Our series of articles entitled “Sustainable Tuesday(s)”, will take a look over 17 weeks at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN to make the world a better place.

This time we are looking at development goal no. 8, decent work and economic growth, which aspires to the following:

Reach sustainable economic growth, full and effective employment and decent working conditions for all.

Use your own tools to help extend employment.

In 2024 BME was awarded the Family Friendly Workplace certification mark in the Workplace category, and is taking numerous initiatives to be worthy of this recognition. ‘Back to Science’ was the name of a new call for applications announced in the spring of 2022 for young parents teaching at BME, which offered a monthly contribution to support the scientific development of the beneficiaries. Parents with young children may use the Family-friendly Community Space at the BME premises, with the goal to provide them with a baby- and child-friendly space for our staff, who work part-time and conduct consultations and meetings while they care for their children. This is how BME wishes to ease their gradual return to teaching and working at the university.

The Budapest University of Technology and Economics is dedicated to fostering equal opportunities among its staff and students. From October 2021, the Gender Equality Plan (BME GEP) developed in line with the existing university regulatory framework and the national and European policies, has further strengthened the University’s commitment to an inclusive institutional culture and the fight against gender-based discrimination.  In addition, BME has been part of the Girls’ Day initiative of NaTE (Association of Hungarian Women in Science) since its inception, and is committed to explain training programmes and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to girls at a young age.

BME offers several possibilities for the teachers’ and the students’ personal development. The BME Talent Support Council organises university career-planning workshop. BME and external experts provide skills-development courses to promote scientific work to PhD/DLA students and young researchers.

BME supports its researchers’ and students’ participation in various Hungarian and international programs (e.g. the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA), Horizon 2020 and other EU-programs, Thematic Area Excellence Programme, Cooperative Doctoral Programs and MTA Bolyai Research Grant). Students in the doctoral programs were invited to participate in the Doctoral Excellence Grant Program (BME-DKÖP) announced in 2023. The overarching purpose of this program is to support young doctoral students at the start of their research career, while it also wishes to deepen and validate ongoing cooperation between science and industry.

BME extends a whole range of benefits and discounts to its citizens. Students and staff may use the BME’s National Technical Information Centre and Library (OMIKK) free of charge. BME-card holders enjoy discounts up to 15% at Stoczek canteen and at the university’s cafés and clubs. BME workers and students may use the services of the BME Sports Centre and sports grounds at a special discount to foster a healthy lifestyle.

The BME Career Fair is arranged twice a year in the spring and in the autumn, as University takes special care to introduce its students to the companies that may become their future employers. The Graduate Career Tracking System (GCTS) has also shown that young graduates of BME find employment easily and quickly and may expect income levels well above the average.

In addition to the above, 15 publications, 12 student projects and 21 subjects delivered at the university’s faculties are related to the subject of decent work and economic growth.

GD, KK (BME Committee on Sustainability)