University of Sopron [ENGLISH]

University of Sopron

European Social Fund

Welcome –

The University of Sopron’s four faculties offer 58 courses in 8 fields of study. Our forestry and timber industry education and research activities are renowned in Europe and possess unique characteristics domestically. Our kindergarten, early childhood educator, and vocational

teacher education programmes are among the most distinguished in Hungary, while our economics, IT, and applied arts education satisfy important regional labour market needs.

We offer students competitive knowledge and skills via a project-based and experience-based learning environment enhanced by our balanced development and support of scientific activity and

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innovativeness. Our adherence to the university’s core values of creativity, cooperation, value orientation, and environmental awareness are ensconced in the philosophy of our nearly three centuries of tradition, which is still very much alive today. I sincerely hope I will have the opportunity to personally welcome you to our university in the near future!

Prof. Dr. András Náhlik Rector

Sopron – The historic past

With its thousands of years of history, magnificent inner city, distinct monuments, wonderful natural environment, subalpine air, and vibrant cultural and festival life, Sopron is one of the most important tourist centres in Hungary and a vital cultural hub of the region.

The academic and intellectual values the University of Sopron’s faculties espouse are intertwined with the city’s long history, its historical, landscape, and cultural values, and its wide range of offered programmes, which all come together to create a distinct and colourful university life.

Surviving architectural treasures of ancient masters – the city wall segments and the Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance ornamental elements – are all on display in Sopron’s historic city centre.

Loyalty The Pan-European Picnic Monuments Ferenc Liszt Blue Franc wine University students Conferences VOLT Festival

The city’s preserved architectural treasures from past masters, melodies from the immortal geniuses Haydn and Liszt, traditional customs, and a historic wine culture all complement each other exquisitely; while the protected heritage values of the Sopron Mountains and the Lake Fertő / Neusiedl Cultural Landscape come together to form a harmonious union.

The honours and recognition the city has received in the fields of science and art, the famous annual VOLT Festival, the distinguished university conferences, and the unique student traditions all add to the city’s allure.

Sopron is an authentic university city; a city of values. Adhering loyally to its venerable coat of arms, Sopron welcomes its visitors with open gates.

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Historical background –

Charles III established the Training School for Mining Officers in Selmecbánya

The Kindergarten Association of Sopron (Gyermekkert Egylet) started the first kindergarten educator course

The Hungarian Division at the University of British Columbia in Canada established

1918 / 1919

Establishment of the Academy of Forestry

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1959

1956

1957

Migration of the Hungarian Royal Mining and Forestry Academy to Sopron

Kindergarten teacher training at advanced level started

The Institute of Applied Arts established

Timber Industry Engineering training launched

Establishment of the Institute of Economics and Business Management Development

Reestablishment of the University of Sopron with four faculties

A few words about the student traditions of Selmec –

The unique customs and traditions of Selmec student culture are deeply rooted in history and continue to be observed at the University of Sopron. These time-honoured traditions include the freshman welcome, freshman week, freshman ‘baptism’, and other student evenings that all serve one purpose:

to establish student fellowship and nurture lasting student friendships.

The saying ‘One for all and all for one’ is the driving force behind the Selmec traditions. A person who abides by the traditions honours patriotism, fellowship, and unbroken love for profession that connects students with teachers (professors), students with citizens of Sopron, colleagues with colleagues, director with engineers, and engineers with workers.

The traditions of Selmec, supported and protected by our university and actively involve students in the university’s community life.

They also serve to establish and deepen relationships with Sopron’s citizens and strengthen social norms. Keeping Selmec student traditions alive has earned our successor institution a great recognition: in 2014, our traditions were added to the Hungarian National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Dr. Jr. Sándor Sarkady Ph.D a.Narrator

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Benedek Elek Faculty of Pedagogy –

more information:

bpk.uni-sopron.hu UNIVERSITY OF SOPRON

The best rural kindergarten educator institute in the country –

Our predecessor institute launched its initial kindergarten educator programme in 1899; thus, those who visit the Benedek Elek Faculty of Pedagogy enter an institute possessing a great history: The demand for the faculty’s programmes has grown immensely in recent years. At the undergraduate level, candidates can choose from Infant and Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten Education – German Ethnic Minority Kindergarten Education, Special Needs Education, Social Pedagogy and Communication and Media Science. At the master’s level, we offer future students Educational Science (with specializations in Early Childhood Pedagogy and Sustainability and Society), Teacher of Engineering,

Teacher of Agricultural Engineering, Teacher of Economics and Human Resource Counselling programmes. Our institute is particularly proud of its new Forest and Environmental Pedagogy PhD Programme.

Graduates from the Benedek Elek Faculty of Pedagogy are not only wellrespected, but are also in high demand in the labour market, both domestically and internationally. The faculty aims to develop a meaningful and practiceoriented education portfolio that meets current labour market expectations.

Our students are constantly present in our training institutions, where they learn best practices from outstanding professionals. The faculty also hosts nationally and internationally recognized workshops. A well-equipped faculty library,

an impressive collection of journals, and a constantly expanding digital library await students. One of the cornerstones of the faculty’s competitiveness aligns with the concept of higher education development – that is, to strengthen and expand its international involvement.

The faculty has excellent professional relationships with over fifty European and non-European institutions. Teachers and students participate in study terms and study trips abroad within the framework of international mobility programmes.

The faculty also hosts guest lecturers, researchers, and students from Europe and the rest of the world.

Since 2017, candidates can apply for the Infant and Early Childhood Education and the Special Needs Education correspondence courses offered at the training site in Tata within the framework of the Community Higher Education Centre.

BENEDEK ELEK FACULTY OF PEDAGOGY

Faculty of Forestry –

more information:

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Our mission is to serve nature and the environment –

The Faculty of Forestry’s predecessor institution was established in Selmecbånya in 1808. Our current faculty possesses significant educational and research potential based on over two centuries of tradition. The faculty provides BSc, MSc, and PhD level education in several fields of study, including Agriculture and Technology. Our prestigious Forest Engineering Programme is the only one offered in Hungary. In the programme, students acquire scientific, technical, and economic knowledge and skills to initiate ecologically and economically sustainable forest management that treats the forest as a complex life community. Our graduates are in high demand in forestry, government, and many other sectors. Our Nature Conservation

Engineering students gain the knowledge needed to preserve, develop, and regenerate natural processes, organisms, biocoenosis, and natural values. In addition to biological foundations, students also gain versatile knowledge in the fields of education, presentation, organisation, and management. National parks, nature conservation organisations, and state administration all actively seek our graduates. Nature conservation engineer education prepares students for tasks related to protecting and developing the environment, preventing and eliminating environmental damage, utilizing rational natural resource allocation, and developing low-waste technologies. Our environmental engineering students launch fulfilling careers in agricultural, public administration, and non-governmental organisations.

Students enrolled in our Land Surveying and Land Management Engineering Programme encounter the latest geoinformatic and remote sensing methods. Surveying engineers perform a wide range of activities, are familiar with modern measurement and processing procedures, and are skilled in the development and use of geoinformatic decision support systems. Wildlife Management Engineering students learn to plan, organise, manage, and implement the general and specific tasks related to wildlife protection. Wildlife management engineers enforce wildlife and nature conservation policies and regulations and are qualified to conduct nature education and organise hunting tourism. One of the values of the Faculty of Forestry is that its students are members of a community based on centuries-old traditions; consequently, students not only acquire professional knowledge, but also build lifelong relationships during their studies.

FACULTY OF FORESTRY

Alexandre Lamfalussy Faculty of Economics –

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A competitive degree and cutting edge knowledge –

The Alexandre Lamfalussy Faculty of Economics is located in the former Financial Palace, one of Sopron’s historical downtown buildings. Since its establishment in 1999, the faculty has provided high standard courses for thousands of students, who have acquired the skills, knowledge, and qualifications needed to succeed in the fields of finance and economics. The faculty has a wide spectrum of full-time and parttime educational programmes ranging from higher vocational education and graduate economics education to a doctoral school offering PhD degrees.

Our Faculty of Economics organises and conducts postgraduate specialist training courses, as well as vocational adult education courses related to finance and economics. At the Faculty, students can choose from five different undergraduate courses (Business Administration and Management; Commerce and Marketing; International Business Economics; Finance and Accounting; and Tourism and Catering). Some of the faculty’s programmes are taught in foreign languages. For example, the Business Administration and Management BA course in German is the only German-language programme of its kind in the country.

The faculty offers the undergraduate courses International Business Economics and Tourism and Catering also in

English. Our master’s programmes include International Economy and Business, Finance, Accounting, Tourism Management, Business Development, and Management and Leadership.

Our students adopted the values of the old alma mater of Selmecbánya (Banská Štiavnica), and they continue to give life to student traditions, which are special and unique values of student life in Sopron.

Our campus is a regional centre of economics education and a venue for many regional meetings, forums and conferences. Our graduates are present in nearly every corporation and company within Sopron’s agglomeration. These business entities look for highly trained staff and provide our students with the opportunity to conduct practical, on-site training. The Alexandre Lamfalussy Faculty of Economics at the University of Sopron has thereby become an engine of the region’s economic development.

ALEXANDRE LAMFALUSSY FACULTY OF ECONOMICS

Simonyi Karoly Faculty of Engineering, Wood Sciences and Applied Arts

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more information:

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Strong professionalism, creative programmes of study, secure jobs, three training areas within one faculty –

The three training areas of the faculty reinforce each other and provide a complex set of skills for students.

The Timber Industry Engineering Programme in Hungarian and English is unique to Hungary and offered only in Sopron. From design to implementation, the faculty provides its students with extensive knowledge in production technologies and process engineering tasks. Laboratories and workshops of the Natural Resources Research Centre (NRRC) and the world-class devices of the renewed wood shop associated with the faculty assist students in practical

training and research activities. The faculty is currently the only wood research site in the country.

Founded 25 years ago, the Institute of Applied Arts at the Károly Simonyi Faculty has developed into one of the most important higher education applied industrial arts institutions in the country. At the institute, students acquire knowledge of architecture, design, and graphic design from excellent instructors.

They also gain real work experience, and become innovative and skilled designers through their own creative work.

Business Information Technology students are supported by several talent programmes and scholarships.

Moreover, during the course of their studies, students are in contact with

and work with industry professionals.

Mechatronics Engineering students are enrolled in a dual system where they gain practical experience and real knowledge in mechanical engineering, automation, electronics, information technology, and manufacturing technology at industrial companies over the course of 22 weeks a year. Building on the master’s programmes at the József Cziráki Doctoral School of Wood Sciences and Technologies, scientific research is conducted in six programmes, with the assistance and support of domestic and foreign professors.

The close and highly successful relationship with 35 foreign universities not only provides teaching staff access to exceptional professional and scientific resources, but also offers opportunities for students to study abroad.

SIMONYI KAROLY FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, WOOD SCIENCES AND APPLIED ARTS

Human and Natural Resources Research Centre – The Human and Natural Resources Research Centre is an important scene of the complex activities of the University of Sopron in research, development, innovation and education. With its professional services, professional consultancy, expert role and joint researches, it is a bridge to the close relationship between industry and higher education. In line with the university’s training and research profile , its professional ½½ activities include the organisation and operation of project-based research divisions in strategic research areas, ½½ the market based RDI tasks, the performance of expert assignments ½½ and the accredited testing services of the Central Testing Laboratory (MSZEN ISO 17025), for both domestic and international partners.

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The about 80 laboratory rooms of the university building of 4,000 m2 and the Wood shop is equipped with the most modern instruments and tools.

The professional competence of specialized, inter- and transdisciplinary research is guaranteed by highly qualified, certified teaching and research staff of institutes and research teams with international experience, giving space for doctoral and research students.

It promotes the university’s regional economic and social engagement through knowledge transfer and applicable research results.

Key competencies: ½½ bioinformatics/functional genomics, nanotechnology, nanocrystalline cellulose, biopolymer composites ½½ agroforestry, environmental protection, climate change ½½ innovative materials and technologies, alternative energy/energy efficiency ½½ digital transformation of (wood)industry, ½½ applied arts industry, wooden architecture ½½ tourism industry ½½ early childhood education, environmental education, creativity development, talent management

International Relations, Institutional Collaborations – Through its development programmes in education, research, excellence, and competitiveness, the University of Sopron intends to strengthen its leading national and regional leadership in various fields of education and science. The university’s international relations play an important role in achieving these goals, which are typically organised around the two basic activities and provide the framework for educational and research collaborations.

over 150 European institutions to ensure mobility cooperation opportunities for staff (teaching and training) and students (studies and traineeships). The university has established contractual relationships with nearly 50 other foreign institutions in the realms of cooperation in research and publication, exchange of scientific materials and information, and organisation of joint training programmes.

The university is a member of several international organisations including: Magna Charta Universitatum, eduGAIN, IchidWDO, IUFRO, innovaWood, Amber Road Network (Central European Network of Faculties of Economics), EECERA, and FESET.

Our four-faculty university has partnered with

Our higher education international partners are from, but are not limited to, the following countries: Austria, Algeria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, China, Poland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Thailand, Turkey, USA and Vietnam.

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Internationalisation –

Our university’s leadership places great importance and emphasis on the acceleration of our institution’s internationalisation.

The main objectives of our Internationalisation Strategy are to increase international visibility, attract a greater number of foreign students, strengthen institutional collaborations, and expand mobility. We currently offer 20 accredited foreign language courses within the four faculties in economics, agriculture, engineering, and pedagogy.

For years, we have stressed the importance of international collaborative research projects, which we have expanded with participation in the H2020 programme.

Participation in the Erasmus+ programme is essential to achieving our internationalisation goals. International learning mobility (KA1) helps modernisation as an engine of quality development, and partnerships (KA2) result in educational

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and research collaborations supporting innovation and the exchange of best practices, which are the initiators of publications, know-how, training development, and improved professional and linguistic skills.

In connection with its goals of internationalisation, the University of Sopron continuously promotes the principles of environmental awareness, equal opportunities, and social responsibility.

International Mobility –

Our mobility cooperation for educational purposes is expanding, both as a result of and independently of inter-institutional Erasmus agreements. Our university has more than 200 Erasmus+ KA103 connections in different subject areas, and the number of students, lecturers, and administrative staff participating in the programme is over 200 people per year.

Erasmus+ KA107 partnerships in support of

international credit mobility are encouraged in the strategic field of forestry and timber industry education, primarily to provide teacher and student exchanges in our long and valued partnerships outside the EU. As part of the CEEPUS exchange programme, six of our networks offer faculty and student scholarships to outbound and inbound exchange participants.

Our students also take advantage of the

scholarship opportunities offered in the Campus Mundi programme available for studies and internships, thanks to which they can travel to almost any part of the world and gain intercultural, professional, and linguistic experience as well as build strong relationships. We are also expanding our mobility activities by participating in the Makovecz Program and the opportunities offered by the scholarships of the Visegrad Fund.

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Central Library and Archives of the University of Sopron

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Central Library

The Central Archives, a common organisational unit that operates independently within the Central Library, collects and manages the historical material of the University of Sopron and its predecessors from 1862 to the present day. The stock of the archives founded in 1984 is currently 593.73 linear metres (73 fonds). The archive’s services include research and customer service, support for historical research and data provision. Orientation is assisted by guides, databases, and digitized resources.

The establishment of the Central Library’s Memorial Library coincides with the founding of the first Hungarian training school for mining officers in Selmecbánya (1735).

The first organisational and academic regulations, which can be considered a founding document, required the ‘acquisition of works of renowned authors’, as well as the obligation for students to ‘read each other the works of the mining school in their free hours’. The library began operating in 1735, the same year studies were initiated. The memorial room of the Central Library building contains a portion of the collection, about 12,000 volumes divided into 12 professional groups.

The Central Library of the University of Sopron is a public higher education library.

Through its conventional and electronic services and resources, the Central Library and its member libraries ensure and provide the material needed for university education, learning and research, information provision, lifelong learning preparation, and effective time investment.

The university library network, with its unique collection, is integrated into the National Document Supply System and the national and international professional information services. The collection exceeds 300,000 library units. The main collection circles include: forestry, wood industry, geodesy, wildlife management, economics, pedagogy, arts and related disciplines, and the literature of border areas.

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Memorial Library Central Archives

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Ligneum Visitor Centre – About forests and trees, from the heart…

The three-story science centre in the Botanical Garden, with its attractive exterior, interior, and image design solutions, is an exemplary work of architecture. Packed with modern, creative, interactive exhibitions and science-promoting cultural programmes, the impressive centre offers all age groups much to discover.

The centre’s family-friendly layout complete with touch screens, models, special decorations, and design elements invite visitors to become acquainted with the successful results, workshops, and innovations of the university’s instructors and students, while the interactive learning wooden house offers the opportunity to ‘Discover the wonderful world of forest and wood’. The Forest Protection and Vertebrate Zoological Collection

provides an impressive exhibition of over 300 preparations of exceptional value, which is a part of the university’s Selmecbánya heritage.

Conference and training rooms equipped with modern technology are popular venues for professional presentations and forums.

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Botanical Garden –

The Botanical Garden of the University of Sopron is over 100 years old and is home to more than 4,000 plant species.

Unlike traditional botanical gardens, Sopron’s was established to support and supplement forestry education; consequently, it is mostly a collection of woody plants. Thanks to Sopron’s climate, which is more balanced than the rest of Hungary, our garden is home to evergreens that do not survive elsewhere in the country due to climatic conditions, such as Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) and the country’s tallest and largest Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). The garden’s great value lies in the fact that the majority of our plants come from their original habitats, and thus possess valuable genomes. Outstanding

pine trees include Abies homolepis, Abies holopylla, Pinus ayacahuite, Pinus coulteri, Pinus parviflora, Sequoia giganteum, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Torreya nucifera among others. These, together with plots of East Asian and North American plants, are all spectacular parts of the garden. A total of 134 protected plants find a home in our garden, including purple cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens), white helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium), and Carpathian crocus (Crocus heuffelianus), to mention but a few. When they bloom, these plants create colourful spectacles within the garden.

The lake in the upper garden presents Hungarian marsh flora. In addition to the beautiful and well-known white water lily (Nympaea alba), there are a number of protected and less-known plants such as Menianthes trifoliata, Acorus calamus and

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Trapa natans. In the double-winged greenhouse, you can enjoy a cactus collection and a collection of Mediterranean plants throughout the year. At the same place, we give place to various plant physiology and plant biology experiments of the university.

The garden has rich bird fauna; over 130 species of birds live here, 13 of which are protected. We have placed hundreds of bird boxes, feeders, and drinkers around the garden, all of which offer excellent birdwatching opportunities.

Last but not least, there are countless monuments in the garden, indicating that historical changes of the past century have all left a mark here. We can admire the “Watch Fires” memorial, which remembers the battle of Ágfalva after the First World War, the “56th Memorial”, which intends to draw our attention to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, and the Miners and Metallurgist statues, which were exhibited to commemorate the changes in the life of the University.

Culture –

‘Dance isn’t passion at the beginning, it’s just a sense of life, you start and can’t stop! That’s when it becomes passion!’

VIVAT ÜRMÖS!

Ürmös Folk Dance Group of Sopron Since its foundation in 1983, the Ürmös Folk Dance Group has taken on a decisively strong community-forming role among students. Dance is a language that can help to develop acquaintances and life-long friendships. The increasing appreciation of folk dance and folk music plays a key role in conserving traditions.

Consequently, the dance group plays an important cultural mission role.

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Sport life at the University of Sopron –

Sports and athletics have a 150-year history at the University of Sopron. In the 1860s, students started and organised regular exercises in Selmecbánya.

Sports and athletics expanded after the university moved to Sopron at the beginning of the 1900s. Students have been able to test their skills and strength in many sports (e.g. basketball,

handball, football, orienteering, skiing); the organisational framework is provided by the Sopron University Club for Athletics and Football (SMAFC), and the venue is the Krasznai Ferenc Sport Hall. University sports life has had many successes in the distant and near past.

The university leadership supports selfmotivated sports organised by students.

Students organise the highly successful ‘Raging Cup’ championship in several sports (football, basketball, volleyball).

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Aerobics is the most popular activity among female students.

Sports and recreation opportunities at the university include: basketball, volleyball, aerobics, five-a-side football, swimming, badminton, squash, and Nordic walking.

Sports programmes: ‘Raging Cup’ championships between university faculties in basketball, football, volleyball, university swimming competition.

Traditional sports programmes: international sports days; hunting competition.

The University Sports Office organises and conducts sports opportunities and events.

Dormitories – In Sopron, we offer student accommodation in three building complexes. Accommodation ranges from double or triple occupancy rooms to double or triple occupancy apartments.

Student accommodations in Sopron: ½½ Student Hotel in Ady Endre Street: 352 people ½½ Student Hotel in Baross Street: 495 people ½½ Dormitory in Ferenczy János Street: 116 people

The university’s three dormitory complexes offer accommodation with varying degrees of comfort, but all options, from individual single room to double or triple occupancy apartment rooms, offer sophisticated design. All enrolled students are provided with dormitory

The uniqueness of the student hotel in Ady Endre Street lies in its location next to the University Botanical Garden. The building disposes of a restaurant and is suitable for accommodating also disabled students.

RK

UK

LUK

BAK

VUK

Régi Kollégium 9400 Sopron, Ady Endre u. 5. Új Kollégium 9400 Sopron, Ady Endre u. 5.

Legújabb Kollégium 9400 Sopron, Baross út 4-6 Bezerédj Amália Kollégium 9400 Sopron, Ferenczy J. u. 5.

Vadiúj Kollégium 9400 Sopron, Baross út 4-6

accommodation, which is an extraordinary offer in a heavily-touristed city like Sopron.

The services, leisure opportunities, and programmes provided make dormitory life exceptionally vibrant. Apart from students and conference participants, the accommodation facilities are also available

The dormitory in Ferenczy János Street occupies part of the educational building unit of the Benedek Elek Faculty of Pedagogy and accommodates apartments with two double occupancy rooms available for students.

contacts koli@sopron.nyme.hu +36 99 518 215 uf.nyme.hu/kollegium/

to families, groups, and school classes visiting Sopron and its agglomeration.

The university can also provide accommodation for disabled guests.

The student hotel restaurant located in the University Botanical Garden offers good dining options for guests.

The student hotel in Baross Street is only a 5-minute walk from the Main Campus via Elizabeth Garden, one of the most popular parks in the city. Built in 2000, the building was expanded with a new wing in 2007.

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What the University of Sopron can offer You High quality and professionalism in teaching and research methods Possibility to join the professional community during your studies Comfortable dormitories and top-notch infrastructure Liveable city and a campus in a national nature conservation area Vibrant student life, student traditions, choice of various sports and much more

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