Debrecen4U October 2, 2025

The University of Debrecen and BMW Group Plant Debrecen are building a shared future

BMW Group Plant Debrecen has further expanded its strategic partnership with the University of Debrecen: the Faculty of Humanities and the Agricultural Research Institute and Education have also joined the strategic cooperation between the car manufacturer and the higher education institution that has existed since 2023. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday by the leaders of the university and the company.

By further expanding the partnership on professional training and research and development, the BMW Group Plant Debrecen is now working with eight faculties and institutions, making the joint work of industry and higher education even more comprehensive.

“The most defining cooperation in the modern history of the University of Debrecen is the alliance with BMW. We felt this before, we suspected it, and we prepared for it, but what practice shows—how diverse this cooperation is and how deep it is—we could not have foreseen. I believe that sooner or later the 13 faculties of the University of Debrecen will be linked to BMW by some specific cooperation,” said Zoltán Szilvássy in connection with the signing of the agreement.

The rector of the University of Debrecen believes that the strategic partnership determines the relationship and future of the two peoples, the university and the company, as well as the employees of the two institutions.

“True to our promise, we are gradually expanding our partnerships in the field of education. The cooperation with the University of Debrecen is of decisive importance, as our joint programs serve the development of future professionals while also contributing to the growth of Debrecen and the region,” emphasized Hans-Peter Kemser.

The Chairman and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Hungary Kft. said, “Educational and training cooperation is of paramount importance to the BMW Group worldwide: every program is viewed as an investment in the future.

Through the partnership established with the University of Debrecen, future engineers, IT specialists, lawyers, economists, researchers, and other professionals can come into direct contact with one of the largest global players in the automotive industry during their studies.”

Zoltán Bács, Chancellor of the University of Debrecen, recalled that in 2018, the contracts supporting the establishment of BMW’s Debrecen plant were signed at the University of Debrecen. In connection with the investment, new training courses to be launched at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Debrecen were also announced at that time.

“The relationship between the university and BMW is developing organically step by step. This is not a simple higher education-industry cooperation that results from obtaining joint application funds but has expanded with sustainable steps. The complexity of our cooperation is shown by the fact that—although at first everyone would think that it focuses on engineering education—it first extends to economics and law, then to technical and natural sciences, information technology, and now to the humanities and agricultural fields. Here, not a simple factory has been established, but a future that the city, the university, and BMW, which represents top innovation, are shaping together,” explained Zoltán Bács.

Under the newly signed agreement, the BMW Group Plant Debrecen and the Agricultural Research Institutes and Training Farm of the University of Debrecen are working together on a biodiversity program covering 130 hectares, while the Faculty of Humanities, in addition to training professionals, is participating in the research project entitled “Debrecen’s urban development in the light of BMW investments.”

“The BMW plant is characterized by efficiency, innovation, and sustainability. These keywords are also true for modern agriculture, since without efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, neither a factory nor agriculture can be viable today. The Agricultural Research Institutes and Training Farm of the University of Debrecen play a key role in this process. The biodiversity program developed jointly with BMW offers an opportunity to demonstrate how industry and agriculture can be connected through science. I am confident that through our joint work, Debrecen can set an example to the world not only as an industrial but also as a scientific and agricultural innovation center,” added Endre Harsányi, Director General of the Agricultural Research Institutes and Training Farm, and Vice-Rector for Sectoral Development responsible for agricultural and food science innovation.”

According to Róbert Keményfi, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, the BMW investment has a cultural shaping effect on the society of the city and the region.

“We are pleased that BMW is planning and supporting basic research in the long term that explores the impact of the automotive company on the culture of the city. Answering questions such as how we can work together and live together as smoothly as possible. The task of the Faculty of Humanities is to provide the company with professionals who know and understand German culture, and we can also help the company by implementing technical German language training,” Róbert Keményfi listed.

The leaders of the University of Debrecen and the BMW automobile factory signed a strategic agreement on cooperation covering professional training and research and development in June 2023. The partnership agreement initially covered the Faculty of General Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Informatics, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology. In March 2024, the partnership agreement was expanded to include the Faculty of Political Science and Law and the Faculty of Economics. With the amendment just signed, the Faculty of Humanities, as well as the Agricultural Research Institutes and Training Farm, joined the strategic cooperation.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the University of Debrecen by Rector Zoltán Szilvássy, Chancellor Zoltán Bács, Endre Harsányi, Director General of the Agricultural Research Institutes and Education, and Róbert Keményfi, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, while on behalf of BMW, Hans-Peter Kemser, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Hungary Kft.

Source:dehir.hu | Photo credit:Facebook (Debrecen városa)