A unique program supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) has started at the University of Sopron. Within the framework of the HunEdu project, a one-week training course based on the principle of “training the trainers” focuses on the modern processing of data collected by satellites.
International experts are sharing their knowledge with Hungarian educators and researchers, who will then prepare future professionals to make use of opportunities offered by space technology. Together with other Hungarian universities, the University of Sopron is preparing to launch a unique practical training program aimed at establishing world-class Earth Observation engineering education in Hungary.
The University of Sopron, Hungary’s Green University, once again demonstrates its openness to new challenges and its ability to lead in future-shaping technologies. With the support of the European Space Agency (ESA), a special “training the trainers” program has been launched within the HunEdu project, in which international experts pass on their expertise to Hungarian educators and researchers.
The training focuses on the modern processing of Earth Observation data collected by satellites. The program is implemented with the collaboration of the University of Sopron, Óbuda University, and DATelite Ltd., combining the tools of geoinformatics, image processing, and artificial intelligence. The goal is to create a higher education system in Hungary that prepares students to manage and analyze the massive volumes of data coming from space.
Through satellite images, it becomes possible to monitor in real time the health of forests, water shortages in agricultural areas, the impacts of climate change, and even transportation or tourism trends. However, the processing of such data is only possible with the most modern cloud-based technologies and AI-supported methods.
The first one-week training was organized by the University of Sopron, featuring lectures and practical sessions delivered by researchers from prestigious institutions such as Wageningen University (Netherlands), the German Research Centre for Geosciences, and the University of Wisconsin (USA). Participants include educators and researchers from several Hungarian universities—among them BME, ELTE, Óbuda University, the University of Pécs, and the University of Debrecen—attending either in person or online.
Dr. Kornél Czimber, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Sopron and the main organizer of the event, highlighted:
“Earth Observation has now become a strategically important field. Increasingly large volumes and resolutions of satellite images are available, which can only be effectively processed using advanced technologies. We need professionals capable of analyzing, interpreting, and applying this data in practice.”
The project also emphasizes the involvement of the industrial sector. Dr. Levente Ronczyk, CEO of DATelite Ltd., stated:
“Our goal is for universities to produce experts who can be employed by industry immediately. What is needed is not just academic knowledge, but practical, up-to-date skills that provide real value to the economy.”
A First-of-its-Kind Training in Hungary
Hungary has been a member of the European Space Agency since 2015, one of whose most important programs is Earth Observation. The training launched now with ESA’s support lays the foundation for future postgraduate-level studies in this field and contributes to Hungary joining the international forefront.
The initiative in Sopron marks a milestone in Hungarian higher education: by further training lecturers and researchers, a new generation can be nurtured that is capable of responding to the challenges of the future—whether in addressing the consequences of climate change, protecting forests, ensuring the sustainability of agriculture, or developing urban environments.
Related content
- The University of Sopron and the Vietnam National University of Forestry renewed collaboration
- University of Sopron's PhD students get inspired at Prestigious International Organizations in Paris
- International Students of the University of Sopron Visit Graz to Close the Academic Year
- A New Milestone in Enhancing Teaching Performance at University of Sopron
- University of the Year: National Recognition for Successful Admissions Campaigns
- University of Sopron Once Again Among the International Leaders in Sustainability in Nice
- University of Sopron Doctoral Candidate Selected DOSZ Ambassador for Sudanese PhD Students
- The University of Sopron Served as the Anniversary Venue of an International Geometry Conference
- Knowledge Bridge Between Sopron and Morocco – New Horizons in University Cooperation
- Digital Leap into the Future – New Environment and Media Studio at the University of Sopron
