The new academic year at Corvinus opens with an international President-Rector

The first feature of the programme was a projection of Bruno van Pottelsberghe’s AI avatar, which greeted guests at the Corvinus opening ceremony on Friday afternoon, signalling that AI-related research and applications will be a major theme of the internationalising university in the coming years.

The new academic year will also mark a new chapter in the life of Hungary’s premier business and economics university. It marks the end of an ambitious five-year transformation programme that has fundamentally overhauled the University’s education portfolio and multiplied its research output. In his leadership programme, Bruno van Pottelsberghe, appointed President and Rector of Corvinus on 1 August, said that in the coming years he wants to continue on the path set out by his predecessors and develop the university into an even higher-performing, prominent international player.

At the opening ceremony in the Main Building at Fővám Square, Bruno van Pottelsberghe said on the occasion of the event:

“Corvinus is a national champion in higher education, the best university in Hungary in economics and social sciences. From now on, we will open our doors wide to the world and work to educate leaders not only in Hungary but also in Europe and globally, who will make responsible decisions for the future of every generation. We will achieve this ambitious international goal through a bolder, innovative strategy, working together to take the necessary steps”.

Addressing the university’s new students he added:

“today marks a new beginning for me as well. This is my first academic year at Corvinus. I share the anticipation and excitement of what lies ahead with all of you. You have chosen the best university to make your dreams and ambitions come true, and we will accompany and support you along the way.”

The ceremony also included a welcome address by Dániel Palotai, Trustee of the Maintainer Foundation and member of the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund, who underlined on the occasion of the event that thanks to the transformation process Corvinus has become an inescapable point of reference in the Hungarian academic sphere. He stressed that the university will continue to be at the forefront of innovation in higher education. Dániel Palotai recalled the achievements of Corvinus in recent years, including the opening of the Gellért Campus.

He added that thanks to the change of ownership, the financial framework for Corvinus’s operational functioning and development is secured permanently. He also highlighted the increasingly successful internationalization efforts and the focus on the performance in institutional operations.

Reflecting on his career path, Dániel Palotai gave the freshmen three pieces of advice

“don’t be afraid to fail, because the road to success usually leads through failure! It takes hard consistent work to have a successful career. Take advantage of university opportunities and find your specific expertise, this way you will stand out from the crowd.”

Representing the Students’ Union, in his speech, Martin Schwemmer emphasized:

“Now you are at the gate of a period many people remember as the most beautiful years of their life. At the same time with this freedom comes personal responsibility. Take advantage of the opportunities offered by Corvinus, join student association communities, and find your area of expertise! Make the most of these years professionally.”

This year, for the first time, the Pro Futura Award, established by the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, was presented at the opening ceremony of the academic year to HR manager Zsuzsanna Csentericsné Arnold, who, as a key player in the university’s renewal process, integrated strategic HR management into the academic organisation and introduced the academic career model in an exemplary way for Hungarian higher education.

After the official ceremony, the rest of the evening continued in the innovative Corvinus building, the Gellért Campus in Buda, which was inaugurated at the end of February, where for the first time this year students and staff could participate in a relaxed opening festival with DJ, garden activities and a panoramic skybar.