The main focus of the course is, as always, the Hungarian language. Classes are offered at all levels, from beginner to advanced, and students completed their placement tests in the weeks leading up to the programme.

PĂ©ter SzaffkĂł, director of the Debrecen Summer School, highlighted that the institution has been serving Hungarian language and culture for nearly a century. Founded in 1927, it is still considered the largest Hungarian school of its kind.

“The Debrecen Summer School fulfils a mission that contributes significantly to friendship and mutual understanding between nations. Although students arrive from many different places to become part of this special community, they all share an interest, affection or deep commitment to the Hungarian language and culture. At the same time, each of them has their own individual goals,” the director said.

The majority of the 93 students participating this year are native English speakers, arriving from Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Ten students speak German as their first language, another ten speak Slovak, while ten participants come from Asian countries. The five students each arriving from Poland and Slovenia are mainly Hungarian studies students or teachers who received scholarships. This year, three participants from Mexico are also taking part in the course.

The summer school’s partner is the Hungarian Reformed Diaspora Centre. Director Attila Kocsis explained that the institution’s mission includes researching the Hungarian diaspora and preserving historical documents that have been discovered.

“There are 2.5 million people of Hungarian origin living beyond the borders, in Western Europe, North and South America, as well as in Israel. We would like to present examples to future generations that they can learn from and draw inspiration from,” he said.

The Debrecen Summer School was founded by three professors of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Debrecen, and the close relationship between the two institutions has remained strong ever since, said Károly PetƑ, rector’s commissioner of the University of Debrecen, in his welcome speech.

“For a century, the Debrecen Summer School has built bridges between Hungary and the world through language and culture. Today, the university has 13 faculties and 35,000 students, with educational programmes covering almost the entire spectrum of academic disciplines. We believe that, alongside science, mutual respect, openness and dialogue are what make a university great. Those who learn a new language discover a new culture. Every culture we get to know brings us closer to one another,” he emphasised.

The Faculty of Humanities also works during the autumn and spring semesters to introduce international students to the unique characteristics of the Hungarian language, as well as the history of Hungary and Debrecen.

“In the past three years, more than 100 international students have studied in bachelor’s and master’s programmes at the Faculty of Humanities. It is encouraging that this number continues to grow, partly thanks to the close cooperation between the summer school and the faculty. The faculty also supports participation in the summer school through scholarships,” said Levente Takács, deputy dean for general and educational affairs of the Faculty of Humanities.

István Puskás, deputy mayor of Debrecen responsible for culture, recalled his experiences as an instructor at the summer school and recommended some of the city’s most important cultural institutions and attractions to the students.

“The Debrecen Summer School is also an important part of the city’s cultural life. Get to know Debrecen, its cultural heritage, the DĂ©ri Museum, MODEM, and the Campus Festival, which begins this week,” he encouraged the participants.

During the month-long summer programme, some students will attend the full four-week course, while others will join either during the first or second two-week session. In the first two weeks, seven groups, and in the second two weeks, ten groups will study Hungarian from beginner level to advanced and near-native proficiency.

The opening ceremony at the University Church was enriched by an organ performance by DĂĄniel SĂĄrosi. Scholarships for this year were also presented. Twenty students received Tempus scholarships, while nineteen students were awarded local scholarships from the City of Debrecen, the Rector of the University of Debrecen, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, the Bishop of the Reformed Church District of TiszĂĄntĂșl, and the director of the Summer School.

The courses started on Monday morning. Students attend language classes in the mornings, while afternoons are filled with various cultural and leisure activities. As part of the traditions, every Monday is dedicated to folklore: students not only taste dishes from different regions but can also learn traditional folk songs and dances. Fridays focus on gastronomy: during the “beach party”, participants can try lángos and learn how to prepare pickled cucumbers. Excursions are also an essential part of the programme: in Sáránd, students can make traditional spiral noodles and prepare a wedding menu; at the open-air museum in Nyíregyháza, they can take part in village games; and they can also make their own ointments at a local pharmacy.

The Debrecen Summer School will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its foundation next year. To mark the occasion, organisers announced that they are preparing a conference on Hungarian as a foreign language together with the University of Debrecen.

(unideb.hu)

(MTI)

The traditional event was held this year at the KodĂĄly ZoltĂĄn Secondary School of Music and Music School instead of the Faculty of Music building, as part of the International Summer Academy for Young Musicians. Between 6 and 12 July, young guitarists from Debrecen, Budapest, the TiszĂĄntĂșl region, music schools, secondary music schools, and higher education institutions participated in intensive musical courses.

The meeting has been an important event at the faculty for more than three decades, originally launched on the initiative of IstvĂĄn Adrovicz, and continues to provide both a learning opportunity and a competition experience for young musicians.

During the programme, participants took part in individual and chamber music sessions, orchestra rehearsals, and professional lectures in the evenings. The courses allowed them to improve both their instrumental skills and their theoretical knowledge of music.

The event also serves as a recruitment opportunity for the Faculty of Music, as many former participants have chosen to continue their studies at the University of Debrecen.

According to GergƑ Csorba, classical guitar lecturer at the Faculty of Music and artistic director of the meeting and competition, the programme continues to fulfil its mission by offering young talents an opportunity to develop and showcase their abilities.

“Time has not diminished the popularity of the guitar; it remains one of the most widely played instruments around the world. It is also an international means of communication through which thoughts and emotions can be expressed effectively anywhere on Earth,” Csorba said.

He added that every young talent’s primary goal is continuous improvement, and the meeting and competition provide an excellent opportunity for self-assessment while experienced teachers help participants strengthen their abilities.

“The past more than thirty years have proven the importance of this event. Its significance is also shown by the number of returning students and their feedback that this is a very important meeting point for them. For the Faculty of Music, the event has strategic importance, as both returning and first-time participants can become familiar with the university and discover opportunities that may have a lasting impact on their future careers,” he said.

Another key objective of the meeting is to highlight the importance and uniqueness of contemporary music. Each year, a currently active composer is invited to create a compulsory piece for the competition, encouraging musicians to engage with new works. This year, participants performed a composition by Éva Viola, a Budapest-based composer and guitarist.

The young musicians also had the opportunity to compete against one another, allowing them to learn not only from their instructors but also from their fellow performers. In addition to lecturers from the University of Debrecen, teachers from Budapest, BĂ©kĂ©scsaba, and Szolnok contributed to supporting the participants’ development.

(unideb.hu)

Kunqu is one of China’s oldest forms of opera, combining poetry, music, singing, dance, and drama. It occupies a distinguished place in the history of Chinese literature, traditional opera, and the performing arts. In 2001, UNESCO recognized Kunqu as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

The Suzhou Kunqu Theatre began its Hungarian tour in Budapest, continued in Miskolc, and will conclude with its performance in Debrecen.

As the professional ensemble from Suzhou, Jiangsu Province—the birthplace of Kunqu Opera—the company has faithfully preserved the genre’s ancient performance traditions and authentic style.

Over the past decade, the troupe has also successfully developed modern interpretations of Kunqu. These productions have gained recognition not only within the world of Kunqu Opera but across China’s broader cultural landscape. Alongside preserving classical artistic heritage, the company actively promotes traditional Chinese culture, bringing fresh energy to this centuries-old art form while exploring new ways of passing on China’s cultural legacy to future generations.

“For the first time, audiences in Debrecen will have the opportunity to experience this extraordinary form of Chinese opera, where graceful movements, elegant costumes, distinctive facial makeup, and centuries-old melodies evoke an artistic world that has preserved the beauty of Chinese culture across generations,” LĂĄszlĂł Erik KovĂĄcs, a staff member of the Confucius Institute at the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Humanities, told hirek.unideb.hu.

During the performance, the opera will be subtitled in both Hungarian and Chinese.

Admission is free of charge, but advance .

The performance begins at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, at the oDEon Theatre Hall (138 Böszörményi Road, Debrecen).

The partnership between the two universities dates back several decades and was originally established by the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science and Environmental Management (MÉK) and its predecessors.

The delegation from the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra was welcomed in the Rector’s Council Room by Vice-Rector General DĂ©nes PĂĄll. He expressed his satisfaction that the partnership will now extend to the fields of economics and engineering as well.

“We were pleased to support Dean LĂĄszlĂł StĂŒndl’s initiative to take the active relationship between the two institutions to a higher level. The cooperation now involves three faculties of the University of Debrecen. This agreement will further strengthen our ties and contribute to the internationalisation of the University of Debrecen,” the vice-rector told hirek.unideb.hu.

The joint work between the two universities began around 50 years ago in the field of crop production and later expanded to rural development. As part of the cooperation, the institutions organised mutual visits, participated in joint conferences, and later became involved in international research projects together. StĂŒndl LĂĄszlĂł, Dean of MÉK, noted that the Slovak university’s similar institute served as a model for the creation of the Faculty’s Food Innovation Centre.

“Strengthening our relationship with the agricultural university in Nitra is important because people living in the Carpathian Basin face similar challenges. Late frosts and droughts affect the region in the same way, while the spread of pathogens and pests knows no borders. At the same time, we must continue producing high-quality food. This requires precision agriculture and a comprehensive scientific approach to establishing its technical and economic foundations,” said the dean.

He added that another important goal is to revive the Visegrad university cooperation network involving higher education institutions from several countries.

The new agreement will build on existing practices, including joint institutional visits, lecturer and student exchanges, and conference participation, while also creating opportunities for joint research projects and international initiatives in engineering and economic sciences.

At the event, which also included a press conference, Orsolya JĂĄnosy, head of the University of Debrecen’s Centre for International Relations, presented the institution’s international strategy and partnership network. GĂ©za Husi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and LĂĄszlĂł Erdey, Vice-Dean for International Affairs of the Faculty of Economics and Business, introduced their faculties’ educational programmes.

GĂ©za Husi highlighted that, as a traditional engineering education centre, the Faculty of Engineering seeks cooperation with companies and institutions worldwide to provide practice-oriented training. Its research activities focus primarily on automation and robotics.

Speaking about the Faculty of Economics and Business, Vice-Dean László Erdey explained that the faculty maintains strong ties with MÉK, while its research also extends to health industry and sports science.

The Slovak University of Agriculture was founded in 1952 and is Slovakia’s only higher education institution specialising in this field. It operates six faculties offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes in areas including agrobiology, animal and plant production, food science, biotechnology, regional development, horticulture, landscape architecture, economics and engineering. The university has around 4,500 students.

Lucia PalsovĂĄ, Vice-Rector of the Slovak University of Agriculture, said that signing the cooperation agreement with the University of Debrecen is not merely a formality but a milestone for the institution.

“It represents a commitment to future joint opportunities. The agreement opens a new chapter in the lives of both universities. I firmly believe that agricultural science, environmental protection, economics and management can no longer be treated as separate fields, which is why partnerships are especially important,” she said.

The heads of the four faculties involved in the cooperation also visited Debrecen. Norbert LukĂĄcs, Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences at SUA, said that the two universities have significant opportunities ahead of them in international projects.

“Nitra and Debrecen are not far from each other. Within the European Union, climate change, food security and biotechnological innovations are receiving increasing attention. Our university has strong research groups working in these areas, offering excellent opportunities for joint projects,” he said.

Following discussions on the details of the agreement, the Nitra delegation visited the three faculties of the University of Debrecen involved in the cooperation.

(unideb.hu)

At the ceremony, the first welcome speech was delivered by ZoltĂĄn BĂĄcs, rector of the University of Debrecen.

“Today we can witness several milestones. We recognize those young researchers who, through their Excellence PhD Scholarships, have already demonstrated talent and dedication during their studies. We are awarding doctoral degrees to those who, through persistent work, have enriched their fields with new scientific results. We are awarding habilitation titles to lecturers whose academic preparedness and teaching excellence mark another milestone in their careers, and we express our respect with the Professor Emeritus title to those who, as defining figures of their institutions for decades, continue to support our university even after retirement,” the rector said.

Zoltán Bács emphasized that the University of Debrecen is more than an institution: it is an intellectual community connecting generations. The life’s work of emeritus professors inspires habilitated lecturers; their example motivates young researchers, from whom future university leaders, professors, and key figures of scientific workshops may emerge. This continuity, he said, is what gives the university its strength and credibility.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of the Excellence PhD Scholarship of the Count IstvĂĄn Tisza Foundation for the University of Debrecen (GTIDEA). The scholarship was awarded to 15 doctoral students.

Applicants eligible for the scholarship are state-funded, full-time PhD students at the University of Debrecen under the age of 30, Hungarian citizens, who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the first two semesters of their doctoral studies and are approaching their complex examination.

The recipients, as well as the guests of the ceremony, were welcomed by György Kossa, chairman of the GTIDEA board of trustees, who quoted Albert Einstein:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the whole world, stimulates progress, and gives birth to evolution.”
“You have proven that you possess knowledge. Now it is your imagination’s turn to open new paths in science.”

Addressing the doctoral graduates, he emphasized that they earned their PhD at an institution that has been a stronghold of knowledge, faith, and culture since 1538. This nearly five-century heritage carries responsibility: respect for values, preservation of traditions, and continuous renewal. They have become part of a diverse, international community, with young researchers arriving from all over the world to obtain their scientific degrees in Debrecen—demonstrating the university’s strength and appeal.

University autonomy—the freedom of research, teaching, and thought—was described as the foundation on which the future is built. The shift in the funding model, he said, was designed precisely to help the university become a modern, flexible institution capable of responding quickly to 21st-century challenges without abandoning its centuries-old values. The board of trustees provides a strong supportive background enabling university leadership, lecturers, and researchers to focus solely on academic excellence.

A total of 104 candidates met the requirements for the PhD degree, with 87 awarded summa cum laude and 17 cum laude, across the fields of natural sciences, engineering, humanities, medical and health sciences, social sciences, and agricultural sciences.

The new doctors of science were welcomed by Ferenc Kun, scientific vice-rector of the University of Debrecen.

“A PhD is not an endpoint, but an authorization: recognition that you are capable of independent inquiry, systematic thinking, evidence-based argumentation, and evaluating your results according to the standards of the scientific community. From this day forward, you are not only practitioners but also responsible shapers of the scientific environment you belong to,” he said.

“Preserve your curiosity. Preserve the courage to ask questions, but also the discipline of verification. In today’s world, where the amount of information is growing at an unprecedented rate, the value of scientific thinking is even more important. The task of a scientist is not only to collect data or provide answers, but also to distinguish between certain and uncertain, essential and irrelevant, verified and merely plausible claims,” he added.

Following the oath-taking and diploma conferrals, based on the proposals of the Disciplinary Habilitation Committees and the decision of the University Doctoral and Habilitation Council, the rector awarded habilitated doctoral titles. A total of 14 recipients received this title: 6 in humanities, 3 in medical and health sciences, 4 in social sciences, and 1 in natural sciences.

The Senate of the University of Debrecen awarded the title of Professor Emeritus to six retired professors:
Elek Bartha – Faculty of Humanities; IstvĂĄn FĂĄbiĂĄn – Faculty of Science and Technology; LĂĄszlĂł MĂĄtyus – Faculty of Medicine; NoĂ©mi Nagy – Faculty of Science and Technology; Zsolt PĂĄles – Faculty of Science and Technology; LĂĄszlĂł KristĂłf TakĂĄcs – Faculty of Medicine.

The emeritus title recognizes the outstanding achievements and decades of service of the university’s most distinguished professors, while also granting rights and conditions for continued academic activity.

The list of awarded doctors, habilitated doctors, and PhD scholarship recipients is .
The tributes to the Professor Emeriti are .

The partnership aims to establish a modern knowledge base through specialized training and joint development projects. GĂ©za Husi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, said the foundations of the agreement were laid during a professional visit to EVE Power’s headquarters in China.

“The cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Debrecen and EVE Power Hungary marks a new milestone in a long-term strategic partnership. By building closer ties between higher education and industry, we aim to create a modern knowledge base that directly supports the future of the battery industry and sustainable mobility,” the dean said.

A key focus of the partnership is the development of practice-oriented engineering education, particularly in battery manufacturing, automation, and quality assurance. As part of the initiative, the University of Debrecen will introduce a new elective course in September 2026, open to students from all faculties. The partners are also exploring the possibility of launching a multi-semester training program.

Dean Husi told hirek.unideb.hu that company experts may also participate in teaching, while students will have opportunities to work on industry-based bachelor’s and master’s theses, diploma projects, and joint research initiatives.

A central role in the cooperation will be played by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Mechatronics at the Faculty of Engineering.

SĂĄndor Hajdu, head of the department, said the faculty’s strategic objective is to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with leading industrial companies in the region.

“We are convinced that modern engineering education can only be achieved through close cooperation between universities and industry. Our agreement with EVE Power Hungary is an important milestone. The department’s expertise in electrical engineering and mechatronics aligns closely with the company’s activities, creating genuine opportunities for professional synergy,” he said.

EVE Power is one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers and is currently building its first European production facility in Debrecen. The company specializes in the development and production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cells.

Ádåm Kovåcs, Head of Public Relations at EVE Power Hungary, said supporting education is of strategic importance to the company.

“By working with the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Debrecen, we aim to contribute to the practical education of the next generation of engineers while bringing academic knowledge and industrial experience closer together.”

He added that EVE Power believes genuine cooperation between education and industry is essential to Debrecen’s technological development.

“It is important for us that young engineers gain practical industry experience during their university years and see real professional opportunities for their future in Debrecen.”

The company also supports the University of Debrecen Formula Student Team, helping students gain hands-on engineering experience and further strengthening cooperation between academia and industry.

(unideb.hu)

This year, 44 Hungarian and 46 international students earned the title of Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).

In her welcome address, Dean Kinga BĂĄgyi highlighted that the University of Debrecen is not only one of Hungary’s largest universities but also has a strong international presence. She noted that although the Faculty of Dentistry is one of the university’s youngest faculties, it has quickly gained international recognition thanks to its high-quality education, research, clinical training, modern infrastructure, and dedicated teaching staff.

The dean emphasized that the degrees awarded are internationally recognized, equipping graduates with knowledge and skills that are competitive worldwide. She reminded the new dentists that their profession requires a unique combination of theoretical expertise, manual precision, and compassionate patient care, adding that they are entering the field at a time when digitalization, artificial intelligence, and new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies are rapidly transforming healthcare and dentistry.

New doctors inaugurated at the University of Debrecen

Following the oath-taking and diploma presentation, Professor Emeritus titles were awarded to Professors Zsuzsanna Szondy and PĂ©ter PĂĄl NĂĄnĂĄsi, while several faculty, talent, teaching excellence, and student achievement awards were presented to outstanding staff and graduates in recognition of their academic and professional accomplishments.

(unideb.hu)

Students can enter individually or in teams of two to four. The competition offers participants the opportunity to work on real-world challenges related to the university and the city, receive professional feedback, become involved in the university’s innovation and startup ecosystem, gain international exposure, and take part in research and development projects.

“One of the main goals of the DEIK.AI Challenge is to involve students in solving real problems that affect young people, the university, the city, and society as a whole—not just in exploring the general applications of AI,” said AndrĂĄs Hajdu, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics.

He noted that the University of Debrecen’s broad academic profile provides a significant advantage, as future AI innovation will increasingly rely on multidisciplinary collaboration. Combining expertise from information technology, natural sciences, healthcare, engineering, economics, agriculture, and the social sciences can lead to cutting-edge AI solutions. The university also aims to prepare the most promising student projects for national and international innovation, professional, and startup events.

The competition includes two categories:

• AI Idea Competition – for innovative AI concepts with commercial potential.
• AI Demo Competition – for AI projects that are already functional or at an advanced stage of development.

While all AI-based solutions are welcome, special emphasis will be placed on projects focusing on urban environmental monitoring, processing environmental and mobility data, and AI-generated PR and communication content.

The best demo projects will be invited to a two-day AI Sprint final, where participants will tackle specific development challenges. At this stage, judges will evaluate not only the projects’ technical potential but also individual performance, problem-solving skills, algorithmic thinking, creativity, and teamwork.

The application deadline for the AI Idea Competition is 4 September 2026, while entries for the AI Demo Competition are accepted until 25 September 2026. Applications may be submitted in Hungarian or English and must include a project description of no more than one page and a presentation video of up to three minutes.

Outstanding participants will receive substantial cash prizes.

Further information and the application form are available on the competition’s official .

(unideb.hu)