Academic Year Starts at National Defence University

Szöveg: Tamás Zilahy | 2011. szeptember 9. 8:01

The opening ceremony of the 2011/2012 academic year at the Miklós Zrínyi National Defence University (ZMNE) was held in the afternoon of Thursday, September 1. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, Maj.-Gen. (Ret.) József Ronkovics, ministerial advisor was present at the event together with the representatives of the Police Officer Training College and the Corvinus University.

After the entry of the unit colors and the reception of the superiors, the Hungarian national anthem was played, then Col. Prof. Dr. József Padányi, the acting rector of the ZMNE delivered a speech. He talked about the efforts of the last 12 months and the most important tasks for the university.

“The new MoD leadership is firmly determined to transform the system of military tertiary education", the acting rector pointed out, adding that, as it is known, last year the government of Hungary made a decision on the establishment of the National Public Service University with a view to providing a unified institutional foundation for the higher education of subject matter experts (SMEs) in the field of public service. As from 1 January 2012, the legal predecessor institutions will continue to function as independent faculties of the National Public Service University in the interest of more efficient operation. “The university is new but the objectives are shared: to train the students for their career in public service", this was how Col. Padányi summarized the essence of the concept.

The acting rector went on speaking about the new, “single-faculty" system of training for the “honvéd" officer cadets, which is going to be adjusted to the spirit of the new university and the creation of careers in public service. “This is a highly responsible task, since it will determine the “honvéd" officer cadets’ aptitude and suitability for the military career path", Col. Padányi said.

“You have chosen a demanding but beautiful vocation in a difficult period" – the acting rector said turning to the 128 first-year “honvéd" officer cadets, and went on to say “we are going to provide you and your civilian schoolmates with all the assistance you may need to pursue your studies with success. In return, we ask you to spare no effort to achieve good results in your studies as well as in the sports field. Let me wish all of you strength and good health in accomplishing these aims."

In what followed, Col. Padányi introduced the book “The Ludovika", recently published by Zrínyi Média. Each university student will get a copy of it. The colonel concluded his speech by opening the 2011/2012 academic year.

The opening ceremony of the academic year continued with reading out decrees and orders and finished with the strains of the ‘Szózat’ (second national anthem).