Debrecen4U
November 6, 2026
Education and Industry Players Meet Future Engineers at Mechanical Engineering Days in Debrecen
The University of Debrecen has been training mechanical engineers for 60 years, and the profession has continued to evolve throughout that time. Held on 5 and 6 November, Mechanical Engineering Days aim to bring together representatives of education and industry to showcase the latest technological trends and the career opportunities available to engineers.
On the opening day, there was considerable interest at Schaeffler Debrecen’s stand, with many engineering students near graduation keen to learn more about the automotive and mechanical engineering product manufacturer. Secondary school pupils are also present at Mechanical Engineering Days as many are already considering a career in mechanical engineering and have chosen their vocational training accordingly.
Géza Husi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Debrecen, told students that mechanical engineers must constantly adapt to the challenges of the times. The arrival of computers in the 1980s marked a turning point for the profession: from then on, computers were used to design and manufacture machinery. Today, artificial intelligence is transforming the field as well. AI is one of the greatest challenges facing education, as most companies are already using it on a daily basis. The knowledge acquired at the Faculty of Engineering will remain relevant in the job market only if graduates are also able to use AI tools proficiently. “At present, only 12 per cent of the University of Debrecen’s graduates have a master’s degree. We need to raise this figure to 30–40 per cent so that we can meet the needs of industry,” Géza Husi said.
The industrial environment in Debrecen was very different 20 years ago from what it is today, said Lajos Barcsa. According to the Deputy Mayor, the Faculty of Engineering has perhaps been the greatest beneficiary of the city’s economic development over the past ten years. “There are numerous examples of cooperation with industry. BMW, for instance, is involved in developing the mechanical engineering master’s programme, while EVE Power is running a joint educational programme with the Faculty of Engineering,” the Deputy Mayor said.
The engineering profession is becoming increasingly valued, and the 12th edition of Mechanical Engineering Days is further evidence of the high standard of education in Debrecen, according to the Vice-President of the county’s Chamber of Engineers. The organisation also regularly arranges professional development courses and conferences to ensure that specialists’ knowledge remains up to date. “In doing so, the Chamber of Engineers is not merely fulfilling its statutory obligation to organise these training courses. It is also actively seeking to help practising engineers maintain their professional standards and adapt their knowledge to the requirements of the modern world,” emphasised János Bánhalmi, Vice-President of the Hajdú-Bihar County Chamber of Engineers.
The two-day professional event, which began on Thursday, features 28 companies working with the Faculty of Engineering. More than 150 presentations will also showcase the latest developments in mechanical engineering.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
