Press Releases

Budapest, January 24, 2019 13:00

Close cooperation in subjects-specific and related IT training, partnership in research and development on local, regional and European levels alike – these are the cornerstones of the two cooperation agreements concluded by Magyar Telekom and T-Systems Hungary with the University of Szeged and Szent István University. The strategic documents encompassing numerous areas of research-development-innovation may very well be important milestones in ensuring that the structure of Hungary’s medical and IT education, as well as agricultural and food industry training be able to meet the requirements of the labor market and the challenges of the digital era at the same time.

Innovation and Technology Minister, László Palkovics called the agreement Magyar Telekom and T-Systems Hungary concluded with the University of Szeged and Szent István University ideal for the innovation ecosystem. “If Hungary wishes to prevail in the long run in the international educational and cultural arena, then we need academic education that meets research-development and economic demand. Innovative academic education can only be built on interaction between the knowledge in place within companies and at universities,” he explained in his speech delivered at the signing ceremony.

The partnership of Magyar Telekom, T-Systems Hungary with the University of Szeged (SzTE) and Szent István University (SzIE) is aimed at establishing an efficient cooperation in research-development, utilization of innovation and research results, technology transfer and the development of the entities’ digital infrastructure. As part of the partnership, an increasing emphasis can be put on the development of digital skills in the training of future engineers and other industrial professionals: in case of SzIE’s Food Sciences Faculty, for example, the parties plan to launch an agricultural and food industry IT department.

Magyar Telekom’s CEO, Tibor Rékasi said at the event, “we, at Magyar Telekom Group, believe that seizing digital opportunities, people can make progress in their specific areas, be the specific cause that of an individual, a family, a business or even the whole society. That demonstrates that we believe in people who take action. At the same time, we also believe that anyone can become a person of actions, if his or her environment is sufficiently supportive, if the family, university, employer provides the background needed for personal growth. We provide that kind of support to our customers, partner companies, and from now on, to the University of Szeged and Szent István University. The cooperation agreements concluded today allow students to cross the boundaries between sciences, education and work, which help those among them, who find it important to be equipped with up-to-date, competitive knowledge, when they enter the labor market.”

“Digitization transforms traditional operating procedures: this is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the competitive sphere, academics and sciences to join forces in getting ready for the transition and spearhead technological progress. Therefore, we find it important that future professionals gain experience in the present with real-life business projects applying state-of-the-art technologies, and navigate the world of robotics, automation and IT familiarly, as that will make them even more valuable and competitive employees, which is a requirement posed by the speed typical of the economy of NOW,” explained T-Systems Hungary’s CEO, Zoltán Kaszás.

University of Szeged

“Szeged has become a major center of expertise regionally and even in European terms in the past years, and is a leading entity in Hungary’s digitization. Next to ELI-ALPS Laser Research Center, a European knowledge city is being built: ELI Science Park is open to welcome knowledge and innovation-focused companies and laboratories that pursue research and development activities,” said SzTE’s Rector, Prof. Dr. László Rovó. “One key objective of the cooperation is to support the scientific-innovation center and to harmonize innovation efforts,” he added. He believes that as a result of the cooperation, the knowledge park’s ecosystem will not only be attractive to businesses leading in the area of research and development, but will become a player of decisive importance in European comparison, too.

The strategic alliance concluded with the University of Szeged encompasses the courses, too. The plans include the launch of joint, integrated education, internship and scholarship programs, or potentially the transformation of already existing ones. “In light of the explosive development of IT and more specifically healthcare IT, we cannot accept a position of only closely monitoring the developments: being one of the best 500 universities of the world, we must be among those who shape those developments, for which Magyar Telekom Group is an ideal partner,” said László Rovó. The parties referred to the project-based training model in place at the Software Development Department of SzTE’s IT Institute, which may be a perfect starting point to develop joint solutions aimed at education and professional succession.

Szent István University

Digitization has become a competitiveness factor in agriculture, too. The IT development of Hungary’s food industry and agriculture, the integration of technological development and the training of professionals are objectives shared by the sector, the IT market and the Government, and are also the main direction laid down by the Digital Agriculture Strategy. It is in alignment with those objectives that Magyar Telekom and T-Systems Hungary tightens its cooperation with Szent István University, which plays a leading role in agriculture.

The Rector of SzIE, Prof. Dr. László Palkovics, emphasized that “joint departments combined with dual education would create ideal circumstances for talent management, thus a continuous succession pool of qualified professionals”. He believes that it is gradually becoming a standard requirement that employees should have strong IT skills. The cooperation, at the same time, enables students to acquire the most marketable knowledge in an innovative and inspiring environment, an excellent place for which is offered by the Food Industry Faculty. Their training and research activities, as well as their experience with dual education guarantee the practical and successful implementation of the plans laid down by the cooperation agreement. They assume an active role in inducing innovative initiatives in the food industry for the effectiveness of food economy.