The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) was founded on the 1st of February 2021 with the integration of the former Szent István University (Gödöllő), the Kaposvár University, the Georgikon Campus of the University of Pannonia (Keszthely), the Károly Róbert Campus (Gyöngyös), eleven research institutes and several business organizations. Subsequently it has become one of the largest agricultural-focused, multi-disciplinary tertiary institutions in Central Europe.

MATE’s mission is to provide world-class education that offers its graduates a promising career and makes them competitive on the job market in the fields of biotechnology and bio engineering, rural development, agricultural sciences, horticulture, viticulture and oenology, food science and food industry, food security, agricultural economics, water management, sustainability and renewable energy management, environmental and landscape management and mechanical engineering.

MATE offers more than 50 diploma and degree courses as well as 52 MSc programs with a total of over 13278 students, 756 PhD students, and with 14 Doctoral Schools.

The Georgikon Faculty of the University of Pannonia is located in Keszthely. It is the oldest regular institution of higher agricultural education in Europe. It was established in 1797 by Count György Festetics, whose aim was to educate Hungarian farmers of the time by providing practical agricultural knowledge and skills, and to give an opportunity to those dealing with the land to get education in order to improve the country’s agriculture. Though the institution was primarily established to train the count’s farm leaders, free lessons were open to everyone. The founder also supported students by providing scholarships who did not intend to settle down on his farms, or came to Keszthely solely to study. The teachers of the institution were outstanding characters of the Hungarian agriculture.
After several institutional changes, the Faculty folded in year 2000 as a result of the reform of higher education in Hungary, and became a part of the Veszprém University. The current name of the integrated institution is “University of Pannonia”.

Since more than two hundred years, values respected and preserved have always formed the basis of the schools ability to survive and meet the current challenges.

It is  the watchword of the Georgikon that obliges us to do so: „Remember and live accordingly: you shall retain our honour”.

Education

The Georgikon could always provide its graduate students with thorough and modern knowledge, and let them go with the love of the profession, enduring memories and ethical poise. The favourable infrastructure and high standards of education, the youth-friendly approach of teachers, and the cosy atmosphere of Keszthely all guarantee that the university years will be the most beautiful period of our students’ youth.

The Georgikon has always focused on the quality of education and practical training adjusted to the changing environment. This may be the reason why those having graduated in Keszthely are successful not only on agricultural fields, but also as teachers, researchers, bank professionals, advisors, traders and in many other professions.

It has also to be noted that, as we are a small organization, students and teachers know each other and student communities tend to develop. This is of great importance at the present economical conditions, as the family-like environment gives us the chance to help our students and teachers in difficult situations.

The quality of the staff is another important aspect. Our professors are in Keszthely not only during the week, but live here from Monday to Sunday. They not only turn up from time to time, but personally deal with the students and involve the most talented ones in their own research activities. A university is defined by the quality of its teachers and professors; our quality is reflected in good positions in several rankings. Our students are provided with the guarantee to become agricultural engineers with marketable knowledge within a couple of years.

Several BSc, MSc and PhD programmes as well as advanced vocational training and further education courses are available at Georgikon Faculty.

Scientific and research activities

As a result of many years of research and development activities, the Georgikon Faculty of the University of Pannonia is an internationally recognised Hungarian centre of agricultural research work. It has a long tradition of creative work and a national valued knowledge base in the field of agricultural sciences and related disciplines. This serves as a stable basis for an inter- and multidisciplinary R&D strategy, meeting the modern challenges of development.

The research portfolio covering the whole spectrum of agriculture has always adjusted according to current needs. Main fields of work have been determined by the direction of scientific activities in the doctoral education. PhD programmes take place in these three doctoral schools within the Faculty:

• Environmental Management and Animal Sciences
• Crop Raising and Horticultural Sciences
• Management Sciences and Economics
   

Department of Animal Sciences

The Department teaches several subjects at graduate courses (BSc, MSc and advanced vocational education) and at the PhD school. Besides the subjects belonging to the basic disciplines of animal sciences (physiology, nutrition and breeding), the Departments provides its students with detailed knowledge in environmental animal sciences, fish biology and fish production, hunting and wildlife management, biotechnology (genetics), production physiology, feed and food analytics, feeding, reproduction biology, ethology, quality and processing of products of animal origin as well as horse studies.

The Department organises and teaches the discipline of Animal Breeding at the PhD School of Animal Sciences and Agro-Environmental Sciences operating within the frames of the University of Pannonia.

Our department performs significant research and development (R&D) activities related to the subjects taught. Besides aiming to make new findings, these research activities include important development works in close cooperation with (mainly agricultural) production businesses.

The University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna is the only academic educational and research institution in Austria that focuses on the veterinary sciences, and at the same time the oldest such institution in the German-speaking world.

The responsibilities of the university include research, teaching and operation of the animal hospital, assisted by the service departments of the university.

Our mission: Responsible teaching, visionary research and ambitious healing.

Departments and research institutes

The University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna is divided into departments that comprise several institutes or clinics, and into interdisciplinary institutions:

• Department for Biomedical Sciences
• Department for Pathobiology Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health
• Department/Hospital for Companion Animals and Horses
• Department for Integrative Biology and Evolution
   

Research at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Research conducted at our university is centered on five main research profile areas:

• Physiological processes Infection and prevention, focus on farm animals
• Animal models and veterinary biotechnology
• Food safety and risk analysis
• Animal behaviour and human-animal-interactions

Studies

The University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna offers several possibilities for learning.

Degree programmes

• Diploma Programme in Veterinary Medicine
• Bachelor's Programme in Equine Sciences
• Bachelor's Programme in Biomedicine and Biotechnology
• Master’s Programme in Biomedicine and Biotechnology
• Doctoral Programme in Veterinary Medicine
• PhD Programme

University courses

• Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
• Applied Cynology
• Introduction to Laboratory Animal Medicine

Internships

The one-year Internship Programmes were designed to provide young veterinarians with the possibility of enhancing the basic knowledge and skills acquired during their studies, as well as to integrate them into clinical activities.

The programme is supposed to help define and deepen interests. It represents all-round training as a basis for specialization and further professional practice.

• Internship Programme Small Animal Medicine
• Internship Programme Equine Medicine
• Internship Programme Ruminant Medicine
   

Clinic for Poultry

The section Poultry Medicine is concerned with poultry diseases in all species of poultry kept for food production. Major focuses are infectious diseases, covering viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases. This diversity is also reflected in a wide range of scientific topics treated. At the same time it is a challenge to establish state of the art diagnostic techniques and facilities.

Taking into account the huge number of birds kept in poultry flocks and the requirement to limit the use of drugs, the institution operates under the EU Animal Health Strategy: prevention is the best medicine. Thus provide new and improved vaccination strategies, as effective prophylactic agents, are the central focus.

A close cooperation with veterinarians in the field who are involved in supervising the stocks remains the basis for high-quality teaching, research and service. In this context the spectrum ranges from organic to breeding farms.

In cooperation with the clinic for pigs, a special module for students within the last stage of their study was implemented in order to cover the specific needs in veterinary care of these animals.