The 2025/2026 academic year was officially opened at the University Centre in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania, which operates in partnership with Obuda University. This year, 22 first-year light industry engineering students took their oaths, a particularly gratifying development as all advertised degree programs have started with maximum student capacity. The event was attended by local leaders and representatives of partner universities, who emphasized their shared goals.
The ceremony was opened by Dr. Ferenc Ilyés, the director of the institution, who summarized the essence of higher education with the concepts of learning, talent, and creation.
On behalf of the city, István Szakács-Paál, the mayor of Odorheiu Secuiesc, greeted the students. In his words, the opening of an academic year at a higher education institution is a highlight in the intellectual life of the city.
In his keynote speech, Jenő Szász, president of the Foundation for Odorheiu Secuiesc and the Institute for National Strategy, pointed out that a good quarter of a century after the establishment of the University Centre, all courses are starting with a full complement of students, which proves the success of the center and the faith in the region’s development.
Obuda University also played a key role in the ceremony, with the support of Dr. habil. László Koltai, Dean of the Sándor Rejtő Faculty of Light Industry and Environmental Engineering, and Dr. Gabriella Oroszlány, senator and coordinator of the program. The Dean conveyed the best wishes of Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, the rector, and in his ceremonial speech, he pointed to the deeper, philosophical foundations of science. With his words, he drew attention to the fundamental values of higher education and scientific thinking, which the institutions jointly represent in the region. He recalled that science and education are not only about passing on professional knowledge, but also about a deeper belief in cognition, which also shapes the strength of the community.
The speakers agreed that higher education institutions are committed to high-quality education, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of innovation, all of which contribute to the well-being of the Szeklerland. The ceremony drew attention to the importance of the cooperation between the local community, the students, and the university partners from Hungary, which will continue to be the basis for the development of the University Centre in Odorheiu Secuiesc and the region in the future.
