World Telecommunication Day celebration at Széchenyi István University: a focus on artificial intelligence
The applications of artificial intelligence were the focus of this year’s World Telecommunication Day conference held at Széchenyi István University which had over 400 participants. At the event, in addition to the institution’s lectures and researchers, Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, director of the Telecommunications Development Office of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), several leaders of the National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH), as well as numerous representatives of renowned companies in the sector gave presentations.
The Széchenyi István University in Győr, which is considered one of Hungary’s leading higher education institution, especially in the STEM fields that including telecommunications, organizes a communications conference every year in connection with World Telecommunication Day. With this act, the university commemorates the founding on May 17, 1856 of the International Telecommunication Union, is now an organization within the United Nations.
Professor Dr. Ferenc Friedler, rector of Széchenyi István University, explained in his welcome speech: the institution has a long tradition in the field of artificial intelligence as a main focus related to engineering sciences and state-of-the-art technologies. He added that the university places great emphasis on the close cooperation with companies that contribute to the high quality of practice-oriented training as well as research & development which result in the strengthening and the competitiveness of the region. He further stated, that the university’s R&D activities are supported by state of the art infrastructure even at the international level, where the Széchenyi István University Foundation owned ZalaZONE proving ground is an important element. In addition to one of the most modern test tracks in the world ZalaZONE, the university is creating and integrating a science and innovation park in its immediate surrounding area, which further encourages the development of training, research and cooperation with significant actors in the technology and economic spheres.
Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, director of the ITU Telecommunications Development Office, emphasized that everyone has the right to access the modern technologies.
Dr. István Bartolits, head of the Technology Analysis Department at Hungary’s NMHH central office gave a presentation at the event and said with the development of telecommunications systems, more and more complex networks are created, which significantly increases the need and costs of error detection and troubleshooting creating an opportunity for technology and business leaders alike.
Since 2015, the Dr. Endre Magyari award have also been given at the conference every year. The award was created by the president of the NMHH in recognition of outstanding work in the field of communications. This year, the two commemorative medals were awarded to Dr. László Imre Csorba, former employee of the authority, and Zoltán Farkas, head of the NMHH’s Miskolc office.
Also, at the event, the NMHH’s special awards were presented to those students who provided outstanding performance in the field of communication at this year’s National Scientific Student Conference. Two of Széchenyi István University’s students, Lajos Kristóf Élő and Irma Magyari received the award. As part of the conference, a tree was planted as a symbol of the commitment by the Széchenyi István University, NMHH and ITU to cooperate together on environmental protection issues.
