Master Lecturer Gold Medal Award

The Master Teacher Gold Medal Award is jointly presented by the President of the National Scientific Student Council (OTDT) and the head of the ministry responsible for education to the honored faculty members and researchers at the closing session of the current National Scientific Student Conference. The ceremonial session is traditionally held in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Recipients receive the Gold Medal in a presentation box, accompanied by a small gold-plated lapel pin. The diploma certifying the award, enclosed in a decorative folder, is signed by the President of the National Scientific Student Council, the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the Minister responsible for education.

Our University is proud to have 20 Master Teacher awardees:

• Dr. Gábor Kecskés (2025)

• Dr. Csaba Erdős (2023)

• Dr. Zsuzsanna Lanczendorfer (2023)

• Dr. Zsolt Roland Szabó (2023)

• Dr. István Stumpf (2017)

• Dr. László Gulyás (2017)

• Dr. Márta Konczosné Prof. Dr. Szombathelyi (2017)

• Prof. Dr. Miklós Kuczmann (2015)

• Prof. Dr. Péter Smuk (2013)

• Prof. Dr. László Amand Palkovics (2013)

• Dr. Ernő Halbritter (2009)

• Dr. Ferenc Somogyi (2007)

• Prof. Dr. Barna Mezey (2005)

• Dr. Zsuzsanna Vásárhelyi (2003)

• Dr. Mária Raffai (2003)

• Dr. Ernő Barsi (2003)

• Dr. Judit Lévayné Dr. Fazekas (2001)

• Prof. Dr. Miklós Sándor Lévay (1999)

• Dr. János Honvári (1999)

• Dr. György László Nagy (1997)

OTDK 70 – Seventy Years of Scientific Talent Management

In 2025, the National Scientific Student Conference (OTDK)—Hungary’s largest series of higher education scientific events—celebrated its 70th anniversary. At the first conference in 1955, 119 research papers were presented, whereas at the most recent 37th OTDK in the spring of 2025, more than 5,100 presentations were delivered, proving the continuous growth and significance of the movement. The OTDK is a symbol of academic excellence in Hungarian higher education, supporting student research and talent management across generations.

In recognition of this milestone, the OTDK70 Pin and Certificate of Appreciation were presented to honor educators, researchers, and decision-makers whose outstanding work helps sustain the movement.

The following educators from Széchenyi István University received this recognition:

• Dr. László Gulyás

• Dr. Zsuzsanna Lanczendorfer

• Prof. Dr. Gábor Döbössy

• Prof. Dr. Miklós Kuczmann

• Prof. Dr. Péter Smuk

• Prof. Dr. István Stumpf

• Soósné Dr. Zsuzsanna Kiss

• Dr. Márta Konczosné Prof. Dr. Szombathelyi

• Prof. Dr. Zoltán Szegedi

This recognition proves that the scientific student circle movement serves the future not only of universities but also of society and the economy.

Pro Scientia Gold Medal

In 1988, the National Scientific Student Council (OTDT) established the Pro Scientia Gold Medal and the Pro Arte Gold Medal to unleash the creativity of university and college students, deepen their professional knowledge, and provide greater appreciation and recognition for talent and individual achievement. Additionally, it established the Junior Pro Scientia Gold Medal to recognize high school students who achieve outstanding results while engaging in scientific student circle activities.

The Pro Scientia, Pro Arte, and Junior Pro Scientia Gold Medals may be awarded to young individuals who have demonstrated outstanding performance during their studies and within their chosen professional field, as evidenced by research papers, presentations, or literary, artistic, and scientific creations. Therefore, the Gold Medal does not merely recognize a single presentation or paper delivered at a conference, but rather honors an outstanding personality based on the student's overall achievements.

Following the first conferral (1989), up to 45 Pro Scientia Gold Medals are awarded nationwide every two years. Starting in 2003, one Junior Pro Scientia Gold Medal may be awarded, and from 2005, two additional Pro Arte Gold Medals may be granted. The Junior Pro Scientia Gold Medal can be awarded provided that at least 30 high school students present research papers at the current National Scientific Student Conference.

Since its inception, the award has always been jointly presented to the selected youth by the President of the National Scientific Student Council and the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. This ceremonial event is traditionally hosted in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Recipients receive the Gold Medal in a presentation box, which includes a small, gold-plated fire-enameled (cloisonné) lapel pin featuring the medal’s primary motif. The diploma certifying the award, enclosed in a decorative folder, is signed by the President of the National Scientific Student Council, the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the Minister responsible for education.

Our University proudly boasts five Pro Scientia Medal recipients:

• Enikő Szépvölgyi (2019)

• Eliza Eszter Tóth (2017)

• Béla Csitei (2017)

• Zoltán Pólik (2011)

• Ágnes Váradi (2009)

Most Effective Supervisor

Following the OTDK, which is traditionally held every two years, the "Most Effective Supervisor" award is presented among the advisors of Széchenyi István University. Numerous criteria are taken into account during the selection process, but the greatest emphasis is placed on the number of participating and award-winning students at the OTDK. The award was first presented in 2017. Along with the certificate, the recipient receives a Herend porcelain owl as a token of recognition, which symbolizes knowledge and wisdom.

• 2025 - Kitti Ajtayné Dr. Károlyfi, Dóra Szalai (Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences - ÉÉKK)

• 2023 - Dr. Csaba Erdős (Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law - DFK)

• 2023 - Dr. Zsolt Roland Szabó (Kautz Gyula Faculty of Economics - KGK)

• 2019 - Dr. Csaba Erdős (Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law - DFK)
  

Excellent TDK Organizer Award

The Presidium of the National Scientific Student Council (OTDT) established the EXCELLENT TDK ORGANIZER AWARD to recognize staff members who organize scientific student circle activities within higher education institutions and their faculties. The award is granted annually by the OTDT Presidium via secret ballot, ensuring that the number of awards conferred in any two consecutive years does not exceed 16. The Excellent TDK Organizer Award can be won by institutional/faculty TDK presidents, secretaries, officers, and coordinators who perform outstanding organizational work at local and/or national levels.

The award was first distributed in October 2013, with Eszter Rákli-Szabados, Secretary of the Scientific and Artistic Student Council of Széchenyi István University, being among the first recipients.

In 2017, acknowledging the success of the four OTDK sections hosted in Győr, the Excellent TDK Organizer Award was presented to:

• Dr. Ildikó Lőrincz, Associate Professor (Apáczai Csere János Faculty - AK)

• Dr. Eszter Zsédely, Associate Professor (Albert Kázmér Mosonmagyaróvár Faculty - AKMK)

• Dr. András Albert Halbritter, Associate Professor (Apáczai Csere János Faculty - AK)

In 2021, Prof. Dr. Miklós Kuczmann, Executive President of the section, received the Excellent TDK Organizer Award for organizing the Engineering Sciences Section of the OTDK.

On April 19, 2024, Dr. Mónika Ganczer and Dr. Dalma Takó were honored with the "Excellent TDK Organizer Award." Based on the decision of the Presidium of the National Scientific Student Council, Associate Professor Mónika Ganczer and Assistant Professor Dalma Takó received the award for the successful organization of the Legal Sciences Section of the 36th National Scientific Student Conference.

Faculty of Széchenyi István University Recognized with the Bonis Bona Award

The Bonis Bona Award

Since the spring of 2013, the “Bonis Bona – For the Talents of the Nation” award has provided an opportunity to recognize domestic and transborder educators who perform outstanding work in talent management. The name of the award originates from the Latin proverb Bonis bona discere, meaning “To learn good things from good people.”

Julianna Hujber received the Bonis Bona Award in 2013 in the "Excellent Competition Coach" category. Julianna is an educator at the Öveges Kálmán Practicing Primary School of Széchenyi István University and a member of the SZE Talent Support Council. She is an educator who performs outstanding work in nurturing talents and organizing competitions.

The “Bonis Bona – For the Talents of the Nation” award was recently presented to Ferenc Barla, a physicist at Széchenyi István University, who disagrees with the notion that the human brain should not be overburdened. He draws inspiration from his personal library of 6,200 volumes, performs complex calculations mentally, leads a Talent Workshop, and fosters young talents as a Templeton Mentor. He earned his first degree in Győr and returned to his Alma Mater after years of working as a hospital radiation physicist.

Győr, June 12, 2019 – SZEnews, Csaba Nyerges For four years, Ferenc Barla has been conducting talent management sessions for primary, secondary, and university students at the Győr Talent Workshop on the university campus, while also mentoring talented students individually.

Click the link to access the full article about the award-winning educator.

In 2023, a colleague from Széchenyi István University was chosen once again. Prof. Dr. Márta Konczosné Szombathelyi received the award. The Professor participates in numerous programs; among her roles, she serves as the President of the University Scientific and Artistic Student Council, as well as the President of the Talent Support Council at Széchenyi István University. Through her work in these organizations, she supports young scholars starting from primary school students onward.

Faculty of Széchenyi István University Honored with the Szent László Award

Ethnographer Dr. Zsuzsanna Lanczendorfer was honored with the Szent László Award at the ceremonial general assembly on June 27, 2025, in Győr. Zsuzsa is a Master Teacher Gold Medalist, the founder of the Barsi Ernő College for Advanced Studies, former TDT President of the Apáczai Faculty, and a member of the Talent Support Council.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD-qFC9ENuY

Master's Graduate of Széchenyi University Wins the Imre Görcs Award

The managing owners of GIMEX, who established the Imre Görcs Award, created this recognition in 2018 to mark the company's 25th anniversary and to honor its founding owner. Until recently, the award supported the university studies and career starts of 6 young people living in Kóny, the founder's birthplace, on an annual basis.

In 2021, they decided to extend the award to the most successful student from Széchenyi University at the Engineering Sciences Section of the 35th National Scientific Student Conference (OTDK), which was hosted in Győr in 2021.

The biennial event is the country's largest higher education talent management competition across various scientific fields. The Engineering Sciences Section of the 35th OTDK was hosted by Széchenyi István University (SZE). The event took place online between April 22 and 24, 2021.

Gergő Ferenc Ignéczi, the most successful competitor from Széchenyi University (1st place and special prize winner) in the Engineering Sciences Section of the 35th OTDK held online at the university in April 2021, received the award during a company visit to the premises of GIMEX Hidraulika Kft. on June 10, 2021. The award (consisting of a scholarship, a certificate, and a plaque crafted by János Lipovics) was presented by managing owner Annamária Görcs.

Award recipient Gergő Ferenc Ignéczi has been a driver for the Arrabona Racing Team since 2019 and serves as the Driverless Department Leader. He completed his Master’s studies in Mechatronics at Széchenyi University in January 2021 and continues his path here as a PhD student starting in September 2021.

Hungarian Bronze Cross of Merit

The President of the Republic of Hungary has awarded the Hungarian Bronze Cross of Merit to Márta Bánkutiné Mihalcsik. This honor recognizes her committed work toward community education and culture across the municipalities of Veszprém County, with particular emphasis on her significant professional activities regarding local heritage registries (helyi értéktárak).

Congratulations and we wish the award recipient continued success!