In light of a promising future collaboration, Széchenyi István University recently welcomed a delegation from Quinnipiac University in the United States. Representatives of the Connecticut-based institution, in agreement with the professionals in Győr, identified numerous opportunities in the partnership, which may extend beyond technological and engineering education to include exchange programmes and joint research and development.

Széchenyi István University continues to expand its American partnerships and recently hosted a delegation from one of the United States’ leading institutions at its Győr campus. The mission of Quinnipiac University, located in the state of Connecticut, is to place innovation, real-world labour market needs, and global scientific research at the centre of its efforts to join the international elite. These values align closely with the strategy of Széchenyi University, which contributes to a sustainable future through the development of cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking scientific achievements.

The dynamic East Coast institution established contact with Széchenyi University on the recommendation of Dr Tamás Novák, Science and Technology Attaché at the Consulate General of Hungary in New York and a former lecturer in Győr. The prospective collaboration was also advocated by Joseph Kedves, an advisor to Quinnipiac University and a businessman of Hungarian descent. “In recent years, the world of industry and business has changed significantly, and with it, the expectations of higher education. This has prompted us to integrate real-world insights into our curricula. Having previously visited Széchenyi University, I immediately thought of the possibility of cooperation, as I witnessed the valuable work being done here, with goals and a mindset very similar to those at Quinnipiac,” he remarked during the meeting.

Christopher Ball, Director of the Central European Institute at Quinnipiac University, where he is the István Széchenyi Chair in International Economics, also serves as Honorary Consul of Hungary in Connecticut and plays a major role in fostering relations between the two countries. He noted that the American university now boasts a student body of nearly 10,000, a top-tier ice hockey team, and numerous academic programmes. “There are around 40,000 first- and second-generation Hungarians in Connecticut, so since 2005 we have offered Hungarian guest lectures and later established a scholarship programme and the Széchenyi Chair to oversee Hungary-US relations via Quinnipiac. Our goal is to support ties to Hungary through academic, business, and cultural avenues. Since 2009, we have hosted two Hungarian students annually for fully funded master's studies, enabling them to use their American experience for the benefit of their home country. The programme bears the name of István Széchenyi, paying fitting tribute to his legacy,” he explained.

Dr Taskin Kocak, Dean of the School of Computing and Engineering at Quinnipiac University, which ranks highly in American higher education league tables, outlined multiple areas for collaboration in engineering education. “Széchenyi University's short study programme, the Audi Development Camp, is an excellent opportunity for our students, and we will definitely recommend them to participate. Both institutions could benefit from organising a similar summer camp in the U.S., with a jointly developed curriculum and company visits for students from Győr. While coordinating engineering programmes is challenging due to lab requirements, we believe our students would gain immensely from spending a semester or summer placement at Széchenyi, especially those studying Mechanical Engineering,” he outlined. It was also mentioned that the university's faculty members would be open to serving as external advisors for doctoral programmes in Győr and expressed interest in guest lecturing opportunities, potentially even in an online format.

The visiting guests from the United States were given insights into the activities of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Automotive Engineering at Széchenyi University through a presentation by the Dean, Professor Gábor Dogossy. They also received an overview of the work of the institution’s Digital Development Centre, presented by International Relations Expert, Szilvia Vadász-Kalocsai and Head of the Medtech and Sporttech Division, Dr Péter Prukner. József Kepli, Head of the Centre for International Programmes and Alumni, reported on the University’s achievements in internationalisation, while Dr Tamás Kolossváry introduced the delegation to innovative cooperation opportunities within the Győr Innovation Park.

The Quinnipiac University delegation included: Dr Tamás Novák, Science and Technology Attaché at the Consulate General of Hungary in New York; Dr Christopher Ball, Director of the institution’s Central European Institute; Joseph Kedves, University Advisor; and Professor Taskin Kocak, Dean of the School of Computing and Engineering. Representing Széchenyi István University were: Professor Dr Gábor Dogossy, Dean of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Automotive Engineering; Dr Péter Prukner, Head of the Medtech and Sporttech Division at SZE’s Digital Development Centre; Szilvia Vadász-Kalocsai, International Relations Expert at the Digital Development Centre; Márta Mészáros, Head of the Mobility and Scholarship Unit at the Centre for International Programmes and Alumni and József Kepli, Head of the Centre for International Programmes and Alumni (Photo: András Adorján)