The first welcoming speech at the ceremony was delivered by Zoltán Bács, Rector of the University of Debrecen (UD).
- This day marks several milestones for us. We will recognize young researchers who have already proven their talent and commitment during the course their studies through earning Excellence Ph.D. Scholarships. We will confer a doctorate on those who have enriched their field with new academic achievements through persistent work. We will award the title of habilitation to lecturers who have reached a new milestone in their careers through their scholarly/scientific preparation and teaching excellence, and we will express our appreciation through granting the title of Professor Emeritus to those who have acted as outstanding leaders of our institutions for decades and now will continue to support our university even after their retirement- said the rector in his speech.
Zoltán Bács also noted the following: The University of Debrecen is more than just an institution. In fact, it is an intellectual community that connects generations. The life path of professors emeriti inspires habilitated lecturers, while the example of the latter encourages young researchers who can become future university leaders, professors and defining personalities of academic schools and workshops. It is this continuity that gives our university its strength, authenticity and credibility.
The event continued with the presentation of Excellence Ph.D. Scholarships of the Count István Tisza Foundation for the University of Debrecen (GTIDEA). The financial support that comes as part of these scholarship grants was earned by 15 doctoral students.
The scholarship itself is available to doctoral students of Hungarian nationality under the age of 30, participating in a full-time doctoral (Ph.D.) program at the University of Debrecen with the support from a state scholarship who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the first two semesters of their doctoral program and are about to take the complex exam in their training process.
They, together with the other participants of the ceremony, were also welcomed by György Kossa, Chairman of GTIDEA’s Board of Trustees, who quoted the thoughts of Albert Einstein: “‘Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world and all that ever will be to know and understand. It stimulates progress and gives birth to evolution.’ You have proven that you have the knowledge. Now, it is your imagination’s turn to open up new paths in science and scholarship.”
Addressing the new recipients of the title of doctor, György Kossa underlined that they obtained their PhD degrees in an institution that has been a stronghold of knowledge, faith and culture since 1538. This heritage, which spans almost half a millennium, represents an obligation for them. It is an obligation to respect values, to cherish traditions and, at the same time, to continue to revive themselves. They have become members of a diverse, international community of young researchers who have come here from all over the world to obtain their academic degrees in Debrecen. This also shows the strength and attractiveness of our university.
- The autonomy of the university, which includes freedom of research, education and thought, constitutes for us the foundation on which we build the future. The change in the maintenance model served exactly this purpose: to make the University of Debrecen a modern, flexible institution capable of responding quickly to the challenges of the 21st century without giving up its centuries-old values. The Board of Trustees provides the strong, supportive background that allows the university management, lecturers and researchers, i.e., you, to focus exclusively on academic excellence- said György Kossa.
A total of 104 candidates have met the requirements for earning a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree, out of which 87 are with summa cum laude and 17 with cum laude qualifications in the fields of natural sciences and engineering, the humanities, medical and health sciences, social sciences and agricultural sciences.
Next, the new doctors of science and philosophy were addressed by Ferenc Kun, Commissioned President for Research and Innovation of UD.
- A Ph.D. degree is not a destination, but rather an authorization: it is a recognition of the fact that you are able to ask questions independently, think systematically, argue based on evidence and measure your results according to the standards of the academic community. As of today, you are not only cultivators, but also responsible shapers of the academic environment to which you belong- said the commissioned president in his speech.
- Please continue to be curious. Be bold enough to ask questions, but also maintain the discipline of verification. In the modern world, where the amount of information is increasing at an unprecedented rate, the value of scientific and scholarly thinking is becoming even more precious. The task of scholars and scientists is not only to collect data or provide answers. Their task also involves being able to distinguish between the certain and the uncertain, the essential and the unessential, the verified and the merely pleasing theoretical statements- added Ferenc Kun.
Following the oath-taking and the awarding of the diplomas, the rector of the university, based on the proposal of the Habilitation Committees and the decision of the Habilitation and Doctoral Council of the University, awarded habilitation doctorates, which were received by 6 candidates in the field of the humanities, 3 in the field of medical and health sciences, 4 in the field of social sciences, and 1 in the field of natural sciences: 14 people altogether.
The Senate of the University of Debrecen also awarded the title of Professor Emeritus to six of its retired professors: Elek Bartha (Faculty of Arts), István Fábián (Faculty of Science and Technology), László Mátyus (Faculty of Medicine), Noémi Nagy (Faculty of Science and Technology), Zsolt Páles (Faculty of Science and Technology) and László Takács (Faculty of Medicine). The emeritus title is meant to recognize the performance of the university’s most outstanding professors and their work for the benefit of our institution and, at the same time, it provides rights and conditions for their continued activities.
Press Center – BZs