This milestone event, which also marked the 70th anniversary of the OTDK series, stands as one of the most prestigious academic gatherings in Hungary's engineering education landscape. The conference brought together outstanding students from Hungarian universities to present their exceptional research projects, spanning the full spectrum of engineering disciplines.
A Record-Breaking Conference
This year's Technical Sciences Section was the largest in OTDK history in both the number of participants and the variety of scientific sections. Attendance increased by nearly 20% compared to previous years.
Out of the 16 scientific fields represented at the national competition, the Technical Sciences Section ranked third in size, attracting more than 2,000 participants. Nearly 600 students submitted a total of 581 research papers, presented across 74 thematic sessions.
The event welcomed student presenters and their academic advisors, over 200 jury and professional committee members, 130 faculty staff, and 15 corporate exhibitors. Among the audience were 120 high school students from local secondary schools and the Debrecen Vocational Training Center, reflecting the conference’s strong educational outreach.
The conference brought together the most talented students from Hungarian universities to showcase outstanding research projects spanning the full spectrum of engineering disciplines.
A Landmark Achievement for the Faculty of Engineering
Over the course of the three-day event, students from 39 faculties representing 20 higher education institutions engaged in rigorous academic competition. The Faculty of Engineering delivered its best performance in the history of the National Conference of Scientific Students (OTDK), achieving:
- 6 first prizes
- 2 second prizes
- 2 third prizes
- 8 special recognitions
These outstanding results placed the faculty 2nd among all institutions and 4th among the participating faculties — following three faculties from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME).
One of the conference's most remarkable highlights was the achievement of Dávid Szeőcs, a 16-year-old student from the University of Debrecen’s Kossuth Lajos Secondary School. Under the mentorship of Ferenc Kostyák (master instructor) and Abdullah Masuk (faculty engineer), he earned 3rd place in the university-level vehicle engineering category, competing against undergraduate students.
Innovation Meets Inspiration: Live Broadcasts and Cultural Highlights
The opening and closing ceremonies, along with 15 technical sessions, were broadcast live online for the first time. These sessions attracted over 6,000 viewers, reflecting growing public interest in engineering and the applied sciences.
Beyond the academic program, participants enjoyed a range of cultural and leisure activities. Musical performances—featuring harp, guitar, and saxophone—enriched the atmosphere of the university library, while folk and pop concerts at the Lovarda event hall provided lively evening entertainment.
Thanks to industry partners, students also had access to exclusive factory tours, technical presentations, and a career expo showcasing 15 leading companies—offering valuable insights into professional opportunities in engineering and innovation.
A Venue Worthy of the Occasion
The event was hosted in the newly inaugurated, state-of-the-art wing of the Faculty of Engineering—a venue that embodies a commitment to academic excellence and serves as a dynamic hub for regional industrial development.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners and sponsors for their invaluable support in making this a truly world-class event. Special recognition goes to our main sponsor, Krones Hungary Ltd., whose generous contribution was instrumental to the conference's outstanding success.
More pictures: https://hirek.unideb.hu/node/24631?activeGalleryId=r5626566#lg=1&slide=0