Opening Ceremony at Bárczi
Several of the international students who have enrolled in the newly launched English-language BA programme in Special Needs Education also attended the ceremony, which was therefore held bilingually. Dr Eszter Márkus, Vice-Dean and the host of the event, welcomed the attendees in both Hungarian and English.
The ceremony began with a series of welcome speeches. In her speech, the Dean highlighted the fact that the Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty is the leading institution of special needs teacher training in Hungary, uniquely offering the full range of undergraduate programmes, three Master's programmes, and a doctoral programme. She also emphasised that the Faculty is the legal successor of the world’s first institution of higher education in special needs education, which was founded in 1900.
In keeping with faculty tradition, this year’s welcome address was delivered by Dr Carmen Svastics, a recently awarded PhD holder and member of the teaching staff. In her speech, she stressed that the students “are embarking on a journey that is not only about obtaining a degree, but also about making very tangible, very personal changes in people's lives.”
She described special needs education as a complex discipline that integrates psychology, medicine, pedagogy, linguistics, and sociology, and which represents part of an international academic and professional community. She encouraged the students to always see the person behind the diagnosis, to ask questions, build meaningful connections, remain open to other scientific disciplines and cultures, and never underestimate the power of humour. Mastering professional terminology, she noted, is not only a requirement for exams but also a key to joining both the national and international professional community.
Dr Svastics’ welcome speech can be read in full here.
As part of the ceremony, the Dean also announced the awards received by the Faculty’s staff and lecturers during the past academic year and at the university’s central opening ceremony. Following this, she presented the Gordosné Szabó Anna Awards, established to recognise the outstanding and long-standing contributions of supervising practitioners involved in the Faculty’s practical training. This year, the award was given to eight special needs professionals.
Following the award ceremony, the first-year students took their oath, after which the Dean formally welcomed them as members of the university community with a handshake. The new students were also greeted by Panka Tamara Peller, a representative of the Students’ Union of the Faculty.
The ceremony concluded with the attendees listening to the Anthem of Eötvös Loránd University.
Opening ceremony 2025/2026
Opening ceremony 2025/2026
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