{"id":1869,"date":"2026-05-05T08:26:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T06:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pen.uni-pannon.hu\/en\/?page_id=1869"},"modified":"2026-05-05T09:00:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T07:00:53","slug":"the-story-of-university-center-for-circular-economy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pen.uni-pannon.hu\/en\/the-story-of-university-center-for-circular-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"The story of University Center for Circular Economy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1997<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The idea of establishing an institution of higher education in Nagykanizsa was conceived.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1998<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Kanizsa Higher Education Foundation was officially established with nine founding members. Led by Prof. Dr. Katalin S. Nagy, Dr. Frida Pint\u00e9rn\u00e9 Grundmann and Prof. Dr. Zolt\u00e1n Birkner, the Foundation mobilized the intellectual and financial resources to support the realization of the idea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1999<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The city transferred the building at 33 Zr\u00ednyi Street to the Foundation. The old building, which had previously been home to the first institution in Transdanubia to receive the status of a higher commercial school in 1895, was renovated with extraordinary cooperation and effort.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Through the joint efforts of Prof. Dr. Zolt\u00e1n Ga\u00e1l, Rector of the University of Veszpr\u00e9m, the city leadership, and the Foundation, the External Training Center of the University of Veszpr\u00e9m was established in Nagykanizsa. At the same time, state-funded, full-time education in tourism and hotel management was launched. The program was officially approved by Zolt\u00e1n Pokorni, then Minister of Education on 19 June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2002<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The educational portfolio was expanded with the state-funded, full-time program in technical information technology. Prof. Dr. Zolt\u00e1n Kov\u00e1cs played a key role in organizing the economics program, while Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler contributed significantly to launching the engineering program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2004<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The first cohort of students graduated and received their diplomas from the University of Veszpr\u00e9m. In the same year, a postgraduate project management specialization program was also launched.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2006<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The University of Veszpr\u00e9m was renamed the University of Pannonia, and the Nagykanizsa Training Center was subsequently also renamed University of Pannonia Nagykanizsa Campus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2010<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The institution reached a milestone, as the Master of Business Administration program was introduced by the Faculty of Economics, in addition to the Bachelor\u2019s degree programs available at the Nagykanizsa Campus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2012<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Mechanical Engineering (BSc) program was added to the academic portfolio .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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New programs were introduced, including Business Informatics (BSc), as well as higher education vocational programs in Tourism and Hospitality and Finance and Accounting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2015<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Water and Wastewater Treatment System Operator Specialist program was launched, offering a unique training opportunity at the national level. The program is closely linked to research conducted at the So\u00f3s Ern\u0151 Research and Development Center, established in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Pannonia, the city of Nagykanizsa, and Hidrofilt Ltd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the educational portfolio was expanded with additional programs, including the Quality Engineering\/Quality Management specialization program, the Trade and Marketing (BSc) program, and a higher education vocational program in Engineering Informatics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2018<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Operations Engineering Informatics (BProf) program was launched.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Water Management Operations Engineer (BSc) program was introduced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2020<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A higher education vocational program in Trade and Marketing was launched.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2021<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The University of Pannonia Nagykanizsa Campus adopted a renewed identity and strategic direction within Hungarian higher education. Through its educational portfolio and academic community, the University Center for Circular Economy committed itself to addressing key sustainability challenges affecting the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of this renewal, three new programs were introduced and launched in English for both Hungarian and international students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Circular Economy Management (MSc)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Sustainable and Circular Economy-based Tourism (BSc)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Design and Development Engineering for a Circular Economy (MSc)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    2023<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    The program portfolio was expanded with the following programs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Water Management Systems Designer \u2013 IT Specialist (specialization training)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Sustainable and Circular Tourism (BSc)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Design and Development Engineering for a Circular Economy (MSc)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Circular Economy Management (MSc)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Renewable Energy Systems Designer \u2013 IT Specialist (specialization training)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Role of the Circular Economy in Tourism (adult training)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • IT Fundamentals in Corporate Structures (Industry 4.0) (adult training)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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      2025<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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      The Program Designer \u2013 IT Specialist higher education vocational program was launched.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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