UniNext also helps students who have graduated from the University of Pécs to get by locally

A cooperation agreement for the empowerment of local youth was signed by the Universitas Quinqueecclesiensis Foundation, the University of Pécs and the University Student Government (UHG) on Tuesday at the Rector's Office of the University of Pécs (PTE). The main objectives of the agreement, linked to the UniNext comprehensive regional development programme, are to strengthen the local workforce, to retain PTE students and to increase the competitiveness of the region.

In December 2024, the Universitas Quinqueecclesiensis Foundation (UQA), which runs PTE, launched a regional development programme called UniNext, designed to be a trend-setter. This comprehensive programme could create thousands of new jobs and attract thousands of billions of forints of foreign investment to the region in the coming years.

UniNext reached another important milestone on Tuesday: the PTE, UQA and the UEPC signed a tripartite cooperation agreement to

involve students in the comprehensive regional development programme. 

The aims of the cooperation include strengthening the local workforce, retaining PTE graduates and increasing the competitiveness of the region.

"UniNext's mission is to address the economic, social and territorial challenges of the South Transdanubian region in a comprehensive and sustainable way. The primary objective of the programme is the economic development of the region, job creation and the improvement of the quality of life of local businesses and residents", said Dr. Zsolt Barna, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Universitas Quinqueecclesiensis Foundation.

"PTE not only contributes to the success of the programme with its knowledge and intellectual capacity, but also actively shapes it. We are confident that this cooperation will give new impetus to the student community's engagement and contribute to the realisation of a more livable and innovative South Transdanubia", said Prof. Dr. Attila Miseta, Rector of PTE. He added that the opinions and interests of young people must be taken into account in the development of the future.

Under the agreement, PTE will seek to monitor local employer needs closely and continuously, and will use this as a basis for active job matching activities.

"UniNext places a high priority on supporting PTE graduates to find and succeed in local jobs.

In line with the programme's partnership charter, we aim to work primarily with investors who prefer to employ local workers, with a particular focus on university students. UniNext also encourages the practical training of students and their involvement in innovation activities," said István Decsi, Chancellor of PTE and member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, summarising the programme's ambitions for young people.

The tripartite agreement also states that UniNext will seek to establish educational partnerships with new investors.

These partnerships will help students gain access to knowledge from large companies and increase their professional skills and competitiveness in the labour market.

The programme gives preference to investors whose activities require a high level of expertise and create significant added value.

And to ensure that the improvements made thanks to UniNext really meet young people's expectations, the involvement and active participation of the student government is essential.

"Through its democratic functioning, the student government can effectively represent the views and needs of students in the university's management in decisions related to UniNext. We support the orientation of students in the labour market and actively participate in supporting the R&D activities of investors, facilitating the involvement of students in innovation projects", said Dr. Dominik Horváth, President of the USG, explaining the commitments of the USG.