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Faculty and students of the Gál Ferenc University closed the academic year with a bishop’s mass. At the ceremony, fresh and honorary diplomas were awarded. Endre Gyulay, retired bishop, received a ruby letter on the occasion of his 70th anniversary of his graduation.

László Kiss-Rigó, Bishop of Szeged-Csanád, celebrated the closing Mass of thanksgiving at the Gál Ferenc University in the Cathedral on Friday. In his sermon, he spoke about the importance of common sense, which higher education has a responsibility to cultivate and maintain.

After the Holy Mass, László Dux, Rector of the GFU, greeted the teachers and students who were saying farewell to the academic year. He thanked his colleagues for the discipline and sacrifices they had made to cope with the challenges of the academic year, the consequences of the war in the neighbourhood and the energy crisis. He said that 465 freshmen had been admitted to the university at the beginning of the academic year, bringing the total number of teachers to 172 and the total number of students to almost 1,300.

This academic year saw the launch of two vocational colleges. We have received the authorisation to start the pedagogical college in Szarvas and the business college in Békéscsaba

– he said.

Among the academic events of the academic year, the Rector highlighted the joint conference of the Szeged ecclesiastical colleges of higher education, which took place in the spring at the GFU and which he would like to make a tradition in the future. He also announced the expansion of the university’s training palette, with the launch of a master’s programme in mental health family counselling and the start of further training in applied museology and hospital pedagogy.

László Dux also said that 300 diplomas would be awarded at the end of this academic year and that the number of applicants for the next academic year would be three times higher than last year.

At the ceremony, forty recent graduates in theology and secular studies from Szeged received their diplomas. The alumni of the predecessor of the University of Szeged, the College of Theology, who graduated 50, 60, 65 and 70 years ago, were also welcomed. They received gold, diamond, iron and ruby certificates.

On behalf of the honorary graduates, Endre Gyulay, a Rubindiploma, gave a speech in which he recalled the work of the founders of the diocesan theological education, St. Gellért and Gyula Glattfelder, and then shared memories of the difficulties of the period before the change of regime. At the end of his speech, the retired bishop asked for God’s help in expanding the diocesan community with new and new priestly vocations and dedicated teachers of the faith.

Dr. Emil Toldy-Schedel, cardiologist, who, as Director General of the St. Francis Hospital, is assisting the medical education of our University, was appointed professor emeritus.

Dr. Attila Rákóczi, who is the Director General of the Government Office of Békés County and a lecturer at our Faculty of Economics, has been appointed as a Titular Associate Professor.

Zsanett Bálint-Vincze, Registrar, received the Employee of the Year Award 2023 for her exemplary work and innovative office activities.