Semmelweis University’s Students’ Union (HÖK) is undergoing a major renewal under the leadership of its newly elected president, Imre Richárd Nagy, a third-year pharmacy student and the first from his faculty to hold the post. Elected in July 2025, Nagy has set out a comprehensive plan to adapt the union’s operations to the needs of younger generations, strengthen student representation, and expand support systems for both Hungarian and international students.
In his vision, immediate priorities include tackling housing and scholarship issues, revamping student events, and addressing the mental health needs of students. Nagy emphasizes that the incoming Generation Alpha students have different expectations and must be engaged in new ways, requiring methodological and organizational reforms within the Students’ Union.
Structural changes have already been initiated: the Delegates’ Assembly has passed amendments elevating the presidential delegate for strategy and finance to vice president, and creating a new position dedicated to mentoring programs. These mentoring programs, which already operate successfully at the Faculty of Medicine and have expanded to the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the András Pető Faculty, focus on both academic guidance and mental health support. Some programs even offer scholarships or academic credits, highlighting their growing role in reducing dropout rates.
Nagy draws on his previous experience in the Social Welfare Committee and as coordinator of the Stipendium Hungaricum mentoring program. He notes that addressing anxiety, performance decline, and mental health challenges is vital to supporting students, and points to university resources such as the Institute of Behavioral Sciences, the Institute of Mental Health, and the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy as essential partners in these efforts.
Beyond mental health, Nagy also aims to strengthen cooperation with the National Alliance of Students’ Unions (HÖOK) to increase scholarships nationwide, while at Semmelweis University he highlights clinical work opportunities for medical students that combine financial benefits, credits, and hands-on experience as a model for future initiatives.
Another central challenge is ensuring the succession and sustainability of the Students’ Union. According to Nagy, many younger students prefer being community members rather than leaders, which requires targeted recruitment and leadership development. To this end, the union plans community-building training, personalized skills development, and broader promotion of its work at major student events such as the Freshers’ Meet, Summer University, and Freshman Camp.
Cultural and community life also play a vital role in Nagy’s program. He plans to revamp flagship events such as the Freshers’ Ball, the Semmelweis Carnival, and the Spring Festival, while expanding cooperation with international student organizations to host joint cultural initiatives. The International Students’ Committee is expected to take on a greater role, including launching new Language Club programs, such as a French course.
Looking ahead, Nagy is committed to broadening the university’s Green University Project by adding more student-led sustainability initiatives. A competition will be organized where students can propose and implement environmentally conscious ideas. Following last year’s successful pilot project of modernizing a campus drinking fountain, HÖK now plans to install eight to ten additional fountains across key sites.
With his background in student welfare, equal opportunities committees, and sustainability projects, Nagy brings both experience and vision to the presidency. His leadership promises to modernize the Students’ Union, support student wellbeing, and strengthen the sense of community for the next generation of Semmelweis University students.
Source: Semmelweis University
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