The KÖZÖS.Veszprém Successfully Concludes the Year

University Life

On the morning of Friday, December 6, KÖZÖS.Veszprém (Shared Point Veszprém) held its year-end press conference at ForrásTér. The nationwide KÖZÖS. pilot project, initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, was jointly launched in Veszprém by the University of Pannonia and the National Youth Council (NIT). The press conference was attended by Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education, and Youth Affairs; Dr. Barbara Hegedűs, Member of Parliament; Gábor Halmay, Municipal Representative; Dr. János Abonyi, Rector of the University of Pannonia; Péter Kovács, President of the National Youth Council; and Ildikó Stein, the project leader.

The KÖZÖS.Veszprém pilot project, jointly launched by the University of Pannonia and the National Youth Council, currently operates in five rural cities. Its aim is to encourage university students to engage in volunteer activities across four themes: equality, community development, sustainability, and generational bridging. Through this initiative, students in Veszprém and across the country experience the importance of social responsibility, develop empathy and acceptance, and, not least, forge strong, reliable communities themselves.

Mission of Volunteer Centers

The mission of the volunteer centers is to involve higher education students in volunteer work and help organize it, emphasized the State Secretary for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education, and Youth Affairs at the year-end press conference of KÖZÖS.Veszprém.

Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz recalled that the work began a year ago, resulting in the establishment of volunteer centers nationwide. These centers aim to bring volunteerism closer to university students and assist in organizing their efforts. She highlighted that successful volunteer work benefits both the giver and the receiver. According to the background materials provided at the event, the University of Pannonia and the National Youth Council jointly initiated the KÖZÖS.Veszprém pilot project, which has created community offices similar to the one in Veszprém in five other rural cities. The program aims to encourage university students to engage in volunteer activities in the fields of equality, community development, sustainability, and generational cooperation.

Reflections from Leaders
Dr. Barbara Hegedűs, Member of Parliament (FIDESZ-KDNP), mentioned that the 2023 Bakony-Balaton European Capital of Culture Program prioritized involving as many volunteers as possible. She noted it was inspiring to see different generations working together for the program's success. She remarked that volunteering offers new perspectives to those who dedicate their time and energy.

Gábor Halmay, Municipal Representative (FIDESZ-KDNP), emphasized that volunteering fosters communities and networks. He noted that volunteering has always been a defining feature of Veszprém, with previous generations shaping the city's character through their efforts. The institutionalized form of volunteering emerged later.

Péter Kovács, President of the National Youth Council, highlighted that volunteering was not previously organized in higher education, leading many to stop volunteering after high school. He added that they are currently working on enabling higher education students to receive credit points as motivation for their volunteer work.

University Engagement
Dr. János Abonyi, Rector of the University of Pannonia, emphasized the university's increasing role in community building in Veszprém and its active involvement in significant volunteer initiatives in recent years. Ildikó Stein, the leader of the KÖZÖS. projects, praised the tireless efforts of Horváth Virág, leader of KÖZÖS.Veszprém, and coordinators Dávid Üregi, Rebeka Dobos, and Anna Zsigmond, whose collaboration will continue to be crucial in the future.

Partnerships and Goals
KÖZÖS.Veszprém partners with civil organizations and associations to support their work in social responsibility with volunteers holding student status. They also aim to increase awareness and recognition of the value of volunteering in the region.