Katalin Novák at the Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year at Corvinus University - Budapest, 28 August 2022 

"We need young people with broad knowledge and critical thinking", said President of Hungary Katalin Novák in her opening address to the students of Corvinus University of Budapest in Várkert Bazár.

The head of state stressed that she would like universities in Hungary to consider as their main goal - in addition to the transfer of competitive knowledge - to teach and encourage critical thinking. "Become someone worth learning from, and also someone it was worth for us to learn and work for", Katalin Novák asked the students. 

The President pointed out that this is not peacetime, as war is going on in our neighbourhood, and before that a pandemic swept through the world. This has led to a more difficult economic situation everywhere. Many countries, including Hungary, are facing energy and supply issues. We are confronted with logistics challenges, while the importance of international relations, active participation in the international exchange of views and in sharing our concerns for the state of the planet will increase," she said. 

According to Katalin Novák, the answers to these challenges are there in the different university courses, and students will get the answers to these questions by acquiring the right knowledge during their university years. She recalled that Corvinus University was a pioneer in the transformation of higher education, making it the first university to be able to operate in a renewed form. 

The university years can also give you strong inner stability, knowledge, livelihood, lifelong friendships and relationships beyond friendship, said Katalin Novák.

Előd Takáts, Rector of Corvinus University, said that true success rests on three pillars: talent, opportunity and responsibility. Students admitted to Corvinus can acquire internationally recognised knowledge and have every opportunity to develop their talents," he pointed out. He drew attention to the importance of responsibility, in the spirit of which the Gyula Illyés Programme was launched to prepare talented, disadvantaged students for a successful university career.