Students participating in the joint Audi Development Camp organised by Széchenyi István University and Audi Hungaria explored topics including artificial intelligence and robotics before receiving their certificates of completion on 27 July. In addition to the academic programme, participants took part in a range of community-building activities, while the winning project team earned tickets to the Formula Student Symposium, to be hosted by the University this November.

The sixth edition of the Audi Development Camp, jointly organised by Széchenyi István University and Audi Hungaria, concluded with a formal closing ceremony. Designed for ambitious students from around the world, the one-week programme welcomed 30 participants from 18 universities across 17 countries this year. Audi Hungaria—whose Győr operations include a vehicle plant, engine plant, development centre and service centre—provided the industry-based project assignment for the programme. Alongside its strong professional focus on robotics, artificial intelligence and programming, the camp placed particular emphasis on international teamwork, intercultural communication and community building.

At the closing ceremony, all participants who successfully completed the programme received certificates, while students who delivered outstanding performances throughout the week were presented with special awards. The winning team was also recognised and received tickets to attend the Formula Student Symposium, which will be held at Széchenyi István University in November.

The winning team of the 2026 Audi Development Camp. (Photo: András Adorján)

Gergely Hódosi, Data Analyst in the Central Vehicle Production Division at Audi Hungaria and one of the programme's mentors, said he was impressed by the exceptionally high quality of the teams' work. According to him, the students not only completed the core assignment successfully but also presented innovative additional features to the judging panel.

"It was inspiring to see such diverse international teams achieve remarkable results in such a short time with the support of today's advanced technologies," he said. He emphasised that the participants made excellent use of the mentors' guidance, incorporating the advice into their projects, while relying above all on their critical thinking skills and effective collaboration within their teams. "The Audi Development Camp demonstrates that no matter how complex a challenge may seem, a solution can always be found—and this year's participants proved exactly that," he added.

Gergely Hódosi, Data Analyst in Audi Hungaria's Central Vehicle Production Division and one of the programme's mentors, speaking at the closing ceremony. (Photo: András Adorján)

Another mentor, Rudolf Krecht, lecturer at the University's Department of Defence Innovation and Critical Infrastructures and research engineer at the Vehicle Industry Research Center, praised the participants' enthusiasm and commitment. He noted that the competition was highly balanced and featured a series of exceptionally strong final presentations. "The students arrived with a solid academic background and worked tirelessly throughout the week to achieve the best possible results," he explained. "As mentors, we supported them through lectures, consultations and individual guidance. The assignment was challenging because it introduced relatively new questions within the field of robotics. Nevertheless, the participants successfully applied knowledge and skills they had previously acquired, even if in different areas." According to Krecht, the programme further strengthens the University's close cooperation with industry—particularly with Audi Hungaria—while enhancing the institution's international visibility and providing students with invaluable practical experience.

Rudolf Krecht, lecturer at the Department of Defence Innovation and Critical Infrastructures and research engineer at the Vehicle Industry Research Center, supported the students as a mentor. (Photo: András Adorján)

María Milagros Mancuso, an Argentine-Italian student from the University of Jaén in Spain, described the programme as an unforgettable experience that was enriching both professionally and culturally. "It was fascinating to learn how such an international team can work together so effectively," she said. "The sessions on training artificial intelligence systems and robotics were particularly exciting. Although I already had some background in these fields, I had never worked with simulations like these before.” The computer engineering student described the dragon boat race as the highlight of the camp, calling it both enjoyable and an important team-building activity. "I would definitely recommend this programme to others because it pushes you beyond your comfort zone and teaches you a great deal about intercultural teamwork and independent problem-solving," she added.

Ran Bi from Chongqing University in China and María Milagros Mancuso from the University of Jaén in Spain described the programme as unique thanks to its professional content and international community-building environment. (Photo: András Adorján)

Ran Bi, a student at Chongqing University in China, also described the camp as a unique opportunity, noting that it was his first experience abroad. "A fellow student participated in the programme last year and encouraged me to apply," he explained. "I'm very glad I did. I had lived my entire life in China, and this programme gave me the chance to experience different cultures and see more of the world. I study telecommunications engineering, so robotics was previously an unfamiliar field for me, but this was a great opportunity to explore it." He added that continuous teamwork was one of the programme's greatest strengths, helping participants overcome even the most challenging problems together. "Compared to my home university, the Győr campus is smaller, but it is beautiful and closely integrated with the city, which creates a very special atmosphere. I was also impressed by student life here. It is clear that the University provides excellent conditions for maintaining a healthy balance between study, work, recreation and relaxation." Ran Bi concluded by warmly recommending the programme to future applicants, highlighting that it offers not only valuable technical knowledge but also outstanding opportunities to build international networks and develop communication skills.

 

 

 

 

Gallery of the programme (Photos: András Adorján)