On Friday, August 15, 2025, the fifth day of the Alpe Adria Formula Student competition, the leadership of the University and the Bánki Faculty visited the OUR Team in Croatia.
After their very successful performance in Austria, our students didn’t have much time to rest, as the Alpe Adria started shortly after the previous competition. The Croatian environment was not unfamiliar to our team, since they had already participated in the event last year.
Rector Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács arrived at the track on Friday after the day’s technical inspection. Together with Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Zoltán Rajnai and the leadership of the Bánki Faculty, he visited the team’s pit, greeted the team members, wished them continued success for the remaining events, and toured the circuit. During the tour, the Rector also stopped by to greet the team from Timișoara.
In a formal and celebratory setting, our newly graduated engineers received their diplomas at the Graduation Ceremony of the Bánki Faculty of Obuda University on July 18, 2025.
The event took place in the Gömb Aula of Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), where a total of 78 students from the BSc programs in mechanical engineering, safety engineering, and mechatronics engineering, as well as 56 MSc graduates, received their degrees. The leadership of the University was represented by Prof. Dr. Zoltán Rajnai, Vice-Rector and former Dean of the Faculty. Members of the presidium included: Dr. Richárd Horváth, Dr. habil Sándor Horváth, Dr. Attila Bencsik, Dr. habil Tibor Farkas, József Balogh, and Zsombor Kovács.
In recognition of outstanding academic achievement, András Geri (mechanical engineering) and Péter Molnár (mechatronics engineering) received awards.
The following students graduated with distinction:
Péter Molnár, BSc, full-time, Mechatronics Engineering
István László Szabó, MSc, correspondence, Safety Engineering
Viktor Cseke, MSc, full-time, Safety Engineering
Ákos Horváth, MSc, full-time, Safety Engineering
Péter Tamás Felker, MSc, correspondence, Safety Engineering
Márton Papp, MSc, correspondence, Safety Engineering
János Zwickl, MSc, correspondence, Safety Engineering
György Miklós Pócsik, MSc, full-time, Mechanical Engineering
The Angyal Béla Student Grand Prize was awarded this year to Brendon Axel Vagdalt, a mechanical engineering graduate, who also had the honor of reading the Engineer’s Oath.
In memory of Dr. Béla Angyal, the founding general director of the predecessor Bánki Donát Technical College for Mechanical Engineering, the Senate of Óbuda University established the Angyal Béla Student Grand Prize in 2013 to recognize outstanding academic and research achievements among BSc and MSc students of the Bánki Faculty. Dr. Angyal passed away in 2013. The awardee was selected by a designated committee from among the students who successfully passed their final exams in 2025. The award includes a certificate and a monetary prize.
The Würth Prize was awarded to Péter Molnár, while the Outstanding Mechatronics Engineer Award went to Ákos Zsámbok.
Würth Szereléstechnika Kft., part of the long-established Würth corporate group, created the Reinhold and Carmen Würth Foundation in 1991 as part of its social responsibility initiatives.
The Foundation has been supporting the Bánki Donát Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering (and its predecessors) since 1993. Its main activities include regular support of university students, organizing summer holidays for disadvantaged children from foster care, and supporting development programs in nursing homes and for ill children.
As part of its university support program, the Foundation provides monthly scholarship-style support to two socially disadvantaged but high-achieving students from three Hungarian higher education institutions. Additionally, one top-performing student from each institution is awarded the Würth Academic Prize.
The certificate of recognition, accompanying gift, and the 150,000 HUF monetary award were presented by the chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Dr. habil Sándor Horváth.
Péter Molnár began his studies in Mechatronics Engineering in 2021 and graduated with honors. The Würth Foundation and the Bánki Faculty recognize his exceptional academic performance throughout his university years with this award. In 2023, he studied in Montenegro through the Pannonia Scholarship program.
He plans to continue his studies at Obuda University from 2026 in the MSc Electrical Engineering program. Until then, he intends to focus primarily on his professional career.
The Outstanding Mechatronics Engineer Award was established in 2015 with a 1 million HUF endowment by Dr. Attila Bencsik, honorary university professor and former director of the Institute of Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering, on the 10th anniversary of the launch of the mechatronics undergraduate program.
The award is presented once a year to the top-performing full-time graduate of the mechatronics engineering program based on final exam and overall academic achievement. It includes a certificate of recognition, a commemorative medal, and a 100,000 HUF monetary prize.
Ákos Zsámbok began his studies in the 2021/2022 academic year in the mechatronics engineering program at the Bánki Faculty. He won first place several times at the Faculty’s Scientific Student Conference (TDK) and placed third at this year’s Technical Scientific Student Conference hosted by the University of Timișoara. He is Vice President of the Faculty Student Government and actively participated in organizing numerous student and faculty events. He also works as a demonstrator and student assistant at the Institute of Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering.
Dean Dr. habil Tibor Farkas awarded certificates of recognition to the following faculty members and staff:
Prof. Dr. András Zachár, for his work in the field of Energy Engineering
Dr. Ágota Mohai, for her outstanding contribution to both undergraduate and postgraduate training
Ákos Zsámbok, not only as a student but also for his exemplary dedication as a colleague
Certificates of recognition were also presented to our corporate partners:
Imre Balogh, CEO of ProGuard Europe Kft.
Gábor Misinszky, CEO of Robotaid Kft.
Mr. Imre Balogh, CEO of ProGuard Europe Kft., is a key professional supporter of the Safety Engineering program. The company has had a long-standing cooperation with the Faculty, providing modern security engineering equipment that significantly contributes to students’ preparation and ensures up-to-date technical knowledge. With this recognition, the Faculty aims to further strengthen this successful professional relationship.
Our cooperation with Robotaid Kft. and Gábor Misinszky began in 2022 with the launch of the PLC engineering training program and the development of a PLC laboratory and new teaching materials. Over the past three years, the company has provided significant support to the Mechatronics Engineering program. Notably, it served as the main sponsor of this year’s István Ajtonyi National Programming Contest in Control Engineering, providing both the competition technology and organizational background. The company aims to remain an active contributor to Hungarian technical higher education, develop laboratory infrastructure, and bridge the gap between industry and academia—for the engineers of the future.
We wish all our graduates success in achieving their goals and hope that the years spent working will bring them joy and fulfillment. We encourage them to cherish and maintain their connection with the Bánki Faculty. We hope that in the future, one of the companies they establish may become one of our professional partners—or that their children may one day become our students. Special thanks to the Dean’s Office, Registar’s Office, and the Student Government for their help in organizing and conducting the graduation ceremony.
The two-week “Machine Learning and Cybersecurity Summer Academy Program” began on July 21, 2025, at the University’s Obuda campus, with students from the Guilin University of Electronic Technology participating.
On the morning of the opening day, Dr. habil Tibor Farkas, Dean of our Faculty, and Prof. Dr. Zoltán Rajnai, Vice Rector for General Affairs, welcomed the students and wished them a fruitful learning experience and an enjoyable stay in Hungary.
On June 26, 2025, our students proudly presented their latest Formula Student race car — the Pelikán— representing the Obuda University Racing Team!
ThePelikán is an improved version of last year’s Tukán model, featuring not only aerodynamic innovations but also advancements in reliability and performance. One of the key highlights of the new car is its wide rear wing and Venturi-channel floor, which together generate downforce comparable to that of modern Formula 1 cars. The suspension has also been redesigned, incorporating slimmer, stronger components and a highly adjustable anti-roll bar — again, inspired by F1 technology.
This year’s Techtogether was a three-in-one event, combining a conference, industrial exhibitions, and an engineering student competition. The event brought together a wide range of future-oriented industries under one roof. Exhibitors showcased areas such as additive manufacturing, automation, robotics, and industrial and automotive software development — all of which also served as the basis for the competition tasks.
The Bánki-PNEU team from Obuda University’s Bánki Faculty was awarded the Special Prize of the MTM Hungária Association during the competition.
The team from the Bánki Faculty of Obuda University (Zsombor Kovács, Regő Rédei, Dávid Dunavölgyi, and Szilárd Márkos) once again participated in the professional bridge-building competition held during the 11th Bridges and Bridge Builders Day, which this year took place in Győr.
This year, the task was to build a bridge with a minimum span of 3.65 meters. However, unlike in previous years, the materials were not pre-distributed to the teams. Instead, teams had to gather them from a bulk storage area, and only 60% of the needed amount was available for each.
The team performed excellently. Despite having no opportunity to practice and collecting only 112 slats — which turned out to be 50 mm shorter than the dimensions provided beforehand — they managed to redesign their structure quickly and completed the bridge within 8 minutes.
Among the university teams, first place went to the team from Széchenyi István University, whose bridge held 25 paving stones. In a close contest, Obuda University’s team followed with a bridge that supported 21 paving stones, outperforming the Budapest University of Technology and Economics team, whose bridge held 13 paving stones. We are very proud of our students and colleagues for working together so effectively and achieving such an impressive result!
The Faculty ranking for the 2025/2026 academic year of the National Higher Education Scholarship (for Obuda University Bánki Donát Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering) is available HERE.
Valid applicants may appeal until 12 noon on 18 July 2025, by sending their applications to the Rector of the University at tanulmanyiosztaly@bgk.uni-obuda.hu.
Elemér Péter Haidekker Finishes as Top Hungarian Competitor in the Finn Dinghy European Championship, Taking 17th Place Overall in Naples
This year’s European Championship took place in Naples, Italy, from April 5–12, 2025. The event saw 111 competitors from 20 countries line up in the Finn Dinghy single-handed class. The 14-member Hungarian national team was the second-largest contingent after the host country, Italy. Among them, the top-performing Hungarian was Elemér Péter Haidekker, a mechanical engineering student from the Bánki Faculty of Obuda University, who secured an impressive 17th place overall. We extend our heartfelt congratulations on his outstanding achievement!
The Finn dinghy is a single-handed Olympic sailing class designed for the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics. As a one-design class, all boats are built to identical specifications—same dimensions, sail area, weight, and materials—ensuring that the results depend purely on the sailors’ skills, physical condition, tactical decisions, and maneuvering abilities, rather than technical advantages between boats.
The first two days of the championship were dedicated to registration and boat measurement checks. Racing took place over the following five days, with competitors completing two races per day. All 111 boats started together in each race, each lasting approximately one hour. Points were awarded based on finishing position: 1 point for first place, 2 points for second, and so on. The final score was the sum of all race results, with the lowest total score winning.
Below you can read Péter Elemér Haidekker’s own report, as well as his answers to our questions:
“We raced two heats per day over five days, in light to moderate wind conditions. Each race was physically demanding, and there was little time to recover by the next day. I had a rough start to the event—after finishing 102nd in the first race, I knew I had already used my one discardable result. Fortunately, in the following nine races, I managed to finish in the top 20 every time except twice. I was especially happy to place 2nd in the 7th race, out of a 110-strong fleet. I wrapped up the final day with two good results (11th and 6th), which helped improve my overall ranking. I finished 17th overall at the European Championship, making me the top Hungarian competitor.”
How did you prepare for the championship?
“During winter, when water training isn’t possible in Hungary, I focused on dry-land strength and endurance training—5 to 6 gym sessions per week, including sport-specific exercises, running, cycling, and rowing. I also paid close attention to my diet and nutrition. From March onward, I trained with my coaching partners on Lake Balaton.”
Was it difficult to prepare alongside your university studies?
“Personally, I find it particularly challenging to balance sports with my studies—both require a lot of time and effort, and time is a limited resource. The hardest part is time management, ensuring that neither area suffers. Fortunately, my professors at the university are very supportive and help me keep up with the curriculum when I need time off to prepare for competitions.”
What’s next for you?
“Now that the European Championship is over, my focus shifts to completing my studies as a final-year student. The competition season in Hungary started in April, so I’m racing domestically while continuing my training. I’m also preparing for the World Championship in early September, which will be held in Cascais, Portugal.”
We wish Elemér the best of luck in both his continued training and academic pursuits!
On May 27, 2025, the 7th Symposium on Fuzzy-based Engineering Systems (SzaFARi) was held, jointly organized by the Hungarian Fuzzy Association, operating as a section of the János Neumann Computer Society, and the Institute of Mechatronics and Vehicle Engineering of the Bánki Donát Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering.
The primary aim of the conference is to support the integration of students in BSc, MSc, and PhD programs into the scientific community. The event was academically supported by the Subcommittee on Mechatronics of the Scientific Committee on Mechanical Structures of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Section of Engineering Sciences.
This year’s keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Gábor Kertész, Vice President of the János Neumann Computer Society and Vice Dean for Research at the János Neumann Faculty of Informatics, Obuda University. His presentation, titled Deep Metric Learning, provided an accessible and engaging overview of the possibilities and challenges in image processing, with a special focus on the methodology of deep metric learning.
A total of 12 presentations were delivered in both Hungarian and English. Participating students presented their research related to fuzzy inference systems and closely related fields. The diversity of topics highlighted the broad applicability of computational intelligence-based solutions.
The best presenters in each session received certificates of recognition during the closing ceremony for the following works:
Zoltán Váradi: Competency-Based Assessment of Workplace Suitability
Viktor Gergely Ráczi: In Search of Missing Data: Fuzzy Logic in Engineering Optimization
The event concluded with a demonstration by the Bánki Faculty’s Pneumobil Team. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the team’s activities and the operation of their vehicles. The event featured a live demonstration of the R-model, a symbolic vehicle inspired by the iconic Ford T-Model.
We are hopeful that cooperation with foreign universities will continue in the future, not only in the organization of the SzaFARi conference but also beyond.
Related publications will be published in the Bánki Journal (Bánki Közlemények).
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
