In 2020, the University of Szeged joined the SGroup University Network, an alliance which brings together 48 higher education institutions from 23 European countries and 6 non-European countries. The network’s mission is to strengthen collaboration among European universities, foster connections with higher education institutions beyond Europe, improve access to EU funding opportunities, and promote more effective responses to the challenges facing universities.
The SGroup University Network holds its annual General Assembly at a different member university each year. According to Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Public Relations at the University of Szeged, the decision to host this year’s meeting in Szeged carried symbolic significance:
“By choosing Szeged as the venue, the university network also demonstrated its support for continued cooperation with the University of Szeged, even though the European Commission has excluded from the Erasmus+ program and other funding schemes all Hungarian universities that have adopted a new foundation-based governance model. The network’s president, Dr. Arnim Heinemann, also emphasized that this decision reflects SGroup’s clear and consistent position. Similarly, the network did not modify its cooperation strategy with British universities following Brexit. After all, the freedom of education and research is taken very seriously. In fact, the University of Szeged benefits greatly from its extensive partnerships within the network, maintaining active Pannonia, Erasmus, and other agreements with roughly half of the member universities,” stressed the Vice-Rector.
Click the image below to view the SGroup General Assembly Photo Gallery.
Photos by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar also regards the SGroup alliance as an important platform for advancing SZTE’s international relations. In this context, one of the organization’s key objectives is to create opportunities for collaboration with universities in selected regions outside Europe, including Asia, South America, and Africa.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
The alliance also implements several complementary initiatives, such as programs supporting the professional development of university administrative staff and projects promoting paperless administration – a goal that aligns closely with the University of Szeged’s commitment to sustainability as a “green university.”
“The SGroup PhD Cup competition is also close to my heart,” said Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar. “It’s a presentation contest for PhD students. They first take part in an online training session, after which the five best presenters are selected and invited to the annual General Assembly to showcase their research projects. The competition as a whole reflects the importance of knowledge transfer and nurturing the next generation of scientists. At the General Assembly in Szeged, the conduct of these young researchers was truly impressive – full of enthusiasm, supporting and cheering for one another throughout. It was a genuine display of scientific community spirit.”
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Dr. Tamás Bene, Director for International Affairs and Public Relations at the University of Szeged, emphasized that the SGroup network not only provides a framework for strategic partnerships in higher education but also operates its own internal mobility program, structured similarly to the Erasmus+ scheme. This initiative enables scholarship-based exchanges among member institutions and fosters professional dialogue across disciplines. In this spirit, one of the event’s workshops invited participants to explore how artificial intelligence and higher education intersect and create new opportunities.
The Director also noted that cooperation with partners outside Europe is particularly valuable, supported by Hungary’s Pannonia Program, which facilitates collaboration not only with European universities but also institutions from nearly every corner of the world.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Delegates from SGroup member universities also attended a gala dinner hosted at SZTE’s József Attila Study and Information Center. The event offered international guests a taste of Hungarian folk music and dance culture, featuring performances by the Fokos Folk Band from Óbecse – a Hungarian-majority town in Vojvodina, Serbia – whose members are Péter Farkas, Balázs Szerda, Ákos Keszég, and András Szabó. The evening also included a vibrant performance by members of the Levendula Folk Handicraft Workshop – Magyarkanizsa–Ördögcsáklya Dance Ensemble from Vojvodina, Serbia, with Ádám Bognár, Csaba Dusnoki, Gergő Bálint, Viola Varga, Emma Pósa, Szofi Gracza Sóti, Lilla Hegedűs, Flóra Orosz, and Tibor Gazsó.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
“I’ve been told that you had the opportunity to try one of our most iconic local dishes – the Szeged-style fish soup,” noted Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged, in his welcome remarks. “This dish perfectly symbolizes the international character of both our city and our university. Its main ingredient is fish from the Tisza River, our local treasure. But it’s also traditionally seasoned with salt brought from Transylvania and, of course, paprika – a spice that travelled here all the way from the Americas. This blend of all these diverse ingredients creates something truly unique – just as the synergy between different fields of science and university partnerships gives rise to new and remarkable possibilities,” the Rector concluded.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Following the Rector’s address, Dr. János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, welcomed the members of the SGroup alliance. He emphasized that universities are closely linked to the essence of human existence, forming a bridge between the past and the future. “The knowledge gained at universities is universal; it is not bound by nationality, religion, ideology, or political conviction. At the same time, universities are connected to their home countries in countless ways,” he said.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Dr. Arnim Heinemann, President of SGroup, opened his welcome speech by addressing the audience in Hungarian for the first few sentences. In his remarks, he expressed his congratulations on the occasion of Hungary’s recent Nobel Prizes, noting that both Katalin Karikó and László Krasznahorkai are alumni of the University of Szeged. He emphasized that by holding its General Assembly in Szeged, the university alliance reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation with the University of Szeged, stressing that this reflects their clear and united position.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
At the gala dinner, three awards were presented:
The Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing long-term commitment and innovative contributions to international higher education, was presented to Cecilia Christersson, President of the European Dentist Society and former Vice-Rector for International Relations at Malmö University.
The Impact Award went to Gemma Castro, a founding member of SGroup and a key figure in the network’s history. She has long been involved in organizing SGroup meetings, generating new ideas, and serving on the organization’s PhD Committee. In her acceptance speech, the awardee reflected on the many things she has learned through her years with SGroup – from networking and project development to, as she humorously recalled, sending her very first email many years ago.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
The PhD Cup Award was presented to Emma Cieslak-Jones, while the other four PhD finalists – Eiya Ayed, Aurora Gasparello, Fabian Puga, and Félix Lizalde – were also recognized for their achievements. In connection with the award, the President of SGroup emphasized the organization’s strong commitment to supporting young researchers and doctoral students.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
SGroup also held this year’s Think Tank Academy research forum in Szeged. The event brought together researchers and experts from member institutions to engage in joint reflection on some of today’s most pressing global challenges – from sustainability and digital transformation to geopolitical change. Through the Think Tank Academy, SGroup seeks to foster strategic partnerships between the academic community and policy-making bodies, translating research into practical action that shapes higher education, drives innovation, and supports social well-being.
Source: SZTEInfo
