Knowledge Factory to be Created in Győr 2 November 2009
Higher education developments amounting to a total of 55.5 billion HUF in value will be implemented within the framework of the New Hungary Development Plan in 13 institutions following the close of two calls for applications (SIOP 1.3.1./1 and 1.3.1./2).
The Széchenyi István University in Győr was one of the applicants approved funding, as an outcome of which technical education and research infrastructure applied in connection with the motor vehicle and transport industry will be developed.
The foundation stone of the education and research centre to be set up for the motor vehicle and transport industry with the help of EU and national co-funding amounting to 6.5 billion HUF was laid on Friday 30 October 2009 at the university campus within the framework of the Science Week programme series. Beyond the directors of the university and prominent figures of the town, Dr Csaba Molnár Minister in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office and Dr József Pálinkás, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences also gave speeches at the ceremony.
At this event, Minister Csaba Molnár said that “the term education no longer simply refers to seminar rooms and textbooks or a professional team of lecturers, but implies investing in the present and future, as well as competition and taking the initiative. Having recognised this, the Széchenyi István University in Győr has evolved into a research acropolis, i.e., a citadel, whose residents are presented with the opportunity of building a development strategy renewable from one generation to the next. The knowledge ‘produced’ at this university will be global; however, success will be reaped at a local level: it will be the success of the citizens and team of lecturers of the university in Győr, as well as Hungary.”
The objective of the 3-year university development project allocated a budget of nearly 7 billion HUF, together with own funds provided by the institution, is to set up a European standard higher service-oriented educational institution open to the environment it operates in, as well as change and capable of efficiently cooperating with industrial and economic players, in addition to establishing the infrastructure background required for this.
The new academic year could commence as normal in spite of the launch of these developments, since the investment itself will not disturb the usual day-to-day life of the university. Students, university associates, partners from enterprises, as well as all concerned parties will be able to fully use this new complex from 2011.
Key components of this development, among others, extend to include raising the standard of technical education, substantially increasing the knowledge potential of the university, creating modern conditions for lifelong learning, providing research and development support for enterprises, setting up modern infrastructure underpinning the former, offering a wide range of engineering services, as well as integrating the university in national and international knowledge networks.