“In recent years, Széchenyi István University has become one of the leading higher education institutions in the region and in Hungary, significantly increasing its student body and own revenues, developing its infrastructure, with its stability ensured by its outstanding liquidity. All of this provides a solid foundation for the university to be a winner in the renewal opportunity now opening up. With the change of controlling body, we expect a more efficient and flexible operation, new developments, and the strengthening of our partnerships and service capabilities. Following the change of model, the university will be able to create and efficiently use the resources necessary to achieve its goals on the basis of an independent strategy under the new operating and management conditions,” said Dr Knáb in her opening speech. She added that the more flexible economic conditions allow the university to formulate and implement its objectives and tasks with greater economic independence and a wider margin of manoeuver. She emphasized that during the change of model, the autonomy of the institution will not be compromised, its responsibility, however, will naturally increase.

At the inaugural meeting, the members of the board of trustees – Dr Erzsébet Knáb, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Member of the Board of Directors responsible for personnel and organization at Audi Hungaria Zrt., Mr Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dr András Csaba Dézsi, Mayor of the City of Győr, Dr József Bokor, full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, president of the University's Research Centre of the Automotive Industry and Rev. Tamás Kelemen Sárai-Szabó OSB, prior of St Mór Benedictine Priory, Győr – adopted the founding document of Széchenyi István University. The organizational structure and internal operating system of the institution do not change fundamentally. The positions of Rector and Chancellor will be retained, supplemented by the presidency. The board of trustees decided that the presidency of the University should be held by Dr Bálint Filep and from 1 August the position of Chancellor will be filled by Dr Zsolt Kovács.

The supervisory board of the Széchenyi István University Foundation was established on Tuesday. Its chairman is István Tarlós, Prime Minister’s Envoy, while its members are Dr Dezső Havasi, President of the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Bar Association and Péter Horváth, President of the National Teachers' Union and Headmaster of Révai Miklós High School in Győr. The treasurer of Széchenyi István University Foundation is lawyer Dr Péter Győrfi-Tóth.

Dr Dezső Havasi, Horváth Péter, Dr Csaba András Dézsi, Mr Péter Szijjártó, Dr Erzsébet Knáb, István Tarlós, Dr József Bokor, Rev. Tamás Kelemen Sárai-Szabó OSB and Dr Péter Győrfi-Tóth at the inaugural meeting.