The University of Szeged (SZTE) has become the first institution in Hungary to achieve dual ACEEU accreditation, marking a milestone in the country’s higher education landscape.
At the 2025 Global ACEEU Forum in Prague, SZTE was awarded the Entrepreneurial University accreditation, following its 2024 recognition as an Engaged University. The achievement was celebrated alongside leading universities, innovators, and higher education practitioners from around the world, united in their commitment to advancing excellence in higher education.
Recently recognised as the Innovative University of the Year 2025 by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation, the University of Szeged strengthens its centre of innovation and excellence and international profile as a forward-looking institution. The university is home to two Nobel Prize laureates, Albert Szent-Györgyi, who first isolated Vitamin C, and Katalin Karikó, pioneer of mRNA-based vaccine technology, underscoring its cutting-edge position in research and innovation.
"Recently honoured with the Innovative University of the Year award, the University of Szeged has long been a vibrant intellectual hub. Our institution is characterised by an innovative mindset and a pioneering approach that prioritises proactive engagement over the traditional ‘follower’ attitude. We regard the newly earned Entrepreneurial University accreditation as an important milestone: similar to last year’s Engaged University distinction, this title serves as an internationally recognised hallmark of an engaged and entrepreneurial university” emphasised Prof. Ildikó Csóka, Director-General for Strategy and Deputy Chancellor of the University of Szeged.
The ACEEU recognition commended SZTE’s strong position in international alliances, particularly as a founding member of the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH), its commitment to interdisciplinary research through its Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation, and its forward-looking VIRTUS Career Program, which guides ideas from basic research to market utilisation. The university’s role in developing the Science Park Szeged around the world-class ELI-ALPS Laser Research Institute was also highlighted as an example of its leadership in building bridges between science, industry, and society.
“At the University of Szeged, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset is of key importance, as knowledge and innovation only become truly valuable when they extend beyond the walls of the university and find practical application in both economic and societal contexts,” Prof. Csóka added. “Entrepreneurial thinking inspires students, lecturers, researchers, and the wider university community to apply their expertise not just in theory but in practice – tackling real-world challenges and contributing to the development of new products, services, and processes. This approach not only enhances success in the labour market but also plays a vital role in driving the economic and social progress of the entire region.”
With this achievement, the University of Szeged sets a new benchmark for Hungarian higher education, reinforcing its mission to create knowledge that matters and to lead innovation for society.