Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector of Semmelweis University has received the Doctor Honoris Causa Award from „Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad (UVVG). The prestigious award was handed over to Rector Szél in the framework of an award ceremony. The visit in Arad gave an opportunity to Rector Szél and Chancellor Károly Szász to have professional discussions with the members of the leadership of UVVG.
The leadership of the city as well as the Rector of Aurel Vlaicu University also participated in the award ceremony, which was being held in the Ceremonial Hall of the City Hall of Arad. After the laudation Rector Szél held a lecture focusing on the life and work of Ignaz Semmelweis, whose name Semmelweis University honours.
Besides attending the ceremony, the purpose of the 2-day visit was to get acquainted with the personnel and infrastructural capacities of UVVG, to get to know the leadership of the university as well as to have professional discussions. Semmelweis University was represented by Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector, Dr. Károly Szász, Chancellor, and Dr. Marcel Pop, Director of International Relations.
The university of Arad was introduced by Dr. Coralia Cotoraci, Rector, with a special focus on the most important strategic directions of the private Romanian university in the field of education, research, industrial partnerships and internationalization.
Dr. Aurel Ardelean, President of UVVG, has outlined the possible areas of collaboration, out of which he emphasized the starting of a cooperation between doctoral schools, the cooperation in clinical education and research, the expansion of the Erasmus+ programme (eg. in the field of dentistry) as well as the joint organization of summer schools in Arad. President Ardelean highlighted the possibility of launching an off-campus type of medical training programme instructed in Hungarian, as a long-term goal of the cooperation.
During the official discussions Dr. Petre Roman, former prime minister, Doctor Honoris Causa and professor of UVVG, attended the programme and held a ceremonial speech. He emphasized that the cooperation between the two institutions and the programmes realized in the framework of international collaborations in general all ensure the free access, even beyond boundaries, to quality knowledge.
According to Dr. Ágoston Szél this visit will contribute to the reinforcement of the good relationship between the two institutions and he trusts that the further expansion of the cooperation could be successful in the future. Rector Szél expressed that he sees several areas of mutual interest between Semmelweis University and UVVG, which could generate a strong basis for the launching of scientific or educational projects. This way the further reinforced relationship could not only contribute to the development of the two institutions, but to the reinforcement of Hungarian-Romanian relations as well.
Dr. Károly Szász, Chancellor of Semmelweis University ensured the participants that he will provide the necessary support for the realization of the projects serving the interests and the development of the two institutions. Chancellor Szász said that his main purpose is to guarantee the stable financial background along a balanced budget for the implementation of Semmelweis University’s educational and research projects.
The delegation of Semmelweis University visited the research centre of UVVG, which was established with an investment of 30 million Euros. The members of the delegation and President Ardelean were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of the city of Arad, Dr. Levente Bognár.
In the framework of the visit Dr. Ágoston Szél and Dr. Károly Szász, accompanied by the leadership of UVVG, placed a wreath together on the Liberty Statue in the Park of Reconciliation and on the memorial place of the Thirteen Martyrs of Arad.
Pálma Dobozi
Source: Directorate of International Relations
Translated by: Katalin Romhányi
