The University of Pannonia Remains Unwavering on the Path of Steady Growth

At the University of Pannonia, the number of plans awaiting implementation exceeds even the achievements already attained. Despite a nationwide decline in university student numbers, the institution has seen a 20% increase in active students over the past three years. After celebrating its 75th anniversary last year, the university will mark another milestone this year, all while continuing its energy efficiency renovations, which are saving hundreds of millions on utility costs. Additionally, even greater emphasis will be placed on talent development—referred to within the university as talent management. (Source: vehir.hu)

Dr. János Abonyi, who was appointed Rector of the University of Pannonia last summer, participated for the first time in this role in the university’s traditional press briefing. These meetings are regularly held to provide updates on the institution’s current status and outline its short-term goals. This time, the event took place on Tuesday morning at the Barátfüle Restaurant.

Strengthening University-City Relations

Two years ago, the fence at the lower campus was literally torn down, symbolizing the closer integration between the university and the city. As a result, most news related to the University of Pannonia has now become a matter of public interest for Veszprém. This was evident at the press conference as well.

“Sustainable competitiveness” is this year’s motto for the university, said Zsolt Csillag, the Chancellor, referring to the fact that while national statistics show a decline in student numbers, the university has seen a 20% rise in active enrollment over the past three years. Sustainability is also reflected in university operations. The Chancellor highlighted that thanks to recent energy efficiency investments at the Veszprém campus, savings have reached hundreds of millions of forints, which the university can now reinvest in further developments.

One of these developments will be the energy efficiency renovation of the Nagykanizsa campus, with a budget of nearly two billion forints, partially funded through grants. Csillag also reaffirmed his commitment to carrying out similar renovations at all university campuses in the coming years.

Growing International Presence

Currently, around 5,700 active students are enrolled at the university, including 400 international students who have come to Veszprém to pursue their studies. Strengthening international presence remains a key objective. As János Abonyi pointed out, universities are now competing globally, not just within national borders. To strengthen its position, the university aims to expand English-language programs and increase the number of international students.

All of this will be done without compromising academic quality, which defines the prestige of a University of Pannonia degree. Thanks to the talent management program, dropout rates in critical fields have dropped from 50% to just 20%. The university believes that every student should be given a vision for their future that aligns with their competencies and talents. This program has already been extended to high school students, who are being introduced to university research projects even before their final exams.

Innovation and Business Cooperation

The University of Pannonia is not waiting for its innovations to find their own way to the market. One of the university’s major initiatives for the first half of 2025 is the establishment of a university-owned company. This entity will focus on commercializing research developments and strengthening business relationships, effectively acting as a sales house to promote the university’s expertise. “We want to make sure everyone knows what the University of Pannonia excels at,” emphasized Csillag.

This strategy is particularly important given that the university thinks in terms of the Pannon region when expanding its network of partners. The institution actively aligns its educational portfolio with the needs of local businesses. A prime example is the launch of a new Test Engineering program next academic year, designed to meet the demands of the region’s key automotive companies, which require highly skilled professionals in this field.

Flexible Education and Expanded Scholarships

Significant innovations have also been introduced in the organization of academic programs. According to János Abonyi, master’s programs have been restructured to better accommodate students who work while studying. The university has also expanded its scholarship programs, with special support for elite athletes pursuing higher education.

Celebrating a Milestone in 2025

The university will also celebrate an important anniversary this year. After commemorating its 75th anniversary in 2024, this year marks the 35th anniversary of the Faculty of Humanities, which originated from the Teacher Training College established in 1990.

Since its foundation, the faculty has undergone multiple transformations and now offers a wide range of humanities programs. Among these, psychology has become one of the most popular degrees at the university. In the coming years, the faculty plans to expand its involvement in the development of Veszprém’s creative industries.

A Historic University Festival

Since this is an odd-numbered year, the university will once again host the Veszprém University Days (VEN) in late April. This will be the 31st edition of the festival, which was first held in 1969—the same year as the world-famous Woodstock festival. However, VEN actually predates Woodstock by a few months, making it arguably the oldest university festival in the world.

Photos: Kornél Gáti