Engineers and Researchers of the Future at Óbuda University – The 10-month STEAM Excellence Program’s 2025/26 Academic Year concluded successfully!
Twenty exceptionally talented high school students, ten months of inspiring university-level workshop activity, and 100% talent retention—these are the primary milestones of the 2025/2026 academic year of the STEAM Excellence Program launched by the STEAM Office of Obuda University. Implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation and the National Talent Program under project identifier NTP-STEM-25-B-0006, Obuda University uniquely provided a 300,000 HUF excellence scholarship to the participating talented youth. This outstanding support enabled the students to master tomorrow’s key technologies directly in university laboratories through a total of 73 planned programs and sessions recorded in the program calendar, guided directly by nearly 30 recognized university, international, and corporate researchers, developers, and experts.
Official opening remarks and the university talent pathway
The ceremonial closing event was opened by Zoltán Márton, Head of the STEAM Office and the Hungarian STEAM Platform, and Director of the STEAM Excellence Program. In his welcoming address, he emphasized that the core motto underlying the talent program—“Discover. Develop. Innovate.”—has transformed into a real, tangible experience for students over the past 10 months.
The event was opened by Dr. habil. Viktória Sugár, Vice-Rector for Education and Sustainable Development, who also served as the developer and lead of the program’s “Sustainable Architecture and Urban Planning” talent profile. The Vice-Rector praised the extraordinary commitment of the students, who participated in intensive evening university sessions on a weekly basis following full days of high school classes. She highlighted that Obuda University, as a 4th-generation, innovation-driven institution, strategically supports young talents so that they can be active shapers rather than passive observers of future technologies.
Subsequently, Dr. habil. István Szabó, Director General of the Talent Management and Pedagogical Center (TPK), presented the university talent pathways available to students. He outlined in detail the matchless opportunities awaiting graduates: the unique Obuda Excellence Program, advanced study colleges, T-LAB research laboratories, and direct integration into university research teams and Scientific Students’ Association conferences.
Professional takeaways: Innovation, vision, and presentation skills
The scientific and professional insights for the journey were delivered by Dr. habil. Zsombor Zrubka, Head of the Health Economics Research Center and Chief Innovation Advisor to the program. In his lecture, he introduced young participants to the fundamentals of innovation management and startup thinking, emphasizing the star model of entrepreneurship and ecosystem thinking. He illustrated how genuine, marketable value can be created from engineering and technological ideas through conscious strategic and financial planning.
The technical training was rounded out by a unique, interdisciplinary module. Presentation skills training was conducted by director and presentation specialist András Éry-Kovács, who passed on techniques for managing stage fright, vocal development, body language, and the secrets of confident stage delivery. According to mentor feedback, students approached presentation skill development with extraordinary openness and interest—skills that are essential for successfully presenting their knowledge and developments to the public.
Strategic professional partnerships: Synergy of theory, experience, and technology
The high professional and practical standard of the program was guaranteed by close collaboration with nationally and internationally recognized strategic partners:
John von Neumann Computer Society (NJSZT): Hungary’s leading IT organization was responsible for the digital and IT talent development within the program. NJSZT connected scholarship recipients with its national network, premier programming competitions (such as student olympiads), and successful young programmers and startup founders. As part of this partnership, students were able to test the latest technological advancements firsthand through interactive simulations and demonstrations during the “NJSZT Talent Day.”
International Experience Workshop Movement (Experience Workshop): The creative integration of science, technology, and art—the true core of the STEAM methodology—was provided by Experience Workshop’s internationally renowned community of scientists and artists. During the “Experience Workshop”, youth experienced interdisciplinary creativity in a hands-on way by constructing giant fractals and molecular structures. Experts from the movement also enriched the program through summer camp projects and experiential pedagogy consulting for university instructors.
Milestones of the 10 months
oltán Márton presented the professional trajectory and milestones of the past ten months in detail, highlighting that the program calendar comprised a total of 73 planned programs and sessions (including 16 mandatory professional sessions and workshops, as well as a Summer University, totaling more than 50+ direct contact hours). Talent development was realized along five interconnected core modules and talent profiles:
Booster foundation program (Mandatory foundation): Mental foundation phase focusing on self-reflection, conscious career planning, university-level SQ3R learning methodology, digital wellbeing, and information security.
Digital design and engineering innovation (Talent profile): Practical modern 3D design, modeling, and 3D printing, complemented by Minecraft-based creative virtual urban planning and interior design.
Sustainable architecture and urban planning (Talent profile): Creation of a climate-resilient built environment using recycled materials, microclimate measurements, and KLIMAdesign analysis based on the passive building of Rati Kft.
Artificial Intelligence and data-driven technologies (Talent profile): Microcontroller programming, understanding neural networks and large language models, alongside practical robotics and digital twin measurements at the university’s Antal Bejczy Center for iRobotics.
Scientific thinking and communication (Mandatory closing): Bilingual presentation preparation, innovation management based on Dr. Zsombor Zrubka’s star model, and presentation skills training focusing on stage fright and body language led by András Éry-Kovács.
The voice of scholarship recipients by Bonifác Istenes
Following the detailed presentation of the professional content, one of the most moving and inspiring moments of the program occurred when scholarship recipient Bonifác Istenes took the microphone on behalf of the students. In a sincere and captivating speech, Bonifác recalled his initial uncertainties: he revealed that at the start of the program, he worried whether he could fit into a university environment, but instead of harsh academic pressure, he found a deeply supportive and welcoming community. He specifically highlighted the approachable, workshop-style atmosphere of the sessions, where students worked alongside university lecturers and researchers at the same table as partners on complex engineering, IT, and design projects.
Bonifác emphasized that the STEAM Excellence Program not only made state-of-the-art technological knowledge (such as the inner workings of artificial intelligence, passive architectural climate design based on the Rati Kft. model, and 3D modeling) tangible, but also equipped them with critical presentation and learning methodology skills necessary for confident advancement to university. Finally, he concluded his thoughts with a personal confession that resonated throughout the room: he revealed that without the talent program, prepared mentors, and encouraging support from his teammates, he would not have made the decision to submit his application to the university. His speech and personal journey serve as perfect proof of how the program delivers life-defining vision and transformative motivation to young talents.
“Standing here today, I feel that the STEAM Excellence Program did not just give us knowledge, but a vision for the future. It showed me how to think, how to learn, and how to work with others. And it showed me that I don’t have to walk my own path alone, because there are people supporting me.”
— Bonifác Istenes, Scholarship Student
Presentation of certificates and recognition of coordinators
In the most ceremonial moment of the evening, Vice-Rector Dr. habil. Viktória Sugár, Director General Dr. habil. István Szabó, Research Center Head Dr. habil. Zsombor Zrubka, Teacher Training Division Lead Prof. Dr. György Molnár, and Advanced Study College Director Tamás Sándor presented university certificates attesting to the successful completion of the talent program to all 20 graduating scholarship recipients. The resounding applause in the room served as fitting recognition of the youth’s dedicated work throughout the year.
In his closing speech, Office Head and Platform Lead Zoltán Márton expressed special thanks to the faculty and expert staff of nearly 30 members who formed the backbone of the talent program, and expressed grateful recognition to two outstanding colleagues from the STEAM Office: Dóra Arany-Barna, operational and administrative coordinator of the program, and Attila Fodor, professional and program implementation coordinator, whose dedicated background work ensured the dynamic and smooth operation of the program.
Vision and summary
The most enduring achievement of the talent program is not merely the acquired knowledge, but the cohesive community forged over the 10 months. Close professional and personal relationships were established among the talented youth, resulting in joint Scientific Students’ Associations research groups and competition teams.
We are extremely proud that a significant portion of the graduates choose Obuda University to pursue their higher education studies, where they are welcomed with open arms by the Obuda Excellence Program, university advanced study colleges, as well as the mentor and support networks of the STEAM Alumni Program and STEAM Youth Crew.
The success of the 2025/2026 season, the 100% talent retention rate, and the outstanding student evaluations clearly demonstrate the validity and necessity of profile-based pre-university talent development.
Sponsors and grant background:
National Talent Program: The program was implemented with direct support from the National Talent Program’s grant NTP-STEM-25-B-0006 titled “STEAM Excellence Program”, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (KIM).
Professional and Partnership Collaborators: John von Neumann Computer Society (NJSZT), International Experience Workshop Movement (Experience Workshop).
