Semmelweis University has established the Directorate of Supporting Services and Student Relations, marking a significant step toward enhancing the student experience beyond academic excellence. The decision, adopted by the Senate on November 27, places the new unit under the leadership of Dr. Péter Vámosi, who has outlined an ambitious agenda focused on coordination, transparency and student well-being.
According to Dr. Vámosi, higher education institutions must look beyond delivering high-quality education and place equal emphasis on supporting students’ overall well-being. He stressed that student welfare is not only a matter of institutional responsibility but also aligns with European higher education quality assurance standards.
The newly formed directorate replaces the former Directorate for Student Services and operates directly under the rector’s leadership. Its primary objective is to standardize and improve the quality of student services across the university. Dr. Vámosi noted that services are currently provided through multiple organizational units, often without uniform coordination. The future goal is to establish more targeted central management in close cooperation with student organizations, particularly the Students’ Union (HÖK) and the Doctoral Students’ Union (DÖK).
One of the key priorities for 2026 will be the coordination and supervision of the scholarship system. Working alongside Dr. Péter Hermann, Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs, the directorate is reviewing scholarship regulations and administrative processes to ensure greater stability, transparency and simplicity. Dr. Vámosi also expressed his intention to strengthen the prestige of certain scholarships, including the National Higher Education Scholarship, potentially making award ceremonies more formal and examining options to increase financial support.
Beyond financial aid, the directorate aims to elevate the overall standard of student services. Expanding access to coaching, mental health counseling, mentoring programs and burnout prevention services is a central objective, ensuring equal availability for all students regardless of faculty or language of instruction. Continuous data monitoring and structured student feedback mechanisms will play a crucial role in shaping future decisions.
Infrastructure and student spaces are also under review. In collaboration with faculty leaders and student representatives, the university is assessing the condition of student areas and identifying buildings most in need of development. Regular satisfaction surveys are expected to inform both large-scale infrastructure investments and smaller improvement projects.
Special attention will be given to international students, with plans to provide more coordinated support during their first weeks in Hungary, covering administrative processes such as visa arrangements, banking, accommodation and telecommunications. The directorate is also exploring ways to expand student discount systems, including potential extensions to doctoral candidates.
Among the long-term strategic goals is the development of a monitoring system to identify students at risk of dropping out, allowing for early intervention. In cooperation with the Doctoral College, research has already begun on designing an effective early warning framework.
Dr. Vámosi, who previously led the Semmelweis Doctoral Students’ Union and currently serves as president of the Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates (DOSZ), emphasized that the directorate will build on existing initiatives while introducing structural improvements. Major upcoming tasks include organizing the June conference of the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (Eurodoc), as well as conducting national-level research on doctoral education and student mental health.
With the establishment of the new directorate, Semmelweis University signals its commitment to strengthening trust, transparency and student-centered development in the years ahead.
Source: Semmelweis University
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