Month: October 2024

On October 22, a delegation from Times Higher Education (THE), one of the most prestigious and reliable global data providers in higher education, visited Obuda University. The delegation, led by CEO Paul Howarth, was in Hungary at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. According to Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Obuda University, the criteria used in the THE rankings play a significant role not only in comparing various institutions but also in shaping medium- and long-term visions and strategies.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is one of the most recognized lists of university rankings, comparing institutions worldwide based on education, research environment, research quality, industry links, and international outlook. The THE delegation was invited to Hungary by Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation, as part of a program that included visits to various universities, including Obuda University.

Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács highlighted that being ranked in THE is already a significant achievement for any institution. In 2021, Obuda University made its first appearance in the rankings, placing within the 1001-1200 range. He emphasized that this was already considered a success for the university. However, the results published on October 9 of this year show that the university has advanced two tiers, now ranked within the 601-800 range. “This is a tremendous honor for us, as nearly 3,000 universities were evaluated, and we have now managed to rise to the top both nationally and regionally!” the Rector emphasized. The most significant progress was made in the indicators measuring research quality, where Obuda University ranks first among the V4 countries. Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács also reported that he discussed with Paul Howarth the steps that led to the university’s recently published achievements.

In addition to the Rector, the university was represented by Botond Fehér, Director-General for Financial Affairs, Prof. Dr. Enikő Maior, Vice-Rector for Education, Dr. Viktória Sugár, Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Strategic Developments, Dr. Zsuzsanna Csepeli, Head of the Rector’s Office, and Emese Baranyi, Head of the International Relations Office. The THE delegation included John Gill, THE’s Editor and Chief Content Officer, Vicky Irwin, Senior Director, Magdalena Marzec, Regional Director for the UK and Europe, Yemi Adeshiyan, Managing Director of Global Events, and Mariann Veronika Nagy, Ministerial Advisor.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited the university’s Robotics Laboratory at the University Research and Innovation Center.

On October 15, a delegation from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) visited Obuda University. The delegation, led by Dr. Seong Keun Kim, was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Péter Galambos, Vice-Rector for Innovation, on behalf of Rector Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács. The discussions on collaboration were attended by Prof. Dr. Enikő Maior, Vice-Rector for Education, Erzsébet Veres, International Education Advisor, and Dr. Péter Galambos, Vice-Dean for Research.

During the meeting, Prof. Dr. Péter Galambos delivered a presentation outlining the history, current activities, and future goals of Obuda University. He emphasized that the university strives to deepen its international relations, providing students with more diverse opportunities.

The Pohang delegation, led by POSTECH President Dr. Seong Keun Kim, included Junki Ahn, Director of International Relations, Yujin Kim, Assistant Manager for International Relations, and Sungmin Park, Vice President for External Relations. In his presentation, Vice President Park introduced POSTECH’s activities, highlighting the importance of close collaboration with industry, universities, and research institutes, which greatly contribute to the practical application of their research results.

The Korean representatives expressed their strong desire to establish a long-term partnership between the two institutions. President Kim also noted that he would welcome the establishment of student exchange programs between the universities. In this regard, he invited representatives of Obuda University to visit Pohang to continue discussions aimed at laying the groundwork for shared goals.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Vice-Rector Galambos gave the delegation a tour of the University’s Research and Innovation Center (EKIK), where they visited the robotics lab at.

About POSTECH: Founded in 1986, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) aims to educate selected talented students to become global leaders of the future, equipped with high levels of knowledge and strong moral character, all through excellent education. Recently, the university was ranked 2nd in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) “2024 Best Small Universities in the World” ranking and is currently ranked 151st in the global university ranking. POSTECH focuses on providing versatile and specialized education to foster creative, ethical intellectuals and aims to become a world-class university through the continuous expansion of cooperation between industry and academia.

In the framework of a mini-symposium, the 4th generation da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system was introduced, thanks to SofMedica Kft., at the University Research and Innovation Center’s Antal Bejczy Center for Intelligent Robotics, for research purposes.

The symposium focused on the research and clinical application of robotic surgery in Hungary. The fourth-generation da Vinci robot was brought to Obuda University for a short period of time as part of a “win-win” collaborative research project, during which surgical stress, fatigue, and ergonomics will be examined. In addition, there are also plans for future development, as explained by Prof. Dr. Tamás Haidegger, a researcher at the University Research and Innovation Center (EKIK), who gave a presentation titled “Surgical Robotics from an Engineering Perspective.” He recalled that, upon the request of Prof. Dr. Imre Rudas, the founding rector of the university, Hungary’s first medical robotics laboratory was established about 12 years ago, which has since become a regionally significant center. Under the leadership of current rector Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, EKIK enjoys central support, enabling continuous growth in areas that represent radical innovation.

He emphasized that the university’s leadership has set a strong course, focusing on robotics, artificial intelligence, medical technology, cybersecurity, smart cities, smart infrastructure, and renewable energy sources. At the Antal Bejczy Center for Intelligent Robotics, led by Prof. Dr. Péter Galambos, these areas are approached from an applied perspective. “Ten years ago, an invitation-based tender led to the acquisition of the first-generation da Vinci surgical robot with a research system (DVRK) for the robotics lab. Today, fifth-generation robots are in use worldwide, yet the basic concept remains unchanged. This gives us the opportunity to make advancements on an earlier platform with our lecturers, talented researchers, and students, contributing to the work of leading research institutions globally,” Prof. Dr. Tamás Haidegger stated.

Dr. Zsombor Zrubka highlighted that the symposium provides an excellent opportunity to connect researchers, junior scientists, and medical professionals. He added, “For the researchers at Obuda University, it is crucial that engineering knowledge be utilized through the collaboration between industry and academia. Supporting young talent is a top priority for the university. We welcome interested and talented faculty members, researchers, students, and colleagues who may find the dynamic institutional environment motivating.”

As an invited guest from Semmelweis University, Prof. József Sándor gave an overview of the era of autonomous and robotic surgery.

Prof. Attila Szijártó presented robotic surgery from a surgical perspective.

Adelina Misi, representing the distributor SofMedica, illuminated the topic from a business standpoint.

The da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system is used in gynecology, urology, abdominal surgery, and oncology in several Hungarian healthcare institutions. Using this system, surgeons operate with four robotic arms that offer a greater range of motion than the human wrist. The system represents the highest level of minimally invasive surgical techniques, with several advantages, including faster wound healing, shorter hospital stays, increased surgical efficiency, and precision. Surgeons can see the surgical area in 3D with up to ten times magnification, allowing for highly accurate procedures. There are currently eight such robots in various Hungarian hospitals, where they are used daily for surgical procedures.