Set in diamonds

The University of Pécs (UP) has been honored with two Marketing Diamond Awards this year by the Hungarian Marketing Association. The UP CareerBridge – A Path to Further Education Tour received the prestigious recognition in the Event-Based Activities category, while the university's Study Abroad Program was awarded in the Customer Experience Programs category at the awards ceremony held in Budapest on 5 March. 

This was not the first time that representatives of the University of Pécs have proudly returned home with a Marketing Diamond Award in their hands from the grand awards ceremony of the Hungarian Marketing Association. Previously, the International Seasons event series, the Summer School Program, the Study Abroad Program of the International Centre, and the Public Relations Centre’s “Irány a PTE! Kultúrfeszt” website, the student recruitment social media campaign in 2022, and the IWASTHR event platform have also earned this distinguished recognition for the first university in Hungary.

Event-Based Activities: UP CareerBridge – A Path to Further Education Tour
In autumn the 2024/25 student recruitment campaign was carried out by the UP National Student Recruitment Marketing Office through a complex series events based on in-person meetings, divided into three main phases. The student enrollment season in the autumn semester started with the Off to the University of Pécs Culture Fest. This event, that has been organized for five years in a row, guides prospective students to faculty-specific open days and introductory high school visits supported by faculties. The Educatio International Educational Exhibition was the closing event of this career-orientation campaign.

One of the most important goals of the campaign was to provide as much detailed information as possible about university admissions, therefore the campaign focused primarily on in-person interactions, while it was also complemented by online, written, and telephone-based information services. As a part of this the National Student Recruitment Marketing Office team, in close collaboration with representatives of the university faculties and organisational units, also arranged online consultation hours for students, their parents, and teachers. 

"We believe that

personal interactions and the experiences of the applicants are vitally important during the admission process. Consequently every encounter and content piece was created, organized, and executed with this focus in mind,"

said dr. Réka Hegedüs, Deputy Director of the UP Public Relations Centre, Head of the National Student Recruitment Marketing Office. She also added: "I am incredibly proud of my colleagues, of our joint work and the immense effort they invested in it. I am grateful for their dedication and perseverance, without which we could not have accomplished this achievement. Additionally, I want to acknowledge our agency colleagues at MarkCon, who are an essential part of our team and make our collaboration even stronger." 

The representatives of the University of Pécs at the 2025 Marketing Diamond Awards ceremony (from left to right in the picture): Patrik Fábián (MarkCon), dr. Réka Hegedüs, Réka Nagy-Wilhelm (MarkCon), Dorottya Turi, and Gréta Szalai.

Thanks to the campaign, which was built around two major events and multiple smaller school visits and other engagements, both visitor numbers and communication effectiveness exceeded last year's results. In addition, the complex career orientation program package, which was further expanded, now includes over 30 pages of versatile programs.

Customer Experience Programs: Study Abroad
This was the second time, that the UP Study Abroad Program has received a Marketing Diamond Award. The program was acknowledged by the Marketing Association for its commitment to enhancing student experience by implementing a successful strategy used in cooperation between the university’s Study Abroad and Summer School Office of the International Centre and faculties, thereby creating an enriching environment for the incoming international students. The Study Abroad Program is a tuition-based, semester-long initiative originally developed by the University of Pécs to meet the demands of the american higher education market. Over the years, the university has successfully expanded the program to include the Mexican, Canadian, Japanese, and Indonesian markets as well. The expansion to the Indonesian market has also led to UP being included in the Indonesian government's scholarship program. 

“Since the very beginning of implementing the Study Abroad Program, we have prioritized achieving high student satisfaction, creating a positive student experience, and encouraging students to enroll in other foreign language programs offered by te university. It is essential that students not only receive high-quality education but also enjoy the university’s cultural, social (events, support services, accommodation, etc.), and city services as well” said dr. Gyöngyi Pozsgai, Head of the UP International Centre’s Study Abroad & Summer University Office. 

When carrying out its educational services UP is successfully adapting to different foreign market needs, variations in credit systems and varying semester schedules, while maintaining high academic standards. Starting from 2024, students who complete this minor program also receive a micro-certification. 

In the cover photo:
- Zoltán Győrffy, Director of the UP Public Relations Centre
- Dr. Réka Hegedüs, Deputy Director of the UP Public Relations Centre
- Dr. Gyöngyi Pozsgai, Head of the Study Abroad and Summer School Office of the International Centre
- Dr. István Tarrósy, Director of the UP International Centre