Student research societies : the widest form of talent development

Abstract

The form of talent development in higher education has existed for over seven decades and has consistently adapted to educational changes and met challenges. The Student Research Societies (SRS) were initiated by talented students who, with the help of their mentors, want to achieve more than what regular education could offer. The inception was followed by dynamic horizontal and vertical expansion. Nowadays, more than 10, 000 students participate in the scientific student society movement in Hungary. A legally codified structure deeply embedded in higher education has emerged. Students prepare scientific papers on topics of their choice with scholarly ambition, engage in research group activities, and present their findings at institutional SRS events. Based on recommendations from a professional jury, authors of worthy papers can participate in the biennial national conference. The National Conference of Student Research Societies (NCSRS) hosts competitions in 16 thematic sections accompanied by numerous community programs. Since 2023, the SRS has become an international event within the framework of the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance program. The SRS is a HIP that significantly enhances both students' learning experiences and outcomes, enriching many with the joy of research and scientific collaboration. This paper examines the last decade of the Technological Sciences Section, analyzing the satisfaction surveys of the 2019, 2021, and 2023 NCSRS events. We compare the measurement results of the online event held during the pandemic in 2021 with those before and after COVID-19, examining how the pandemic has impacted scientific student association activities. © 2024 SEFI 2024 - 52nd Annual Conference of the European Society for Engineering, Proceedings: Educating Responsible Engineers. All rights reserved.