First-year students receive astronaut encouragement at BME's opening day

"You are now becoming citizens of an institution with a long history and traditions, but one that is always boldly seeking new paths. The strength of BME lies in the diversity of its eight faculties and the fields they cover, and yet in the unity and synergy inherent in this diversity. This is an environment where the innovators, engineers, and scientists of the future are shaped," said Rector Charaf Hassan as he welcomed BME's new students at the institution's opening ceremony on Friday.

Of the 5,372 new students admitted to the BME this year, 400 took their seats in the auditorium of Building K, while the rest followed the ceremony via live broadcast in the lecture halls. The event was attended by Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation, Zsolt Hernádi, Chairman and CEO of MOL, Péter Ratatics, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BME Fenntartó Zrt. and Managing Director of MOL Group, Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research, and Tibor Kapu, Hungarian astronaut, as guest of honor.

Hassan Charaf, Orsolya Ferencz, Bertalan Farkas, Zsolt Hernádi, Tibor Kapu, Gyula Cserényi, Péter Ratatics

Among the invited guests were Bertalan Farkas, the first Hungarian research astronaut, Gyula Cserényi, the second Hungarian reserve research astronaut, Márton Barta, CEO of BME Fenntartó Zrt., Tímea Horváth, chair of the supervisory board of BME Fenntartó Zrt., László Dunai, member of the supervisory board of BME Fenntartó Zrt., László Kollár, secretary general of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, László Bódis, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Ádám Kiss, President of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Balázs Gulyás, Chairman of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, Szabolcs Farkas, Chairman of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, Géza Kuminetz, Rector of Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Attila Szabó, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs at Semmelweis University, Lajos Szabó, Vice-Rector for Education at Corvinus University, Miklós Bendzsel, President of the Hungarian Academy of Engineering, Honorary Citizen of BME, Zoltán Dubéczi, Secretary General of the Hungarian Rectors' Conference, László Szántó, Vice-President of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers, Péter Kádár-Csoboth, partner at IFUA-Horváth Group, Iván Vetési, CEO of NISZ Zrt., and János Pakucs, honorary president of the Hungarian Innovation Association, president of the Pro Progressio Foundation, honorary citizen of the university.

The rector said that by having been admitted to BME – the most successful Hungarian applicant in international research, development, and mobility programmes –, the new students had joined "Hungary's most competitive team." "The members of this team are our teachers, researchers, and all our colleagues, but also the companies we work with and, of course, our former students, members of the alumni organization."

Charaf Hassan gave a special welcome and congratulated to doctoral students Gergő Almádi and Krisztina Regős, who, under the guidance of Gábor Domokos, professor at the Faculty of Architecture, have already made an international impact with their publications as university students and are continuing their success as researchers. The rector pointed out that as part of the renewal that began last year, the opening of BME's academic year is be renewed: in the afternoon, for the first time, there will be a large university-wide meeting for all first-year students in the historic garden of Building K.

Krisztina Regős and Gábor Domokos

Mr Balázs Hankó was the next to give a speech. He said that a university is both a challenge and an experience — an institution in which, if it functions well, both teachers and students can trust. It provides quality, value, backbone, and identity. "Without identity, we drift, we don't know who we are: people need to belong somewhere," said the minister. Finally, Mr Hankó praised the courage of the leaders of BME for implementing a unique new model.

Mr Zsolt Hernádi said it was a great honor for MOL to become a strategic partner of BME during the renewal process. "We understand the responsibility and significance of this, and will do everything we can to live up to it," promised the CEO of MOL. He reminded the audience that enormous changes are taking place in the world in the fields of industry, energy, and transportation, and that these changes are being brought about by people "like the one sitting here in this room, who not only dream but also make their dreams come true: engineers and economists."

He told the first-year students, "You are on the winning horse, you have the chance to be not just spectators of the transformation of the world, but its protagonists, because here you are gaining competitive knowledge." Returning to the renewal of BME, he said, "Everything is in place for us to successfully continue the story that began in 1782."

Charaf Hassan and Balázs Hankó then jointly presented honorary diplomas to the three Hungarian astronauts who graduated from BME, Bertalan Farkas, Tibor Kapu, and Gyula Cserényi, "in recognition of their activities for the development of the domestic space industry, strengthening the reputation of Hungarian science and BME worldwide, and serving Hungarian space research with exemplary dedication.

Balázs Hankó, Gyula Cserényi, Tibor Kapu, Bertalan Farkas, Hassan Charaf

Tibor Kapu also gave a short speech. He recalled that since returning from Houston, he had visited the Sándor Palace to receive the Order of St. Stephen, spent a whole day at a public meeting at Millenáris, spoke to 20,000 people in Kolozsvár, but one of his greatest honors and sources of pride was to be able to speak at his university.

To those who are just starting their studies but do not yet know exactly where their path will lead, he said that this was perfectly fine: "It's okay if you're still uncertain today [...] BME will equip you with the most effective problem-solving methods, teach you teamwork, give you theoretical and practical knowledge, and forever instill in you what we call an engineering mindset. [...] You will have an arsenal in your pockets that will allow you to find your place anywhere in the world."

The vow taken by the new students was read by Zsombor Beke, student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. "I promise to behave in a manner befitting a member of the university community during my studies. I will do my utmost to acquire knowledge related to my future profession. As a useful member of the university community, I will strive to conscientiously prepare myself for my chosen profession. I will abide by the ethical rules of my profession and use the knowledge I have acquired for the benefit of my fellow human beings and my country," promised the freshmen in attendance.

Representatives of the faculties during the vow ceremony

They also received some words of advice from the president of the University Students' Union. Imre Lévai began by saying, "Be proud that you are starting your studies at the oldest and most prestigious technical university in the country!" He added that it would sometimes be difficult, but that they could all count on the knowledge they gained here to be competitive on an international level, and that their university connections would be useful to them throughout their lives.

He encouraged the first-year students to gather experiences as part of the smaller BME communities, but not to forget that their most important task is to do well in their studies. In this, they can count on a lot of help from their senior classmates.

Finally, Ms. Eszter Mozsár, the rector's personal secretary and moderator of the event, announced that all BME citizens were invited to the campus garden at 2 p.m. for the unusual Academic Year and Future Launch event, and Mr Charaf officially opened the 244th academic year of BME.

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