The University of Szeged received the University of the Year 2025 award in the Innovation category at the prestigious University of the Year 2025 awards gala hosted by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation on May 29, 2025. Held at the historic Várkert Bazár event venue in Budapest, the ceremony celebrated excellence across eight categories, honoring Hungarian higher education institutions for their most outstanding achievements, values, and initiatives.
At the University of the Year 2025 awards gala, the University of Szeged earned top recognition in three categories: Innovation, Family-Friendly Operations, and Support for Culture and the Arts. In awarding the top prize for innovation, the professional jury recognized the University’s forward-thinking and multifaceted approach, which drives continuous progress through the adoption of novel solutions across education, research, and institutional operations. This commitment to innovation and excellence has helped position SZTE as a leading center of knowledge in both Hungary and on the international stage, consistently listed among the world’s highest-performing universities year after year.
From left to right: Prof. Dr. László Trócsányi, Trustee of the Foundation for the University of Szeged; Dr. Anikó Nagy, Trustee of the Foundation for the University of Szeged; Prof. Dr. Gábor Szabó, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the University of Szeged; Sándor Szentesi, President of the Student Union of the University of Szeged; Kata Dudás, final-year MA student in Hungarian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary; Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor; Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector; Prof. Dr. Ildikó Csóka, Director-General for Strategic Affairs; Máté Balogh, PhD student, Faculty of Science and Informatics; Dr. Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation
Photo by Csaba Schumy
“The University of Szeged could not have won this award were it not for the legacy of our former Nobel Prize-winning rector, Albert Szent-Györgyi. He set an example we continually strive to live up to. To this day, the University of Szeged operates in the spirit of his enduring insight: ‘To see what everyone else sees, but to think what no one else has thought.’ Indeed, a successful society is unimaginable without continuous progress and innovation,” said Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged.
As part of its ongoing pursuit of innovation, the University of Szeged established the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation – a pioneering initiative in the landscape of Hungarian higher education. Organized into clusters, the Center promotes synergy-driven research and the practical application of innovative ideas. Beyond this initiative, the University’s innovation activity is internationally recognized, particularly in the fields of materials science, environmental science, energy science, molecular biology, bionics and biotechnology, translational biomedical science, photonics and laser physics, pharmaceutical science, and the applications of artificial intelligence.
Photo by Csaba Schumy
Established by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation, the University of the Year award aims to spotlight universities that demonstrate exceptional commitment, an innovative outlook, and a student-centered approach – institutions that play a key role in shaping the future. The awards ceremony is a celebration of knowledge, talent, and dedication, and also serves as a compass for young people navigating their career choices by showcasing the rich and diverse opportunities within Hungarian higher education.
Feature Photo by Csaba Schumy
