The first university degrees were awarded at the University of Rakoczi

The diploma award ceremony for students majoring in Educational and Pedagogical Sciences, Primary Education, Preschool Education, as well as Accounting and Taxation at the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University was held on January 30. Thirty-six students who completed their master’s studies in an off-cycle programme received their degree certificates after successfully passing their final state examinations.

The ceremony opened with the Hungarian national prayer, followed by the anthem of the University of Rakoczi.

István Csernicskó, rector of our university, welcomed those present, emphasizing that when he heard about the bombings as a child, he never thought he would be able to say about himself, “I lived on this earth at a time when people were so depraved that they killed willingly and with pleasure, not just on command.”

“There are those who want to go down in history by waging war, destroying and wreaking havoc. In contrast, others prefer to do their work quietly, making history by creating, building, and establishing something that moves us forward,”

he emphasized.

He added that when, in 1993, a small but enthusiastic group of Hungarian intellectuals and social organizations from the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia decided to take the first steps towards establishing an independent Hungarian higher education institution, they may not have been making history. But history was made when training began in 1994 at the Nyíregyháza College’s special training program in Berehove, and when the first diplomas were awarded in 1997. But also when the Transcarpathian Hungarian Teacher Training College was registered as a state institution and became independent in 1996, when it took the name Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education, in 2003, and when the college became a university in October 2025.

“Today, we are awarding the first university degree in the more than three decades of our institution’s history. With the university degrees awarded today, a total of 2,867 people have earned 4,412 diplomas. I believe that this is history itself, which we are writing together with you, dear colleagues and dear current and former students,”

he concluded his speech and congratulated the graduates.

He was followed by Volodimir Dudics, a student at the Zoltán Kodály Fine Arts School in Berehove, a student of the ZeneVarázslat classical music talent development and concert program, who performed Abreu’s Merry-go-round on the saxophone. His teacher was Terézia Turjanica.

“This year marks the 350th anniversary of the birth of the ruling prince. It is fitting that in this jubilee year, the institution that bears his name should also be honored with the title of university. I congratulate the university’s leaders, teachers, and students,”

said Péter Szilágyi, Deputy State Secretary for National Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office, adding that the university’s existence ensures that younger generations have the opportunity to thrive and develop professionally in their homeland.

“Since you became a university, Berehove, the center of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, has risen to become one of the university towns and has also become a symbol of the survival, will to live, and national pride of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. Be proud of your achievements, let us be proud of the fruits of this work,”

he emphasized.

He was followed by Dániel-Miklós Szülek, a student at the Zoltán Kodály Fine Arts School in Berehove, a participant in the Hungarian preliminary round of the Virtuosos classical music talent contest, and a student of the ZeneVarázslat classical music talent development and concert program, who performed Andrew Rangers’ Venice Carnival on the trumpet. His teacher was István Bobály, and his concertmaster was Viktória Pércsi-Kota. Ágnes Bíró, a student at the Zoltán Kodály Fine Arts School in Berehove, performed Edward Grieg’s Kobold on the piano.

Afterwards, Vivien Bátori, a student of accounting and taxation, gave a speech on behalf of the graduating students, followed by a performance of Nyírség folk songs by the Beregszász Tulipán Choir. The preparatory teachers were Erika Kovács and Abigél Kovács, teachers at the Tulipán Tanoda Hungarian School of Folk Music and Folk Art. They were followed by Dorka Kosztyó, a student of accordion at the Tulipán Tanoda, who performed a slow dance from Szatmár and a lively czardas. Her teacher was Nikoletta Halász from the Tulipán Tanoda Hungarian School of Folk Music and Folk Art.

This was followed by the students’ oath, which was read by Alexandra Bene, a student majoring in Primary Education.

After a general presentation of the diplomas, the graduates received their well-deserved certificates from Ildikó Orosz, President of the University of Rakoczi, and István Csernicskó. The ceremony then continued with the singing of the students’ anthem.

Afterwards, Ildikó Orosz, president of our university, recalled Walt Disney’s words in her speech: “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

“You may have dreamed of something 6-7 years ago, and then you set out on the path to realizing your dreams. First, you obtained your bachelor’s degree, and now you have received your master’s degree. I am very pleased that the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University was able to give you the opportunity to realize your dreams,”

she emphasized.

At the end of the event, representatives of the historical churches asked for God’s blessing on the lives of those present. The event ended with the singing of the Szózat.

Anita Kurmay

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