The cooperation between Széchenyi István University and ETO FC Győr spans numerous fields, from sports health research through the application of innovative technologies to educational development. A new element of the partnership may be the joint establishment of an English-medium primary and secondary school, which could serve the education of the children of visiting professors and international footballers alike.

In addition to education and research, Széchenyi István University places great emphasis on its third-mission activities, within which it cooperates with key economic, social, and sports actors in the region. In this spirit, last May it further strengthened its relationship with ETO Futball Kft., which also operates the top-division football team ETO FC Győr, and since then numerous joint projects have been launched. A new milestone in their cooperation could be the establishment of an English-medium school, which the club and the University presented jointly.

Máté Havas, Director of Club Operations and Academy at ETO FC Győr, pointed out that they are building a new era together with the city and the University. “For me, the greatest success of 2025 was signing the cooperation agreement with the University, because together we can develop innovations in numerous areas and gain a competitive advantage,” he said about the partnership. He also presented the club’s future development plans, including the modernisation of the stadium and the creation of a new training centre, as well as training pitches and service facilities planned for the nearby former go-kart track. He emphasised that, in the latter case, they are working in cooperation with the University’s Department of Applied Sustainability and its Sustainability Competence Centre to ensure that the new complex operates in an environmentally sustainable manner in the long term.

Máté Havas, Director of Club Operations and Academy of ETO FC Győr, explained that cooperation with the university is extremely important for them (Photo: András Adorján)

Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice.President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations at the University, highlighted that both the institution and ETO FC share the ambition not only to make an impact in Hungary, but also globally. She explained that significant progress has been made in recent years in this regard. The number of international students has now reached nearly 1,200, who are offered a total of 62 English-taught programmes. In addition, double degree programmes are available in partnership with foreign universities, enabling graduates to receive diplomas from both institutions. She added that this progress is also reflected in higher education rankings, as Széchenyi appears in both major global rankings – Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education – and, according to the QS European ranking, it is the sixth-best university in Hungary.

“To elevate our internationalisation to the next level, an English-medium school is essential,” she stated. By way of explanation, she noted that last year alone 24 visiting professors spent at least three months at the University, and if they wish to attract even more distinguished experts to Győr in the future, it is necessary to provide education for their children.

Regarding the details of the planned development, Dr Sarolta Szabó Horváthné, Strategic Director of the University, explained that the establishment of the school would be linked to the expansion of the Miklós Fehér Football Academy. The institution would offer an eight-grade English-taught primary education, as well as a smaller-scale secondary level with both English- and Hungarian-language classes. The school could be built next to ETO Park, adjacent to the Győr University Ice Sports Centre, integrating organically with the existing sports infrastructure in the area. The concept also includes the construction of a dormitory, a sports hall and a dining facility.

“It is of paramount importance for us to obtain international accreditation for the school, as this is a fundamental requirement for creating a truly open system. This ensures that students arriving from anywhere in the world can join the education programme and later continue their studies in other countries from where they left off here,” said Dr Sarolta Szabó Horváthné.

Szabolcs Szeles, Councillor responsible for sport and university relations in Győr and municipal representative, emphasised that the cooperation between Széchenyi István University and ETO FC brings together fields that have long played a defining role in the city’s development. He noted that the initiative clearly demonstrates how the coordinated development of education and sport can open up new opportunities at both local and regional levels.

Máté Havas, the Director of Club Operations and Academy of ETO FC Győr; Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice-President International Affairs and Strategic Relations; Dr. Sarolta Szabó Horváthné, the institution’s strategic director; and Szabolcs Szeles, the municipal representative and councillor responsible for sports and university relations in Győr (Photo: András Adorján)