This year, Times Higher Education (THE) introduced its Online Learning Rankings, the first global assessment of universities’ activities in online education. With higher education institutions grouped into three categories (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), the University of Szeged earned the highest distinction, a Gold rating, standing out as the only institution in Hungary to receive this prestigious recognition.

Exactly twenty years ago today, on December 9, 2004, the József Attila Study and Information Center (TIK) opened its doors to welcome students, researchers, and staff of the University of Szeged. Speaking at the opening ceremony of CommuniTIK, a new community space within TIK, Dr. Tamás Bene, Head of the Directorate for International Affairs and Public Relations, reflected on TIK’s significance. “TIK has become a central meeting place not only for the university community but also for the people of Szeged,” he remarked.

Stem cells implanted near spinal cord injuries spring into action to produce anti-inflammatory proteins – a function they do not display when isolated. This remarkable form of adaptation is what guided Prof. Dr. Antal Nógrádi’s research group in identifying the proteins most suitable for treating experimental spinal cord injuries in rodent models. To deliver the proteins, they began utilizing mRNA-based therapy as early as 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Their cutting-edge research on mRNA treatments also garnered significant attention at the mRNA Conference hosted by the University of Szeged and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Professor Nógrádi, Head of the Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, gave an interview following his presentation at the conference.

In September 2024, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Szeged launched an English-language Psychology BA program at its Institute of Psychology. The six-semester program is open to both Hungarian and international students, who may also participate for a single semester through the Erasmus Scholarship Program.

“mRNA: More Applications than Limitations” was the headline of the article on the University of Szeged’s news portal, highlighting presentations by seven of the 15 researchers featured at the mRNA conference organized by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the University of Szeged. For those who were unable to attend the event on November 7–8, 2024, this follow-up provides an overview of research insights shared by eight additional distinguished speakers: Rein Verbeke, Nicolas Manel, Zoltán Kis, Norbert Pardi, Katrien Remaut, Gerald Schwank, Zoltán Jakus, and Katalin Karikó.

The Times Higher Education organization has introduced a new ranking to evaluate universities’ scientific achievements and excellence in interdisciplinary fields. In the first-ever THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, published on November 21, 2024, the University of Szeged shows a high standing: ranking in the 251–300 range globally and securing the top position in Hungary.

The Szeged mRNA Conference, featuring the world’s leading experts in mRNA research, took place on November 7–8, 2024, at the József Attila Study and Information Centre of the University of Szeged. Sponsored by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and hosted by the University of Szeged, the event showcased the groundbreaking work of 15 scientists in the field of mRNA technology. For those unable to attend, this article offers key insights from engaging talks by Drew Weissman, Karin Loré, Antal Nógrádi, Uğur Şahin, Robin Shattock, Persephone Borrow, and Tamás Kiss. To ensure that each research topic is presented accurately, PhD students from the University of Szeged’s Institute of Biology assisted the university press team throughout the writing process.

Nikolaz Foucaud, Regional Director of Coursera, held talks with university officials at the University of Szeged.

Students can now study human anatomy using a highly detailed virtual platform on a state-of-the-art anatomical table, unveiled on Monday at the University of Szeged’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies. The procurement of this advanced tool aligns with the faculty’s ongoing efforts to implement development projects aimed at enhancing the quality of education, with additional acquisitions totaling HUF 250 million currently underway.

The University of Szeged has achieved outstanding positions across multiple fields on the latest ShanghaiRanking lists, which assess the world’s leading higher education institutions. The University ranks among the global top 300 in human biology, dentistry, and clinical medicine, earning a shared first place in Hungary in both human biology and dentistry. It also attained excellent national and international rankings in the fields of pharmacy and education.

The University of Szeged is delighted to announce that the 2025/2026 academic year application period is now open for the Stipendium Hungaricum and the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship programs. These prestigious opportunities offer students worldwide access to world-class education in Hungary while enjoying generous financial support.

On November 7, 2024, an international press event was held on the first day of the mRNA Conference at the University of Szeged. Answering questions from journalists were Katalin Karikó, Nobel laureate professor at the University of Szeged; her research partner, Professor Drew Weissman, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research and Director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation in Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine; and Professor László Rovó, rector of the University of Szeged, host of the symposium. The Nobel laureates answered a range of questions, touching on their latest research, how they work together, and how their lives have changed over the past year. They even shared memories of where they were when the first person landed on the Moon.

The University of Szeged’s Faculty of Economics and Business Administration recently hosted its International Cultural Gala, a distinguished highlight among a series of events commemorating the Faculty’s 25th anniversary. Coordinated by Dr. Ildikó Pusztai-Varga, Director of International Affairs, and Melinda Kovács, International Relations Coordinator with the help of the head mentors team, this special event welcomed guests and showcased the faculty’s global connections and diverse community. Held at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Agora, a cultural and social hub in Szeged, students and faculty members gathered to enjoy music, performances, and cuisine from over a dozen countries, each representing the rich diversity within the university.

For two days, Szeged is the world’s science capital. Coming from 15 countries, leading researchers in mRNA technology, including Nobel laureates Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, have gathered in the Hungarian city. The mRNA conference, taking place on November 7–8 at the József Attila Study and Information Center of the University of Szeged, marks the highlight of the Celebration of Hungarian Science series of events.

The gathering of top mRNA researchers at the University of Szeged on November 7–8, 2024, adds a remarkable flair to Hungary’s Month of Science events. For those wondering what makes this event stand out, we’ve rounded up some fascinating highlights about the mRNA Conference in Szeged, sponsored by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, as well as a few notable insights from the symposium.

“Accessible, visually engaging, and packed with detailed animations!” This is how Dániel Viczián, a second-year student at the University of Szeged, described the Coursera mRNA course available on the online platform. Ahead of the international mRNA conference on November 7–8, 2024, students were encouraged to complete the course and share their feedback.

On Monday, October 21, the inaugural academic conference of the Western Balkans Competence Centre took place at the University of Szeged’s Rector’s Office, bringing together researchers and PhD students from the partner universities involved in the Centre’s international consortium.

Organized in collaboration between the University of Szeged and the 2022 Novo Nordisk Prize laureates Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Ugur Şahin, and Özlem Türeci, the mRNA Conference in Szeged is a highly prominent event for Hungary’s scientific community. With the Novo Nordisk Foundation providing primary funding for the summit, this article highlights the Danish foundation’s significant contributions on a global scale.

Not sure how to get a basic understanding of mRNA and its therapeutic applications? Try the Coursera course recommended by Katalin Karikó!

The research conducted at the Geology Department of the University of Szeged, particularly by Sahroz Khan, a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Geosciences, not only makes diamond extraction more cost-effective but also significantly reduces its environmental impact. Khan's work, which focuses on differentiating between barren and diamond-rich deposits, is a key aspect of this environmentally beneficial research.

The University of Szeged already boasts three research programs aiming to harness the mRNA technology pioneered by Katalin Karikó. Prof. Dr. Antal Nógrádi’s research group is developing mRNA-based treatments for spinal cord injuries; Prof. Dr. Attila Gácser and his team are working on therapies for inflammation caused by fungal infections; and Prof. Dr. Ildikó Csóka’s research group is investigating the targeted delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients via nano-carriers, with researcher Dr. Gábor Katona exploring whether siRNAs that inhibit mRNA decoding can be delivered to tumor cells. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice Rector for Strategic Affairs at the University of Szeged, has revealed that the University is setting up a new research center to advance its cutting-edge mRNA research, with the Pasteur Institute now recognizing the University as its partner.

Exciting news for aspiring students! The University of Szeged is thrilled to announce that applications for its Spring intake of international self-financed study programs are now open.

Personalized hormone therapy for men may increase the chances of successful conception – this was the central message at a conference organized by the University of Szeged’s Institute of Reproductive Medicine.

What is mRNA good for? Just over a year after October 2, 2023, when Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were named winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the University of Szeged will host a conference showcasing the latest breakthroughs in mRNA research. At the press conference held to announce the event, Katalin Karikó, joining online, revealed that intensive research efforts have already led to the clinical testing of various mRNA-based drugs and treatments.

As Katalin Karikó received an award and delivered a lecture in Philadelphia, near the Schuylkill River waterfront, she was simultaneously being honored across the Atlantic in Budapest at the Eureka! outdoor exhibition on the Buda riverbank of the Danube. On October 8, 2024, one year after the announcement of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, both Philadelphia and Budapest celebrated the researcher whose relentless pursuit of her dreams made her the first Hungarian woman to earn a Nobel Prize.

Katalin Karikó used to start each day with a morning run. That’s just one of the many insights the Nobel laureate professor shared during a press conference hosted by the University of Szeged to announce an upcoming two-day conference on mRNA, often called the ‘Swiss army knife’ of medical science. In response to journalists’ questions, Karikó – who played a key role in bringing the conference to Szeged – discussed her research and explained why she invited a former fellow student from university and an old acquaintance from her hometown of Kisújszállás to deliver talks at the symposium.

The opening ceremony for the “Brushstrokes of Harmony: Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition” celebrating 75 years of Hungary-China diplomatic relations was held on October 1, 2024 at JATIK, University of Szeged. The exhibition is co-organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged, the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange at Shanghai International Studies University, and the Museum of World Languages of Shanghai International Studies University.

In early November 2024, people in Szeged might easily spot Nobel laureates in the city, thanks to the upcoming international conference at the University of Szeged. Staring on November 7, the event will bring together Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, and other leading experts in mRNA technology.

The University of Szeged will be participating, face to face, in several international educational fairs abroad. Attendees can meet our University representatives and have a one on one discussion with them.

Budapest and Szeged, Hungary, September 26, 2024 – BYD places strong emphasis on Hungarian expertise and innovation in its local operations, as highlighted by Jerry Xun, Deputy General Manager of Human Resources at the global company, during his recent visit to Budapest and Szeged. Global leader in new energy vehicle production BYD, currently constructing a car plant in Szeged, held discussions with Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation; István Joó, CEO of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA); as well as representatives from the University of Szeged and the vocational training centers in Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely.

The 28^th Autumn Cultural Festival, organized by the Cultural Office of the University of Szeged, kicks off tomorrow, October 1. With over 300 events, the festival will celebrate the spirit of autumn through November 28.

The University of Szeged has become the first higher education institution in Hungary to receive the “Engaged University” certification from the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU). The certificate was awarded on September 19, 2024, at the ACEEU Europe–Africa Forum. This achievement marks yet another significant milestone for the university, highlighting its commitment and responsibility to both its immediate sphere and the broader community.

The University of Szeged earned a regional nomination for its innovative developments at the Coursera Annual Summit in the United States in September 2024.

On the occasion of the European Mobility Week and Car-Free Day, the University of Szeged is organising a bike breakfast and a free bike service on Wednesday, 18 September 2024. For breakfsat, muesli bars, tea and apples will be offered, and also a free bike check-up will be available.

In 2024, Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó, professor at the University of Szeged, added yet another prestigious recognition to her impressive list of awards. Along with fellow researchers Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci from the German company BioNTech, she was honored with the Distinguished Medical Science Award by the Friends of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in the U.S.

World-renowned mRNA researchers will speak at a conference hosted by the University of Szeged in Hungary on November 7 and 8, 2024. The international event was announced to both the scientific community and the general public at a press conference held on September 12 at the Rector's Building of the University of Szeged. One of the conference’s keynote speakers, Nobel laureate Professor Katalin Karikó, also participated via video call.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation supports the mRNA conference in Szeged. Journalists curious about the details of the November 2024 event and the latest scientific findings about the messenger molecule that offers extraordinary possibilities had the opportunity to ask questions, among others, to Nobel Laureate Katalin Karikó, who joined the press conference online on September 12.

Traditionally, during the first week of September, the Directorate for International Affairs and Public Relations at the University of Szeged holds a 3-day orientation program to assist newly enrolled international students. The 2024 SZTE Freshmen Orientation Days, which took place between September 3-5, were once again a huge success.

The two medals representing the two Nobel Prizes connected to the University of Szeged are now available for public viewing in the same exhibition space, with Albert Szent-Györgyi’s 1937 Nobel Prize and Katalin Karikó’s 2023 Nobel Prize both on display at the university’s exhibition Katalin Karikó's Journey to the Nobel Prize and Beyond. The revamped exhibition was unveiled before the opening ceremony of the new academic year at the University of Szeged.

Katalin Karikó, Nobel Prize-winning professor at the University of Szeged, has received honorary doctorates from 18 universities so far. As the academic year begins, we take a look back at her honors, starting with the 2021 'Doctor honoris causa' title from her alma mater, the University of Szeged, and culminating in the 2024 'Honorary Doctor' recognition from New York University. The recognitions of Katalin Karikó, SZTE's Nobel Prize-winning alumna, have forged strong connections between the University of Szeged and the world’s most prestigious universities.

The 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), released by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy in mid-August, lists the world’s most prestigious universities. This year, only four Hungarian universities made it into the global ranking. Among them, the University of Szeged secured a position in the 401–500 range, moving up hundreds of places and ranking first among Hungarian universities.

This year, over 5,000 students from 400 universities in 40 countries participated in the biennial multi-sport event, the European University Games. Hosted by Hungary, the sporting events were held in Debrecen and Miskolc. SZTE students came home with medals.

In the open-access journal European Physical Journal Plus, Károly Osvay and his colleagues report in a technical article on their laser neutron production experiments at the University of Szeged and ELI ALPS, which target 10¹⁰ neutrons per second. Among the authors of the publication are Gérard Mourou, Nobel laureate research professor at the University of Szeged, and Gábor Szabó, professor of physics at SZTE and managing director of ELI ALPS.

At the invitation of the University of Szeged and the ELI ALPS Laser Research Center, the French/Swedish Nobel Prize-winning physicist Anne L'Huillier visited Szeged. The name of the Lund University professor, together with the other two Nobel Prize-winning researchers of attosecond physics, Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz, is preserved by a science history landmark on the way to the ELI ALPS. Anne L'Huillier carried out the experiment that led to today's attosecond physics at a young age, just after her doctoral thesis.

SZTE Freshmen Orientation 2024 organized by the Directorate for International Affiars and Public Relations.

Coursera Coach is now also available for SZTE students. Like a tireless and always available professor, who can be asked any questions at any time during the course, Coursera Coach is an artificial intelligence-based, interactive assistant.

The University of Szeged hosted the annual summit of EUGLOH, an alliance of nine European universities, between June 11 and 14, 2024. The event was attended by Nobel Prize-winning researchers, including SZTE professor Katalin Karikó, who gave a presentation and held book signings on June 13.

The sustainability ranking called THE Impact Rankings is prepared every year by Times Higher Education in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In the latest ranking published on June 12, 2024, the University of Szeged ranked 43rd in the "Peace, justice and strong institutions" thematic list. In addition, SZTE made great progress in several other subcategories, but it also improved in the overall ranking: it moved up to the 301-400th place, thus taking shared first place in Hungary.

In Hungary, the innovation-oriented sectors require more and more mathematically qualified professionals, but, no matter how much money there is for innovation, if the supply of specialists does not improve. Therefore, it is time to give mathematics a new image, for which a good basis is the fact that in developed countries it is no longer fashionable to be "stupid at math" since 90 percent of mathematicians land well-paying jobs.