Taking The Oath Before The Zrínyi Sabre

The memorial plaque inaugurated by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences back in 2002 on the initiative of the Hungarian Association of Military Science, commemorating outstanding Hungarian military scientists, is on the first floor of the main building of Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence (ZMNE).

On November 10, the Hungarian Science Day, wreaths were laid on the memorial plaque by Brigadier General (ret.) Prof. Dr. János Szabó, the Rector of ZMNE, Colonel (eng.) Dr. Jenõ Sipos, the Dean of Bolyai János Faculty of Military Engineering, and Colonel (eng.) Dr. Sándor Felházi, the Dean of Kossuth Lajos Faculty of Military Science.

In his speech preceding the wreath-laying ceremony retired Colonel László Nagy, the chairman of the Hungarian Association of Military Science, established twenty years ago, said that Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence, as the only Hungarian institute of military higher education, widely interprets the manifold relations with science. It is not a coincidence that many admonitions of Miklós Zrínyi, the excellent military scientist and commander of the 17th century the institution was named after, can be found in military publications even today.

– Now we are standing before a memorial plaque that distinguishes even some of the distinguished Hungarian military scientists: those who had outstanding achievements in military training and education, and within that, higher education. Therefore this memorial plaque bears the name of eight military scientists who earned outstanding merits in higher education – said retired Colonel László Nagy.

After the wreath-laying ceremony the Senate of the institution held a gala session in the hall of the university. Dr. Péter József, the Legal State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence also attended the event. In his welcome speech retired Brigadier General Dr. János Szabó, the rector of the university announced that the Hungarian Accreditation Committee has decided to accredit the university of national defence until 2017 as an integral part of Hungarian higher education. The university has been waiting for the news for long, since the preparation for accrediation began more than one year ago.

The event continued with bestowing the Zrínyi Miklós Award, founded by the Defence Minister of the Republic of Hungary. In recognition of their outstanding achievements in scientific research, organization, technical development, and considerable creative work for the military, this year the award was conferred by Legal State Secretary Dr. Péter József on retired Lieutenant General Dr. József Holló, the Director General of the MoD Institute and Museum of Military History, and Prof. Dr. János Szabó, the Rector of Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence.

As the next point on the agenda of the gala session, the Senate made a decision to confer the honourary doctoral title. This title, which is a great honour, is given every year by the Senate of the institution to one person. This year the honourary doctoral title was conferred on Brigadier General Jean-Yves Lauzier, the general of the French military force, who can use the Doctor Honoris Causa title as well from now on.

In his response General Lauzier said that it is a great honour for him to be a honourary doctor of Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence. The professor of the Paris-based French joint forces defence academy added: since he comes from a family of officers, he heard many stories about the Bercsényi Hussars when he was a child. Moreover, one of his uncles – who passed away since then – served together with these hussars.

The event continued with awarding the Pro Militium Artibus titles of merit. The nominees for this title are proposed by the Professors’ Council, decided by the Senate, and the title is awarded by the rector of the institution. It can be awarded to retired generals and officers who do not have an academic degree, but they spent long years in senior positions during their active military service, became recognised and important military leaders, and played a major role in the development of the defence forces and national defence. The title is awarded every year to five former military officers, and the posthumous version of the award is bestowed on five persons.

The award ceremony was followed by the appointments of university professors, who also received their professorial gowns. This year three new university professors could put on the gown of the institution.

Habilitation is the assessment of the teaching and presentation skills, and the scientific achievements of those who do not have an academic degree. Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence habilitates in the disciplines of military science and military engineering – it was said at the event. This year there were three tutors in the institute who habilitated, and they took their oath before the Zrínyi sabre with all due ceremony.

Those who received the PhD degree by the Doctoral Council of the university also took their oath before the Zrínyi sabre. After they defended their doctoral theses, twenty-four former students received their doctorates from the Senate of the university.

The first time the graduates could touch the Zrínyi sabre, that has become a traditional accessory of PhD and habilitated doctoral ceremonies for today, was twenty-four years ago, on October 15, 1985, in a gala session. As a symbol, the sabre unites in itself the traditions of the independence fights of the Hungarian nation, patriotism, and the dignity of sacrifice. But at the same time it also symbolises the unity of the readiness and ability to use weapons, and pursuing military science at a high level. With the oath taken in the presence of the Zrínyi sabre, Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence recognises the scientific work done to date by those who take the oath – it was said at the event.

Lieutenant Colonel (eng.) Dr. Ferenc Hajdú delivered a speech in the name of the newly conferred Doctors of Philosophy. He underlined: this moment, when they received their doctoral title, arrived after many years of persistent work. And this day is also a good occasion to look back to the long road that has led them here. But they did not achieve their successes alone, the findings of millions of researches, conducted by their predecessors, were also necessary for them to be able to reach their goal and stand here on this day.

The gala session of the Senate of ZMNE continued with the appointments of honourary university professors and associate professors, and various scientific prizes were also awarded.

The rector of the university emphasised in his closing speech that in the marathon session, the academic staff, the students and the supporters of Zrínyi Miklós University of National Defence, the representatives of the institutions that maintain the university, and the future employers have commemorated the Day of Hungarian Science in a way that is worthy of the occasion.