Széchenyi István University’s Albert Kázmér Mosonmagyaróvár Faculty and Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics along with the Veres Péter Agricultural and Food Industry Technical School, Vocational School and Dormitory, which is maintained by the University, have strengthened their cooperation with the Xantus János Zoo in Győr. At the ceremonial signing of the agreement, it was stated that the partnership will focus on educational, research and scientific areas, particularly in tourism, agriculture and animal sciences.

Széchenyi István University conducts its educational, scientific, research and innovation activities within a broad partnership framework. The Albert Kázmér Mosonmagyaróvár and Kautz Gyula Faculties have established extensive domestic and international networks to support high-quality, project-based and practice-oriented education. To further these objectives, the institution signed a cooperation agreement on 6 March with the Xantus János Zoo in Győr—one of the country's most visited zoos and a key cultural and recreational venue in the West Transdanubian region. The partnership also involves the Veres Péter Agricultural and Food Industry Technical School, Vocational School and Dormitory, which has successfully collaborated with the zoo since 1997 in training students pursuing careers as agricultural technicians, farmers and gardeners.

The cooperation agreement was signed by Dr György Andréka, CEO of Xantus János Zoo; Dr Zsolt Kovács, Vice President for General and Educational Affairs of Széchenyi University; Dr Tamás Tóth, Dean of the Albert Kázmér Mosonmagyaróvár Faculty; Dr Sándor Remsei, Dean of the Kautz Gyula Faculty of Economics and Rudolf Csiszár, Director of the Veres Péter Agricultural and Food Industry Technical School, Vocational School and Dormitory.
(Photo: Máté Dudás)

As per the agreement, the University will involve zoo experts in its tourism, agriculture, and animal science programmes and will initiate joint research and development activities. The parties will focus on animal health, nutrition, and soil testing while also strengthening collaboration in tourism education. In the future, the zoo will serve as an external site for classes and practical education, provide consultancy support for thesis and dissertation work, and play an active role in joint research and project applications.

At the signing ceremony held at Széchenyi University, Dr. Tamás Tóth emphasized the natural synergy of the cooperation. “Zoos play a vital role in preserving biodiversity and saving endangered species, which aligns with the University’s sustainability mission through research activities. Another key element of our partnership is education, offering additional opportunities not only for our students but also for those at the Veres school maintained by the University,” he stated. He highlighted that the faculty will contribute to joint efforts with expertise in nutrition, soil, and microbiological studies and is also planning to establish an external department.

Dr. Sándor Remsei, Dean of the Kautz Gyula Faculty of Economics, explained that the faculty’s focus will be on tourism and marketing. “The zoo is a significant tourism, recreational, and educational destination in the region. Our students can contribute with their fresh perspectives while gaining practical experience. This collaboration allows the two institutions to mutually strengthen each other, providing additional knowledge and practice for future professionals and enhancing the region's tourism appeal,” he added.

Dr. György Andréka, CEO of Xantus János Zoo, highlighted that nearly 700 million people visit zoos worldwide annually—150 million in Europe and 4-5 million in Hungary. “This is by far the largest figure in the leisure and tourism market, with the Győr institution attracting 250,000 visitors, making it a leader in the region,” he noted. He emphasized that the zoo's mission extends far beyond entertainment, encompassing nature conservation, scientific research, education, and shaping social attitudes. “All this requires dedicated and highly skilled professionals. Many of our employees come from the Veres school, with which we have had a longstanding collaboration. Therefore, we see it as our responsibility to contribute to the education of young people pursuing secondary and higher education with our practical expertise,” he concluded.