New Beginning: Record Number of Students Start the Academic Year at the University of Sopron

Following the joint singing of the national anthem, Prof. Dr. Attila Fábián, the rector of the institution, welcomed the freshmen. In his festive speech, he highlighted the unwavering popularity of the University of Sopron, thanks to which a record number of students are starting the academic year in the most loyal city this year.

Addressing the freshmen, he quoted Áron Szilágyi, a three-time Olympic champion:

„Talent is a double-edged sword. Those who are not diligent will not get there, those who are not willing to do the training work will not become Olympic champions. Even if you have talent, it is not a guarantee for anything, it is a trap."

Prof. Dr. Attila Fábián added: talent alone is not enough for success, in top-level sports, as well as in university life, diligence, perseverance, and hard work are what truly lead to progress.

Sándor Szentpéteri spoke about how the University of Sopron's forestry programs are playing a pivotal role in combating climate change. Through the Forestry Sectoral Knowledge Center, the university is effectively transferring knowledge to both students and industry professionals. This knowledge is being utilized to enhance agricultural vocational training and organize specialized forestry events.

Several faculty members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the university. Dr. Gábor Kovács-Gombos, Dr. János Zoltán Gál, and Ákos Bálint Vörös were honored with prestigious awards. Kázmér Attila Tóth was appointed as an Honorary Associate Professor, and Prof. Dr. Béla Pukánszky received the esteemed Doctor Honoris Causa title.

The university also welcomed four new university professors: Dr. Bálint Heil, Dr. Zoltán Pásztory, Dr. Balázs Kósa, and Dr. László Molnár. Additionally, Dr. Balázs Kósa and Dr. Tamás Pirger were appointed as deputy deans.

To recognize academic excellence, National Higher Education Scholarships were awarded to 13 promising students. As one of the most anticipated and solemn moments of the opening ceremony of the academic year, the first-year Hungarian students took their oaths under the leadership of Dr. Enikő Pásztor, Vice Rector for Education, followed by the numerous foreign first-year students under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Ferenc Lakatos, Vice Rector for Research and Foreign Affairs.

Then, according to tradition, the deans of the faculties greeted the representatives of the freshmen with a handshake, and Mátyás Jánosi, a certified forestry engineer student, and Filoména Simon, a graduated kindergarten teacher and current first-year forestry engineer student, also addressed their peers. In their speech, they expressed special thanks to the group leaders and Firma classmates who organized the successful freshman and bALEK week programs for them, thus helping them to integrate into university life.

As the closing chord of the event, Dr. Ciprián Farkas, mayor, welcomed the sworn-in students on behalf of the host city. The city's first man said in his greeting: „In Sopron, the opening of the academic year is always a celebration. It is a celebration for the first-year students who are now becoming citizens of the university and symbolically of Sopron, and it is a celebration for the families, as they know that their children will be graduates in a few years. In the words of István Széchenyi, „the power of a nation lies in the number of educated people."

Following the blessing of the academic year, Prof. Dr. Attila Fábián officially opened the 2024/2025 academic year of the University of Sopron.

Photo: Tamás Griechisch

Sopron TV report (in Hungarian): https://youtu.be/SuaccMyMtJI?si=c7O1gAXYmlb0D6tR&t=45