News

A renowned expert has joined the staff responsible for the teaching and research activities of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management at the University of Debrecen. Michael Gonda, a professor of the Department of Animal Science at South Dakota State University (SDSU), arrived at the institution on a Fulbright scholarship. During his four-month stay, he will be teaching applied animal husbandry and quantitative genetics at the faculty and will also be involved in beef cattle genetics research.

It is the first Hungarian space plant experiment, called Vitapric program, that the time capsules placed on Tuesday at the Böszörményi úti campus of the University of Debrecen are supposed to commemorate in the framework of the 4th Plant Breeding Memorial Day and Conference. These capsules contain items from the scientific experiments conducted by Tibor Kapu, the second Hungarian astronaut, as part of the mission Axiom-4 on board the International Space Station (ISS), including sowing seeds, documents and special implements. Bertalan Farkas, the first Hungarian astronaut, was also present at the placement of the capsules.

Two UD students, who are the recipients of Excellence PhD Scholarship from the foundation Count István Tisza Foundation for the University of Debrecen, have participated in an international course held at the University of Reykjavík in Iceland, focusing primarily on the skills essential for innovation-based entrepreneurship. These doctoral students then reported on their personal professional experiences to their peers, who are also exemplary students of the University of Debrecen.

Increasing the students’ and teachers’ motivation and involving the industrial and business sectors were some of the issues discussed at the CEEPUS Network meeting on circular economy and energy efficiency held recently at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen. There were experts from as many as seven countries participating in this international academic consultation.

Professor Richard G. Pestell, the renowned Australian-American oncologist is joining the research and innovation activities of the University of Debrecen. The professor spoke to hirek.unideb.hu about his recent breakthrough cancer research, the experiences of the II. Oncology Workshop, and his future plans.

The Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies – CIHEAM) supports the internationalization of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Sciences and Environmental Management at the University of Debrecen (MÉK), as well as the expansion and strengthening of their foreign partner networks, according to a statement made during a visit to the university by a delegation from the professional organization representing 13 Mediterranean countries. Experts from CIHEAM Bari learned about the educational portfolio of MÉK and the research results of AKIT.

Researchers and industrial experts discussed the most recent scientific findings and possible future directions for further progress at the event titled Biotechnológia a Debreceni Egyetemen – 2025 Szimpózium [Biotechnology at the University of Debrecen – 2025 Symposium]. On Thursday, in the Debrecen Academic Committee Headquarters, participants learned about the latest international trends in addition to the research currently conducted at our institution.

BMW Group Plant Debrecen has recently expanded its strategic partnership with the University of Debrecen. The strategic cooperation between the German car manufacturer and our institution of higher education, which has been in effect since 2023, has been joined by the Faculty of Humanities as well as the unit Agricultural Research Institutes and Experimental Farm. The relevant agreement was signed on Tuesday by the leaders of the university and those of the company.

Rector of the University of Debrecen Zoltán Szilvássy and Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Purdue University Bernard Engel have discussed the establishment of a joint food industry engineering program. The Wednesday meeting was also attended by Béla Kocsy, agricultural and food industry diplomat at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, and Endre Harsányi, Vice Rector for Agricultural and Food Science Development.

According to a report presented at the latest annual meeting of Scientific and Social Advisory Board (Tudományos és Társadalmi Tanácsadó Testület - TTTT), during the course of the past year, the University of Debrecen has covered a lot in the fields of education, science, and international collaboration. At the meeting, which was attended by several foreign professors, the members of the council could also hear about the achievements of the University of Debrecen and its objectives for the coming years.