Széchenyi István University participated in the Regional University Network's programme in Ireland with a delegation of teachers, students and representatives of associated partners. The event included training sessions on sustainability and concluded with a general assembly of the organisation. This project, involving six institutions from five countries, strengthens the international relations and global visibility of Széchenyi István University.

Széchenyi István University participated in the Regional University Network's programme in Ireland with a delegation of teachers, students and representatives of associated partners. The event included training sessions on sustainability and concluded with a general assembly of the organisation. This project, involving six institutions from five countries, strengthens the international relations and global visibility of Széchenyi István University.

Last year, Széchenyi István University, as a member of the Regional University Network-European University (RUN-EU), successfully applied for the European Commission's European University Initiative. In addition to Győr, the winning consortium includes six other universities (the Polytechnics of Leiria (Portugal) and Cávado and Ave (Portugal); Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland); Athlone Institute of Technology (Ireland); Széchenyi István University (SZE) (Hungary); Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK (Finland); NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands); FH Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (Austria). RUN-EU held short training programmes and a general assembly in Ireland, at which Széchenyi University was represented by a six-member academic staff delegation and a student advisory panel of ten Hungarian and three self-financing international students.

"RUN-EU is a great opportunity to promote joint research, publications and EU projects, to improve education and encourage student mobility through dual training, joint degrees, short training programmes and to support the third mission of institutions in social responsibility through the associated partners. Our University has four associated partners in this initiative, Audi Hungaria Zrt, the Municipality of Győr, the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra and MediKlaszter. Representatives of the latter two were also present at the programme," emphasised Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of Széchenyi István University, the project's professional leader. She added that bilateral discussions also took place at the event.

Members of the plastic pollution team, including Dóra Jankovics, Ábel Prohászka and Márk Csidei.

During the week, students from the seven institutions took part in short training programmes focusing on sustainability in three cities - Thurles, Athlone and Limerick. The young people worked on four different challenges: plastic pollution, peat extraction, food supply and community empowerment. In the latter two topics, two students from Széchenyi István University, Tímea Sebők, on the Bachelor’s programme in Legal Administration, and Eyad Khazaal, a student on the MSc programme in Infrastructural Engineering were members of the winning teams.

Aban Abdulsattar and Eyad Khazaal, international students at Széchenyi István University.

"Over the one week I learned a lot about how to cope in a multicultural environment. By having the opportunity to meet students of different nationalities, I feel I have managed to change my way of thinking and see the world from a slightly different perspective. I have grown a lot both as a person and professionally. I learned how to work in a team, which is fantastic," explained Eyad Khazaal from Syria.

One of the winning teams, with Tímea Sebők in the middle.

It was also a great experience for Tímea Sebők to take part in the study trip to Ireland. "It will be especially memorable because as part of the winning team, I was able to speak at the closing event, where we presented our solution to one of Ireland's most pressing social problems - housing - to university leaders and decision-makers. I feel that I have improved my communication and problem-solving skills and I have been able to step out of my comfort zone," said the student.

Members of one of the teams, including Tamás Sömenek, Dávid István Vályi-Nagy and István Flórián Gulyás, also visited the peat extraction site.