In 2025, Szeged hosted Hungary’s HR Fest for the first time, marking the city’s debut as host to one of the country’s leading professional forums in human resources. Following that event’s strong reception and the significant public interest it generated, this year, the University of Szeged once again welcomed the business community – this time at Business Fest, held on March 12.
Staged at the József Attila Study and Information Center, the country’s largest and most prominent business festival featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including several representatives of the University of Szeged. Across seven stages, business leaders, company owners, and other key figures from the city and the wider region delivered presentations and took part in discussions addressing the most pressing issues shaping today’s business landscape.
With sessions covering key topics such as HR, AI, and Industry 4.0, alongside discussions on salaries and well-being, as well as Future Factory case studies, solutions tailored to SME leaders, and interactive workshops, the program offered a multi-angled perspective on the region’s business future. Grounded in data and real-world examples, and reflecting measurable growth trends, it provided participants with valuable insight into the forces driving change in the regional economy.
“For me, Szeged is the City of Sunshine, so it’s always a pleasure to return,” said
Gergely Tóth, founder of Business Fest, opening the event. “Last year, we brought HR Fest to the University of Szeged for the first time, and this year Business Fest is taking place here as well. Many of the region’s key decision-makers are with us today to reflect on the future together. We are also expanding beyond our borders: Business Fest is now present in four countries, with further growth on the horizon. Our aim is to reach people who are open-minded, ready to act, and eager to grow – individuals who can show what meaningful, high-impact work looks like in practice. I believe we need to inspire one another – and, through that, inspire others as well.”
Gergely Tóth, founder of Business Fest, presents one of the three golden tickets (‘budgets’) awarded during the event. The playful initiative also encouraged networking among participants. Photo: István Sahin-Tóth
Among the University of Szeged speakers featured at Business Fest was Prof. Dr. Klára Gellén, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, who took part in the roundtable discussion titled “The Labor Market of the Szeged Region at a Turning Point.”
The topic was particularly timely. With major investments arriving in the region, employment on the rise, and competition for talent becoming increasingly intense, the labor market in Szeged and the Southern Great Plain is undergoing rapid transformation. Alongside new opportunities, this shift also brings growing pressures. During the discussion, experts explored the latest data, the region’s untapped potential, and the possible directions its development may take in the years ahead.
Hard realities, emerging trends, and critical decision points shaped the discussion, with the role of the University of Szeged receiving particular attention on stage. Participants agreed that the wave of incoming investments could position Szeged as the region’s next major success story. Realizing that potential, however, will depend on close cooperation between education, industry, and the wider community.
Prof. Dr. Klára Gellén was joined on the panel by Sándor Nagy, Deputy Mayor of Szeged; Dr. Csaba Molnár, Director General of the Csongrád-Csanád County Government Office; and Viktor Göltl, Managing Director of the workforce solutions company WHC. The discussion, held on the Talent Pool by WHC stage, was moderated by Viktor Knezevics, Managing Director of SZKT – Szeged’s public transportation company – and HR Management Club Leader at the Csongrád-Csanád Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The University of Szeged played a prominent role at the event as the region’s largest employer and one of its most important sources of new talent entering the labor market. Beyond this, through its research activities, the University serves as a major driver of economic development and innovation across the region.
“The relationship between higher education, industry, and the labor market is fundamentally different today than it was in the past,” said Prof. Dr. Klára Gellén. “At SZTE, we are building a collaborative ecosystem with our industry partners – among other things, through the joint development of educational programs. Across 13 fields of study and hundreds of degree programs, we are continuously strengthening the connection between the University and the world of work. The next stage of this cooperation may involve joint departments established with industrial partners, drawing on the synergies between research, development, and education. At the same time, we are forging strong partnerships with chambers of commerce and industry, as well as vocational training centers, as part of a wider regional network. This broader collaboration is particularly important at a time when labor market competencies and future workplace skills are becoming increasingly central. Our goal is to equip graduates with transferable skills, enabling them to think critically, work across disciplines, and respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges. We also prepare our students to adapt confidently to continuously evolving workplace cultures. SZTE’s newly established Training Academy puts this practical, future-oriented approach into action by offering professional development programs for companies, institutions, and individuals. Drawing on the University’s knowledge base, its portfolio includes innovation management, ESG consulting, digital competencies, and soft skills development. The Training Academy is open to companies across the region and can design lifelong learning programs tailored to their specific needs.”
The University of Szeged Training Academy was introduced to the public at Business Fest in Szeged on March 12, 2026. Photo: István Sahin-Tóth
At the University of Szeged’s József Attila Study and Information Center, some of the region’s and the country’s most prominent employers were present as exhibitors, alongside leading economic and HR organizations. Beyond the stage discussions and presentations, the event also created opportunities for exchange, networking, and the strengthening of professional partnerships.
With its informal atmosphere and strong focus on innovation, Business Fest functioned as a natural extension of the University of Szeged’s broader efforts to drive regional development. The event also highlighted the depth of SZTE’s expertise, with several university professionals taking part in the program, including Dr. Andrea Saághy, HR Director of the University of Szeged; Dr. habil. Bence Lázár, Acting Head of Department and Clinical Director at the Department of Psychiatry of the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center; László Kőry, lecturer in the Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Social Administration program at the University of Szeged; Dr. Zsolt László Datki, Senior Research Fellow and Managing Director at Micro-InVivo Kft.; Róbert Kurucz, Head of Innovation Management at the University of Szeged; and András Ujhegyi, CEO of technology transfer company SZTE TTC Zrt. Their presentations drew strong interest from participants and reinforced the message that the University is not only responding to change but actively shaping the region’s economic future.
Additional in-depth reports on several SZTE-related programs at Business Fest will soon be available on the SZTE news portal.
Original Hungarian article by Ferenc Lévai
Photos by István Sahin-Tóth
