The Senate adopted the institution’s budget and performance plan for 2024. The budget also includes the newly established Traumatology Clinic and the acquisition of the 6.3 ha, 27,000 sqm property of the Merényi Gusztáv site of the South Pest Central Hospital – National Institute of Hematology and Infectology. An amount of almost HUF 6 billion has been earmarked for the Investment and Renovation Fund, up from the previous HUF 4 billion. For 2024, revenues are projected at HUF 245 billion in budgetary terms and HUF 236 billion on an accruals basis; on the costs and expenses side, the plan foresees HUF 252 billion in budgetary terms and HUF 230 billion on an accruals basis for next year. The university’s development and strategic sub-budget for next year is HUF 15 billion.
Projects for next year’s public duty financing contract include the ongoing investment in Városmajor 70, the design of the Science Park, and the Basic Medical Science Center (EOK) 2 investment. Grant projects from the National Foundation for Health and Medical Education include the renovation of the 15 Ferenc Square property; tendering for the renovation of the Department of Community Dentistry; and the public procurement tender for diagnostic equipment at the Szent Rókus Clinical Block. The University Strategic Fund will be used to continue the investment in the Hőgyes-Schöpf-Merei Pharmaceutical Research Center (HSM) and the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology; to complete the first phase of the Rókus refurbishment; to continue the development of the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology; and to renovate the Traumatology Clinic and the Merényi Clinical Block. In terms of revenues, the plan foresees HUF 56 billion from public subsidies for education and HUF 23 billion from self-financed training; HUF 10 billion from grants and other development revenues for RDI and HUF 167 million from RDI services. In terms of health performance-based revenues, the plan foresaw revenues of HUF 60 billion in 2023 but HUF 66 billion is planned for next year, mainly due to active inpatient specialized care, which will increase largely as a result of the integration of traumatology care.
The senators voted on the amendment of the Organizational and Operational Rules, which concerns the Admission Rules within the Student Standards section. The change concerns the regulation of the application for the specialist training course offered by the Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Health and Public Administration (EKK). As part of this change, from next academic year onwards, it will be possible to apply online instead of by e-mail.
The proposal to support excellence in research was approved, creating the Semmelweis Lendület ‘Momentum’ Program. Its aim is to support research teams in order to ensure that the most outstanding researchers remain in Hungary and at Semmelweis University for the long term. The institution has already been supporting excellent researchers through the Hungarian Center of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM) Program, additional funding for the Lendület grant, and awarding prize to D1 publications – these already existing channels are now complemented with this new form of support. One of the most important criteria of the grant is that the first affiliation of the leader and the participants of the research team must be Semmelweis University at all times, in all scientific publications during the period of the grant. The call for applications is issued by the Vice Rector for Science and Innovation and evaluated by the University’s Scientific Council.
The Senate decided to establish the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy at the Faculty of Medicine (ÁOK), and in July 2023, the Senate decided to establish the Institute of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Patient Care, which focused on anesthesiology and anesthesia, perioperative activities in the field of clinical services. The remaining Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Clinic will focus on intensive care in the future. It has therefore become necessary to have a single department for both anesthesia and intensive care training. The proposal to change the name of the Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Clinic was also voted in favor of changing the former name of the clinic to the ‘Intensive Care Clinic’.
The Senate adopted the proposal for the launch and curriculum of the specialist training course in active ageing at the Institute for Mental Health, Faculty of Health and Public Administration (EKK). The institute has launched the specialist training course in interactive life-course counselling for the elderly for the academic year 2020/21, and the decision has been taken to amend the curriculum and the name of the course. In this context, the Board also voted to abolish the previous training course in interactive life-course counselling for the elderly.
The Board has voted to establish the Department of Health Policy, Finance and Systems Development and the Department of Patient Safety at EKK. These had previously operated as departmental groups, however, their achievements, national and international education and research activities, as well as their relations and contribution to the University’s reputation justify that they are transformed into departments. The Department of Patient Safety has been established with the involvement of the major disciplines of the Faculty of Medicine and its curriculum is being developed with the participation of the clinical faculty.
The proposal on the election of the division chairs of the Semmelweis University School of PhD Studies was voted on. Amendments were made to the Doctoral Regulations, which concern, among other things, the termination of the legal relationship; the nomination of the chairperson of the examination board, which no longer requires habilitation for a college professor; the publication requirements, for which the publication score is now accepted in the field of health and social sciences; the mandatory attendance at public defenses; as well as adapting to 2023 legislative amendments regarding admission and language proficiency requirements.
The compositions of the University Ethics Committee and the Quality Improvement and Assessment Committee were renewed, due to the expiry of their mandates.
Senators were informed about organizational changes below board level. The changes concern the Faculty of Medicine, the Directorate of Dormitories, the Directorate General of Financial Management and the Directorate of Investment and Maintenance, Directorate General of Technical Affairs. The latter has undergone a significant structural change, with an internal reorganization to better align its development and operational functions.
The Senate decided on bestowing the Outstanding TDK Educator Awards, and also reviewed a current application for senior management post.
Ádám Szabó
Translation: Judit Szabados-Dőtsch
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University (illustration)
