BME Aims to Get Into Top 100 of European Universities, Says Rector

In the field of engineering, "we are not competing with domestic institutions, but with the international elite," said Hassan Charaf, rector of BME, in an interview with Index.hu. Accordingly, one of BME's goals is to move up from its current 12th place in Eastern Europe to a podium position in the regional QS rankings by 2032, and to become one of the 100 best higher education institutions in Europe (compared to its current position at 246).

Hassan Charaf said that there has been a change in attitude at BME in recent times, with the university defining itself as a service provider where student support is a priority.

"We are here to provide every support to young people for a successful university career and thus for their career start,"

he said, noting that this requires cooperation between parents and the university. He mentioned the forms of support offered by BME, such as mentoring programmes, study rooms, preparatory courses for entrance exams, consultation opportunities, and psychological services.

On the othre hand, the rector confirmed that BME will not compromise on its requirements; a degree is not given, but the result of genuine achievement. "The BME quality expected by industry obliges us to ensure that our requirements and assessment system are consistent," he said. Therefore, rather than lowering expectations, BME helps first-year students succeed in their university studies through early level assessments, intensive catch-up programmes, and mentoring programmes by senior students. In addition, mental health counseling and student communities, such as colleges for advances studies and competitive teams, help students stay on track.

When asked about the expected impact of artificial intelligence, Hassan Charaf said that there will always be a need for professionals in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). His own research has focused on software development, the basis of modern AI applications, which is why he believes that the future lies in AI-supported engineering: routine tasks can be entrusted to machines, but nothing can replace human creativity, he predicts. Incidentally, BME is launching an English-language master's degree in artificial intelligence informatics in the fall.

Here you can read the full interview (in Hungarian).

Rector's Office, Communications Directorate