The University of Szeged concluded its three-day orientation program for newly admitted international students with an oath-taking ceremony and a festive celebration. Held at Dugonics Square, the event also featured the awarding of SZTE START scholarships.
On September 4, SZTE’s new international students who gathered outside SZTE’s main building at Dugonics Square were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategic Affairs of the University of Szeged. “As I look around the square, I see faces filled with excitement, anticipation, and hope. This is only natural, as you are embarking on a truly significant and defining chapter of your lives. Today, you officially become part of an active, diverse, and purposeful international community,” the vice-rector said.
Prof. Dr. Márta Széll went on to express her confidence that the knowledge gained at the University would open new prospects in the students’ professional lives and contribute to their personal growth as well.
Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategic Affairs
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
At the ceremony, Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged, presented SZTE START scholarships to 12 first-year international students – chosen from across the university’s faculties. In recognition of their achievements, each recipient was awarded a 500-euro grant.
This year’s SZTE START scholarship recipients are: Bina Liya Antony, Caitlin Brian Antonisamy, Polina Viakhireva, Emilie Altermann, Jintang Zhao, Lafrina Akter, Le Huu Dieu Uyen, Lynda Gyang, Malik Egan Lord Bautista, and Nehir Şimsek.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Attila Badó representing SZTE’s Junior Academy; Dr. habil. Levente Komarek from the Faculty of Agriculture; Prof. Dr. Mária Dux from the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School; Prof. Dr. Zoltán Baráth from the Faculty of Dentistry; Dr. habil. Benedek Nagy from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Dr. habil. Sándor Beszédes from the Faculty of Engineering; Dr. habil. Marianna Fekete from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. habil. Klára Tarkó from the Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education; Prof. Dr. Tamás Antal from the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences; Dr. Gerda Szakonyi from the Faculty of Pharmacy; and Dr. Attila Kertész from the Faculty of Science and Informatics.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
The highlight of the evening was the Freshmen’s Oath. With their right hands over their hearts and their left hands raised, the international students solemnly pledged to uphold the University’s ideals – veritas, virtus, libertas. As the oath concluded, the square filled with joyful music and a burst of blue-and-yellow confetti rained down over the first-year students.
In the Szeged-themed quiz, the newcomers were tested on topics ranging from the city’s squares and bridges to the Open-Air Festival and Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi. Students were even asked whether Szeged was devastated by a flood or by an alien invasion in 1879. The fastest contestant to ace the quiz won an SZTE hoodie, while three more were raffled off among participants in a social media prize draw.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Original Hungarian article by Helga Balog
Photos: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
