For the first time in its history, at a ceremony to present them with honorary diplomas, Széchenyi István University has welcomed alumni who graduated more than fifty years ago. More than 130 of the engineers who graduated from the predecessor of the institution, the Technical College of Transport and Telecommunications, received their gold diplomas at the alma mater in Győr.

It has become a tradition at Széchenyi István University to award honorary diplomas to former students who graduated from the institution 50 years ago or more. This year, however, is a milestone in this respect, as the University welcomed this year not only graduates of the Apáczai Csere János Faculty, the Faculty of Mosonmagyaróvár and the Faculty of Music and Design, but also graduates of its predecessor, the College of Transport Telecommunications and Technology (KTMF). It was five decades ago that the first engineers and technicians graduated from the College. More than 130 of them received their gold diplomas at Thursday's ceremony.

"Over the past 20 years, our institution has created quality in education and research, while at the same time providing social utility, serving the country's development, student satisfaction and careers, as well as increasing the competitiveness of businesses. Moreover, we have achieved all this by standing our ground and gaining a better and better position in global competition," said Dr Balázs Horváth, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences, in his welcome speech at the first ceremony, emphasising the dynamic development of Széchenyi István University. 

Members of the board of the jubilee diploma awarding ceremony were Dr Zsolt Kovács, Chancellor of Széchenyi István University, Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Dr Anikó Zseni, Vice-Rector for Education,  Dr Zoltán Horváth, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Informatics and Electrical Engineering, Dr Balázs Horváth, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences and Dr Barna Hanula, Dean of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Automotive Engineering.

In his speech at the afternoon ceremony, Professor Zoltán Horváth, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical, Engineering, Informatics and Electrical Engineering, recalled that Széchenyi István University has come a long way in the past five decades. "Our institution is now the seventh largest among the 65 universities in Hungary, with about 80,000 alumni, 13,000 students and an international student community of 800 students. We are proud of the fact that Széchenyi István University has been consistently ranked in the top four in the country for years in the field of Engineering and IT education," he said. In the packed auditorium, he stressed that they want to continue to work so that graduates can continue to be proud of their alma mater in the future.

After the thunderous applause that cheered the graduates had died down, Dr Csaba Galli, Associate Professor of the Department of Vehicle Manufacturing in the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Automotive Engineering, also spoke on behalf of the graduates of the predecessor institution of Széchenyi István University, who at the same time conveyed the congratulations of László Szijártó, the first Director of the College of  Transport Telecommunications and Technology and thanked the celebrating graduates for their contribution to the uninterrupted development of the institution.

The ceremony was also attended by István Virág, deputy General Manager of Career Management at MÁV Zrt., a key partner of Széchenyi István University, Dr Péter Keresztes, Professor Emeritus, former Director General of the predecessor institution of Széchenyi István University, and Dr Péter Földesi, former Rector of the University of Győr. (Photo: MekliZ Fotóstúdió)

The spirit with which the 50-year-old graduates came to this special occasion is well illustrated by the thoughts of Tibor Antónyi.

"I have great respect for the school and its teachers. On a milestone anniversary like this, one looks back on the past decades and takes stock of the activities of the past, with which perhaps we also show the way for the future and for young people," said the engineering alumnus. He added that 50 years ago, the institution was at the beginning of its journey, but it had great personalities and vision, so he can only look back on that period with good feelings.

"I am very happy to have lived this day and to have been able to meet again with my former fellow students. At the time the time, we were still graduating in Budapest, so I arrived a day early for the ceremony to see the Győr campus, which is very impressive. I think it's a nice gesture on the part of the institution to commemorate us," said the celebrating alumna, Mrs Károly Péter Ruszthi.

Dénes Gábor Subucz, who graduated half a century ago as a railway engineer, was among the crowd of alumni taking selfies with the Széchenyi symbols. 

"Fifty years have passed, and during these fifty years one has had a long career, always remaining in the technical field. It is a great honour that the University from which we started thinks of us and welcomes its old students on the occasion of this anniversary.” he stressed.