The University of Debrecen is the only Hungarian institution of higher education that celebrates the beginning of the new academic year by offering such a large-scale event. The stadium show is getting more and more popular every year, which is why this year's yoUDay was attended by a full house, the motto of which goes “We are stronger together” to draw attention to the importance of cooperation and pulling together.
In his opening speech, György Kossa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Gróf Tisza István Foundation for the University of Debrecen, the body that maintains our institution, declared that yoUDay is indeed the University of Debrecen itself.
“There have never before been so many people at yoUDay, which proves that there is successful community building taking place at the University of Debrecen. We are happy to experience moments like this one together, when the hearts of all university “citizens” beat as one and to the same rhythm at the same time,” the Chairman of the Board of Trustees said.
Rector Zoltán Szilvássy suggested that the strength of yoUDay would normally lie in what determines the everyday life of the university:
“Ordinarily, we teach and do research but what we can be even more proud of is right here in this stadium on yoUDay, if just care to look around. This is the community of the University of Debrecen, which has incredible power. Everywhere I look in the stadium, there is the University of Debrecen,” said the head of the university.
Chancellor Zoltán Bács identified yoUDay as a special event and one of the most important moments of the entire year in the everyday life of the University of Debrecen.
“yoUDay has once again shown how excellent a meeting opportunity it is. We all belong to the University of Debrecen, and it is important that the stadium show opening the academic year also emphasizes this, so that university citizens can get to know each other and meet at the same time. This strengthens the everyday life of the city and the university. This is the genuine message of yoUDay: it represents the strength of community and the importance of belonging together,” said the Chancellor of the University of Debrecen, who also took an active part in the program, singing the Hungarian evergreen hit song Azért vannak a jó barátok [That's What Good Friends Are for] as well as the anthem of Liverpool FC fans “You'll Never Walk Alone.”
Students and other participants were also greeted by the President of the Student Union of UD. In his address, István Csont noted the fact that the students of our university were in an enviable position, since this Wednesday night provided them with a first-hand experience of what it is like to go to an institution where they are always the most important assets.
"Everyone from the university was supposed to be here tonight, and the assumption did indeed turn out to be true. Students did come to yoUDay not only from Debrecen, but also from places like Szolnok, Nyíregyháza and Hajdúböszörmény. This makes yoUDay a truly unique event, one that has no equivalent in Europe. Our huge and inclusive community thus can celebrate together here, and it feels very good to be a member of it,” said the President of DEHÖK.
Keeping in line with the traditions of the University of Debrecen, the grand opening of the academic year began with the flag parade of foreign students. There were more than a hundred different national flags carried and waved by the students who make up Hungary's largest international student community, numbering about 7500 individuals.
This year's yoUDay also offered a genuine selection of celeb performers: Dzsúdló, Valmar, György Korda and Klári Balázs dominated the stage, but the band Abrakazabra and another one made up of the students and teachers of the Institute of Popular Music of the Faculty of Music of the University of Debrecen also took part. In the so-called retro disco following the first part of the show, Cini Zalatnay, Feró Nagy, Éva Csepregi and Ádám Végvári, aka Neoton Família, did a gig.
The stadium show also abounded in unique technical solutions. Each and every moment of the show was projected onto giant LED walls, while additional spectacular lighting technology made the visual effects really monumental. As an innovative element, a LED sphere of 2.5 m diameter also enhanced the visual experience on stage. The night was concluded with a spectacular laser show again this year.
Press Center - BZ
