TMDK Report on the International Studies Sections

The contestants and jury members in the English-language section

On April 29, 2026, our university hosted the spring local round of the Student Conference on Science and the Arts (TMDK). Undergraduate students in the International Studies program competed in two sections, one in English and one in Hungarian. In this round, the English-language section proved to be more popular, while only a few of our students competed in the Hungarian section.

Three presentations were delivered in the Hungarian-language section organized by the Department of International Studies and Communication, one of which was awarded a prize by the jury. First place went to Ivett Faragó, a BA student in Community Organizing, for her work titled “Tradition and Digitalization: The Adaptation of Cultural Institutions in the 21st Century” (advisor Dr. Csaba Sándor Horváth). The jury was chaired by Dr. Julianna Fejes-Nádai, with Dr. Andrea Csapóné Horváth and Dr. Ildikó Lőrincz serving as members; Jázmin Lőre served as secretary, and the students were represented by Panna Szilágyi.

In the parallel English-language session, the jury and a large audience listened to six presentations. First place went to Munir Ahmed Shahzad for his presentation titled “Rare Earth Elements in the Defence Technology Supply Chain: A Study of Geopolitical Vulnerabilities” (advisor Dr. Júlia Szőke). Débora Silva e Souza took second place with her paper titled “A Comparative Analysis of UNHCR’s Interventions in the Humanitarian Crises of Syria and Sudan” (advisor Dr. Júlia Fejes-Nádai). The jury awarded a special prize to Máté Kónya for his work titled “Global Risks 2025 and the Great Reset: Capitalist Reform, Systemic Vulnerabilities, and the Politics of Conspiracy” (advisor Jázmin Lőre). The jury was chaired by Dr. Petra Kecskés, with Dr. Katalin Bándy and Dr. Anikó Makkos serving as members; Júlia Hajszán assisted as secretary, and the students were represented by Csenge Németh.

Participants will soon find out who will represent our university at the National Student Conference on Science and the Arts, scheduled to take place in two years.

Congratulations to the award winners and to all participants in the conference! We thank the consultants, jury members, and reviewers for their work.

The contestants and jury members of the Hungarian-language section

Winner of the WARESA Europe Awards 2025

Chuma Chiamaka Juliet, a second-year Nigerian student studying for a bachelor's degree in International Relations, has won the WARESA (World African Researchers, Engineers, Entrepreneurs & Scientists Alliance) Europe Awards 2025 in Category A (Best Undergraduate Student Award). The organization presents the award to outstanding African researchers, students, and professionals residing in Europe for their work in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

The winner had this to say about the award:

This certificate, bearing my name, represents a tapestry woven by many hands. It is woven with the threads of my parents’ unwavering hope and faith in me, their belief in my potential etched into every opportunity they provided. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Júlia Szőke, associate professor and head of the Department of International Studies and Communication here at Széchenyi István University, whose insightful recommendation letter was a critical qualification for this award. Earning this award so early in my academic journey fuels my determination to excel in international relations. I plan to frame this certificate as a daily reminder of persistent effort. Its true value lies in challenging me to convert this honour into meaningful contributions through international diplomacy. It declares to every African student: ‘Your work matters. Your voice resonates’.

Congratulations, Chuma Chiamaka Juliet!

Professors from France

Széchenyi István University hosted an interactive lecture on creative writing with guest professors from France