Seventeen newly habilitated doctors and 129 PhD graduates were awarded their degrees at SZTE’s Doctoral Degree Award Ceremony, held on June 27, 2025, in the congress hall of the Study and Information Center.
“The University’s Habilitation Committee has awarded 7 habilitated doctor titles in the field of medical and pharmaceutical sciences, 6 in the humanities and social sciences, and 4 in the natural and engineering sciences,” announced Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, Vice-Rector for International and Public Relations at the University of Szeged, as part of the Doctoral Degree Award Ceremony on June 27, 2025, at the József Attila Study and Information Center.
In addition, the University’s Doctoral Council awarded 42 doctoral degrees in the field of medical and pharmaceutical sciences, 43 in the humanities and social sciences, and 44 in the natural and engineering sciences.
Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, Vice-Rector; Prof. Dr. Attila Gácser, Chair of the University’s Habilitation Committee; and Prof. Dr. Zoltán Gyenge, Chair of the University Doctoral Council, attended the ceremony to personally acknowledge the graduates’ academic achievements and to congratulate the new doctors with a ceremonial handshake, marking their entry into the wider scholarly community.
Also seated on the ceremonial stage were the deans of the relevant faculties and the officiating deans: Dr. Norbert Merkovity (Faculty of Law and Political Sciences), Dr. György Lázár (Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School), Dr. Zsófia Szilágyi (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences), Dr. Benedek Nagy (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration), Dr. Zsolt Szakonyi (Faculty of Pharmacy), and Dr. Tamás Papp (Faculty of Science and Informatics).
Violinist Zoltán Benedekfi, a lecturer at the SZTE Bartók Béla Faculty of Arts, performing his own composition Tango
“Honored Rector! Esteemed Habilitated Doctors! I, Dr. Attila Gácser, as Chair of our University’s Habilitation Committee, hereby declare that you, who have demonstrated your teaching and lecturing abilities as well as your scientific and scholarly achievements in accordance with the requirements set forth by law and university regulations, are from this day forward recognized as habilitated doctors by the authority vested in us by law. With this, you are granted the right to deliver independent university lectures in your field of study,” said Prof. Dr. Attila Gácser, after which the degree certificates were presented to the habilitated doctors.
The graduating doctors recited their oath, led by Dr. Barbara Horvát.
The representative of the graduating doctors, Dr. Barbara Horvát, asked the Conferment Council to accept the graduates as doctors. At the Vice-Rector’s request, they then took the doctoral oath.
“By virtue of our office, we declare that you have demonstrated your scientific and scholarly preparedness before us; therefore, in the name of the University of Szeged, and in recognition of your achievement, we hereby award you the doctoral degree. We grant you all the rights and privileges that, by law, pertain to holders of this degree. From now on, it shall be your duty to serve the benefit of your fellow human beings and the honor of the University of Szeged by further advancing your discipline,” said Prof. Dr. Zoltán Gyenge to the new PhD graduates.
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| Gallery by Ádám Kovács-Jerney |
After the PhD graduates received their degree certificates, Dr. Barbara Horvát delivered words of gratitude on behalf of all the new doctoral graduates:
“Honored Rector! Esteemed Conferment Council! We thank you for conferring upon us the doctoral degree. True to our oath, we will strive with all our heart and strength to serve our field of science and scholarship, to uphold the honor of the University of Szeged, and to work for the benefit of our people and our country.”
On behalf of the leadership of the University of Szeged, Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar addressed the university’s new habilitated doctors and PhD graduates with words of welcome and congratulations.
“I hope you know that old medieval saying: ‘I didn’t have time to write a short letter.’ Fortunately, I did have time to write a short speech. I would like to express my hope that our newly habilitated colleagues will continue to teach and conduct independent scientific and scholarly work to the highest standard as holders of this title. I also wish for all the new PhD graduates that everything they have solemnly pledged here today may come true. The knowledge you have gained here gives you the chance to improve your immediate surroundings – and perhaps even your wider community – in meaningful ways. In this spirit, I offer you my heartfelt congratulations!” said the Vice-Rector for International and Public Relations, who then also extended his congratulations in English to the new members of the doctoral community.
Source: SZTEinfo
Photos: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
