The University of Szeged has inaugurated yet another renovated and expanded building, transforming it into a state-of-the-art educational and research hub. The facility now offers inspiring new spaces for the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Institute of Behavioral Sciences at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, and several competence centers of the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation (IKIKK). This latest investment enhances student training, advances innovative research, and strengthens academic collaboration.
On September 26, 2025, the University of Szeged officially inaugurated its latest renovated and expanded facility, located on Szentháromság utca (‘Trinity Street’). The event featured a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Rector Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Chancellor Dr. Judit Fendler, Vice-Dean Prof. Dr. Mária Dux, and Dean Prof. Dr. Zsolt Szakonyi, who then joined invited guests on a guided tour of the facility.
The occasion marked not only the renewal of a historic building, but also a major milestone in the university’s long-term development strategy. The transformation has significantly expanded the facility’s size, capacity, and range of functions. Now equipped with state-of-the-art seminar rooms, research laboratories, and collaborative spaces, the modernized center provides a new home for the Institute of Behavioral Sciences, extended infrastructure for the Faculty of Pharmacy, and additional space for several competence centers within IKIKK.
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| SZTE’s historic building has been reborn as a modern center for education and research. Photo Gallery Photos by István Sahin-Tóth |
The creation of these modern research and teaching spaces – including five state-of-the-art seminar rooms – serves to deepen professional collaboration, advance innovative pharmaceutical and clinical research, and further enhance the quality of student training at SZTE.
Another step forward for the university
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged, reflected on his personal connection to the building:
“I studied in this building nearly 40 years ago. Back then, it was dark, cramped, and in disrepair. Today, I’m truly moved to walk into not just a larger space, but a more beautiful and modern facility. This development marks another step forward for the University of Szeged. The university’s role in education, research, and social responsibility has grown considerably. Walking through Szeged today, one can see renewed university buildings everywhere – including the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Arts, and the Ilona Banga Health Sciences Training Center,” the rector said.
While noting that the Faculty of Pharmacy has already gained new spaces in the renovated building, Rector Rovó emphasized that this is only the beginning. Further development projects are planned for the nearby Hungarian Railways site next to the clinical departments. “As soon as the necessary financial resources become available, the Faculty of Pharmacy will continue to grow,” he added.
"The University of Szeged has considerably strengthened its role in education, research, and social engagement," stated Rector Prof. Dr. László Rovó.
A modern intellectual hub shaping the future
“This renovation came with its fair share of challenges – from the difficulty of securing competitive bids to a construction timeline that stretched well beyond expectations,” said Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged. She emphasized that the 571-million-forint investment involved not only renovation and remodeling, but also a significant expansion: the building’s usable space grew by 50%, from 680 to over 1,000 square meters. She also underscored the importance of relocating key units of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the renewed facility.
“Since 2018, nearly every faculty at the university has seen substantial infrastructure and equipment upgrades. For the Faculty of Pharmacy, we’ve made a firm commitment to develop a dedicated facility on the university-owned railway site that will support its operations in the long term – and we remain fully committed to that goal. These newly revitalized spaces now serve both the Medical School and the Faculty of Pharmacy, providing modern, functional environments for teaching and research support. This project is much more than a building renovation – it is the creation of an intellectual hub that fosters education, collaboration, and the continued growth of the university,” the Chancellor said.
Faculty leaders welcome latest transformation
“We are delighted that the Institute of Behavioral Sciences can return to this beautifully renovated building,” said Prof. Dr. Mária Dux, Vice-Dean for Education at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, noting that the more than one-hundred-year-old building has housed various university units for nearly seventy years.
“As the rector also mentioned, this place holds personal memories for many of us. I myself attended lectures here as a student. Over the years, several departments have operated in this space, including the Institute of Foreign Languages and, for a time, part of the Institute of Behavioral Sciences. Since 2008, it has been home to the independent Institute of Behavioral Sciences. The renewed environment will be deeply inspiring not only for colleagues working here, but also for the students who learn within these walls,” the Vice-Dean added.
Prof. Dr. Zsolt Szakonyi, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, thanked the university on behalf of the entire faculty for the newly renovated building, which now fully meets their academic and operational needs. “This facility will become a key part of faculty life for us, and we will make good use of it,” he said.
“Our two new seminar rooms are already operating at full capacity, filled with student activity. We’ve also relocated our vocational training office – which had been functioning under substandard conditions – into a proper workspace. In addition, we created an office for the faculty’s Kabay College for Advanced Studies, a student-led initiative that brings together some of our most talented undergraduate and doctoral students who represent the future of the faculty and of pharmacy as a field. We also established new offices for the senior staff in charge of our recently launched vocational training programs. Just as importantly, this year marks the launch of our foundation-year program for international students – now housed in this building. We’re confident that arriving in such a welcoming environment will leave a strong impression on these students and help them spread word of the University of Szeged’s excellence when they return home,” the Dean concluded.
Original Hungarian article by Imre Vida-Szűcs
Photos by István Sahin-Tóth
