; Dr. András Döbör, Associate Professor and former Dean at the Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education (JGYPK); and Gabriella Tajti, Head of the Cultural Office at the Directorate for International Affairs and Public Relations.
One of the special highlights of the ceremony was a short film honoring the 100th anniversary of Prof. Ilona Oláhné Béládi’s birth. The film paid tribute to the recently deceased researcher, an internationally acclaimed expert in virology and interferon studies, and the first woman to serve as a department head at SZTE.
                                                                  |
| University Day – Ceremonial Senate Session Photo Gallery with Photos by Ádám Kovács-Jerney |
Following this, certificates of recognition were awarded for Outstanding PhD Supervision, Researcher of the Year, Young Researcher of the Year, together with Pro Laudanda Promotione prizes. The event was enlivened by performances from singer Balázs Szabó and pianist Sándor Czingel.
Following the ceremony, Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of SZTE, delivered a toast in the atrium of the Main Building. The University Day Senate session then concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony outside the Main Building at the statue of Hungarian poet Attila József, the namesake of SZTE’s predecessor, József Attila University.
Original Hungarian article by Tímea Fülöp, Noémi Pap, Imre Vida-Szűcs
Photos by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
