Baka József College for Advanced Studies

Last modified: 19. October 2026

The Baka József College for Advanced Studies is a talent development community at the Kaposvár Campus of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE). Its mission is to complement university studies by providing students with advanced professional knowledge, practical experience, and personalised development opportunities. Through courses, training programmes, lectures, professional consultations, and community activities, the College supports its members in conducting independent academic work, advancing scientifically, and actively participating in university and public life. The community is open to students enrolled in bachelor's, master's, undivided, and doctoral programmes.

At the heart of the College’s talent development approach is the enhancement of skills and competencies that receive less emphasis in traditional university education yet are essential for a successful professional career. For this reason, our programmes are deliberately practice-oriented and interactive. Over the past year, we have organised time management training and DISC personality typology training to strengthen students’ self-awareness, effective learning strategies, teamwork skills, and conscious career planning.

Preparing students for academic and research careers is another important element of our activities. As part of this commitment, we organised a course entitled “Scientific Presentation Skills” for university students, as well as for students of the MATE Móricz Zsigmond Agricultural Technical School, Vocational School and College. The course developed participants’ competencies in identifying research problems, constructing structured arguments, using visual aids effectively, and presenting with confidence, while also supporting their preparation for the Guba Sándor Memorial Competition.

Members of the College actively participate in national and international academic life. Our students have taken part in the Kautz Conference on Business and Economics, the institutional Student Research Conference (TDK), and the National Student Research Conference (OTDK) in Miskolc. Participation in these conferences provides valuable professional feedback, networking opportunities, and practical experience in scientific communication. The results of our academic workshop activities are also reflected in publications: each year, scientific and public-interest papers authored by our students are published in a peer-reviewed electronic volume with an ISBN.

In addition to professional and academic development, we consider it important to foster a culture of debate, critical thinking, and open academic dialogue. To this end, we organise two-day public debate events for secondary school students, university students, and interested members of the wider public, with the involvement of invited experts. Our programmes are supported by a tutoring system through which tutors provide personalised guidance in identifying research directions, monitoring preparation processes, and helping students achieve their individual academic and professional goals.

The Baka József College for Advanced Studies therefore serves simultaneously as an academic workshop, a skills development environment, and a supportive community, contributing to students’ success at university, their professional growth, and their successful transition into the labour market.

Contact Information:
​​​Baka József College for Advanced Studies
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Kaposvár Campus
Guba Sándor u. 40, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary
Phone: +36 82 505 800
Head of the College: Dr. habil. Zsolt Kőmüves
Mobile: +36 20 531 3403
E-mail: komuves.zsolt.sandor@uni-mate.hu
Website: MATE Kaposvár Campus – Baka József College for Advanced Studies

How to Apply

The College welcomes students enrolled in bachelor's, master's  and doctoral programmes at MATE who are interested in professional and academic development. Information on the application process, current admission opportunities, and membership requirements is available from the Head of the College. Applicants are encouraged to submit a brief introduction outlining their professional interests, research or TDK plans, and the ways in which they would like to contribute to the academic and community life of the College.

Management and Coordinating Institute:
Head of the College / Faculty Mentor: Dr. habil. Zsolt Kőmüves
Coordinating Institute: MATE Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics
Department: Department of Management and Leadership Sciences

Talent Development Programme: 
During the 2026/2027 academic year, our aim is to enhance students' labour market prospects by developing their career awareness, self-management, and authentic, audience-oriented communication skills. To achieve this, we will implement three 15-hour interactive, experience-based training modules led by professionals with expertise in talent development and skills enhancement.

Modules:
The Storytelling module focuses on authentic self-expression, narrative thinking, and the development of value-based messages. The Pitch module builds on this foundation by developing participants' skills in concise, structured, and audience-oriented self-presentation, the presentation of ideas and projects, and argumentation techniques. The "Become a Researcher!" module introduces participants to scientific thinking and research-oriented career development. Participants become familiar with the main stages of the research process, including problem identification, the formulation of research questions, methodological planning, drawing conclusions, and the presentation of research results.

Publications: The College plans to publish an electronic volume showcasing the outcomes of students’ workshop activities and academic work.